Dictionary/G

These pages comprise a dictionary of terms relating to the pipe organ. Please keep definitions to a few sentences, and do not include pictures or sound clips. When more space is needed for a term, a new page can be created for it.

 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

Gamba [noun] - A string stop, usually metal.

Gedeckt [noun] - A stopped flute, wood or metal, equivalent to the French Bourdon or the English Stopped Diapason.

Gemshorn [noun] - A hybrid stop with a tone between a string and a flute. Usually made of tapered metal pipes.

General [noun] - short for "General Piston".

General Cancel [noun] - a piston on an organ console which turns off all the stops.

General Piston [noun] - a piston on an organ console which can be programmed to turn on or off any stop on the organ. Compare with "Divisional Piston".

Grand Jeu [noun] -- One of the standard registrations used by the organists of the French Baroque and French Classic periods. It usually consisted of Montre 8 ' & 4', a Trompette 8' with perhaps the Clairon 4' as well, and the Cornet. The multimovement suites for organ contained pieces titled as, and intended to be played on, this combination.

Grand Plein Jeu [noun] -- A standard registration of the French Baroque/Classic organists. This was usually the full Montre chorus 8', 4', 2', with the Fourniture and Cymbale mixtures. The 16' Montre or Bourdon was an optional addition.

Great - The division containing the main chorus stops, especially of Diapasons at several pitches, and usually visible at the front of the Main Organ case.In English and American three-manual consoles it is played from the middle keyboard. In two-manual consoles the Great keyboard is the lower one.

Grid [noun] the part of a slider chest which contains the channels.

Grille

Groove

Groove Valve