Dictionary/S

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] [| <font color="#0066cc">O] [| <font color="#0066cc">P] [| <font color="#0066cc">Q] [| <font color="#0066cc">R] [| <font color="#0066cc">S] [| <font color="#0066cc">T] [| <font color="#0066cc">U] [| <font color="#0066cc">V] [| <font color="#0066cc">W] [| <font color="#0066cc">X] [| <font color="#0066cc">Y] <font color="#0066cc">[|Z]

</b>

Salicional [noun] - an organ flue stop comprised of cylindrical open metal narrow-scale pipes, usually at 8' pitch with a bright moderately loud tone; usually classified as a string stop. Often paired with a second similar rank tuned sharp for a celeste effect.

Schantz Organ Company - An important American organ builder located in Orrville, Ohio. Founded in 1873, it is still under the control of the Schantz family.

Sesquialtera [noun] - a compound stop always including a third-sounding rank. May contain the 12th and the 17th and be unbroken throughout its compass, as the non-unison partials and ingredients for a Cornet. Also can be found, particularly in English organs, as three or more ranks, with breaks.

Seventeenth [noun] - A third-sounding rank, usually of principal tone quality'''. See Tierce.'''

Slider [noun] - a stop-action scheme (for turning individual stops on or off) having a strip of wood or metal under the pipes for a single rank, with holes drilled to admit wind to each pipe. When the stop is turned off at the console, the strip slides out of alignment, the windway is no longer open and the rank will not speak. The scheme can be used in mechanical-action and electric-action instruments. It is frequently considered more reliable than the pitman chest since it depends very little on leather as a component; but it can be noisy, particularly when a large number are thrown at the same time by a combination action.

Slider Chest [noun] - a wind-chest built on the slider stop-action principle, see above.

State Trumpet [noun] - A very large-scale chorus reed, usually mounted horizontally, a special form of Trompette-en-chamade. Specifically the stop of this name built by the Aeolian-Skinner Company at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, which is mounted under the rear rose window and voiced at 50" of wind to be heard all through this very large nave.

[