I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to achieve a dark registration. Thanks a lot, Jason

Jason, an interesting question which I may be able to help you with if you can give additional information (I have grad degree in organ performance) What is the nature of the music you want to play on this dark registration? Could you provide a stop list for the organ you're playing? Just have a broken left hand so my one hand typing is a bit of a pain. Will be happy to try to help if you like.
Warmest regards.
Tony

Hi Jason,

It would depend on the organ you're working with. When I need a darker tone, I don't use 4' and 2' stops which reduces the brightness of my organ and the organ I work with at church. As Tony says, we can probably help you more if you could post a stop list from the organ you're using. I'm sure we would all be glad to help you further. Tony, I'm sorry to hear about your hand. Hope it feels better soon.

Lyn

THANKS, LYN. DOC SAYS I'LL BE BACK TO THE KEYBOARD IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FRACTURE TO THE ELBOW.

JASON, SINCE POSTING AN ENTIRE STOP LIST CAN BE A DAUNTING TASK FOR A LARGE INSTRUMENT, MAYBE IF YOU JUST TELL US MORE ABOUT THE ORGAN, IT WOULD HELP. PIPE ORGAN OR ELECTRONIC, NAME OF THE BUILDER, SIZE, AND AGE OF THE INSTRUMENT, FOR EXAMPLE.

IN THE MOST BASIC WAYS, WE COULD GUESS THAT IF YOU START WITH ONE 8' STOP AND ADD UPPERWORK IN INCREASINGLY HIGHER PITCHES (4', 2', AND MIXTURES FOR MANUAL REGISTRATION
)-- (OR IN THE PEDAL BEGIN WITH A 16' STOP AND ADD 8', 4', AND MIXTURES) THE TONE GETS BRIGHTER.

THERE ARE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING REED AND FLUE PIPEWORK.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LISTEN TO THE INDIVIDUAL 8' STOPS ON THE GREAT AND SWELL DIVISIONS. GENERALLY THE STRING STOPS WILL BE BRIGHTER AND THE FLUTES WILL BE A BIT DARKER. PRINCIPALS AND REEDS WILL VARY ENORMOUSLY DEPENDING ON THE PARTICULAR STOP. FOR EXAMPLE A TUBA IS USUALLY DARKER THAN A TRUMPET, A BASOON OR FAGOTT WILL USUALLY BE DARKER THAN THE OBOE. A PRINCIPAL IS USUALLY BRIGHTER THAN A DIAPASON, AND A SPILL FLUTE OR CHIMNEY FLUTE WILL USUALLY BE BRIGHTER THAN A GEDECKT OR BOURDON.

MOST OF ALL, LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE INDIVIDUAL STOPS BOTH IN SINGLE LINE MELODIES AS WELL AS IN CHORDS. QUICKLY YOUR EAR WILL TELL YOU. IT WILL BE MOST HELPFUL TO KNOW THE SOUND OF THE INDIVIDUAL STOPS REALLY WELL BEFORE YOU CAN COMBINE THEM AS SUCESSFULLY YOU WILL WANT.

REGISTRATION IS A SINGULARLY INTERESTING AND CREATIVE PART OF LEARNING THE ORGAN.

HAVE FUN AND TRY AS MANY COMBINATIONS OF STOPS AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. NOW TRY ALL POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS OF TWO 8' STOPS, THEN REPEAT WITH ALL POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS OF ONE 8' AND ONE 4' STOP, 8' & 2', AND SO ON. NEXT EXPERIMENT WITH COMBINATIONS OF THREE STOPS, UNTIL YOU'VE EXHAUSTED THE POSSIBILITIES.

LOVE TO HEAR OF YOUR DISCOVERIES!

BEST REGARDS,
TONY