Pipe Organ

  • Pipe organ

    The Pipe Organ in Kyoto Concert Hall (Main Hall) made by Johannes Klais Orgelbau GmbH & Co. KG (of Germany) is one of the biggest organs in Japan. This organ has 90 stops and 7,155 pipes that is the biggest scales in Kansai region. And the console has 4 manuals (keyboard) and pedals.
    Especially at sounds, this organ has many type of sounds, has both French pipes and German pipes, in addition this organ can make Japanese Instruments sounds (Sho, Hichiriki, Shinobue and Shakuhachi).
    “Shakuhachi” pipes are made by bamboo and unique organ as Combination of Japanese and European.

    The Pipe Organ

    History

    The pipe organ is an ancient instrument, with its origins dating to the third century BC. What could be called the original form of the organ is said to have been produced in this era. Since its inception it has slowly established a reputation as an instrument closely tied to religion, which developed to a point where, by the 13th century, practically every church built contained a pipe organ. The instrument is particularly well renowned in the West, often seen used at church services and gatherings.
    Organ music was first introduced to Japan with Japan’s shift towards westernization in the 19th century. While the pipe organ remained a somewhat rare instrument at the time, this began to change in the 70s and 80s. The expansion of cultural facilities led to the birth of music halls all over Japan, and with this the pipe organ also became a familiar sight. Today uniquely designed pipe organs can be seen in pretty much any major hall or performing theater in Japan, in many ways making the instrument an invaluable part of Japan’s classical music scene.

    Mechanism

    Mechanism

    While at first glance the principles upon which the pipe organ produces sound appears extremely complex, it is actually relatively simple. First, air is sent from the blower part installed on the side of the organ to what is called a “wind chest”. Pressing each key opens a valve on the wind chest sending air to the pipe and producing a sound. The pipe organ acts on a similar principle to how we blow into a flute to play a sound.

    Pipe diversity

    ―Overview

    Pipes used in a pipe organ can be broadly broken up into two main categories based on the sound-producing mechanism used.
    One is a “flue pipe,” where the pipe itself reverberates like a recorder, and the other is a “reed pipe,” where a reed vibrates like a clarinet. Each pipe has variations in tone, with a name attached to each pipe.
    Organists produce a unique musical tapestry through a combination of thousands of varying pipes. You could say they resemble a “painter,” mixing together various paints to produce a single color.

    ―Flue pipes

    Flue pipes

    The “Principal” pipe class, which makes up the majority of “flue pipes,” is, as the name suggests, a class of metal pipe that serves as the core component in an organ. The large pipes seen at the front of the instrument are principal pipes, and these are responsible for producing the resplendent sounds that organs are often known for.
    Pipes come in a great many variations, and the tones they produce differ not only due to the materials used, but also their thickness, length and shape. Each pipe is given an instrument name based on the type of tone they produce. Several examples include the “flute”, “roll flute (which produces a tone similar to that of a recorder)” and the “viola da gamba (a type of stringed instrument)”.

    (Example) Principal class, flute, viola da gamba

    ―Reed pipes

    Reed pipes

    A famous stop of the “reed pipe” is the bright “trumpet” class, which is often used to vary the character, tone or volume of a piece. Ensemble performances introduce trumpet class pipes to produce compositions that resemble that of an orchestra.

    (Example) Trumpets, trombones, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, crumhorns (pipes reproducing the sound of the woodwind instrument, the crumhorn, used in the baroque period)

    Pipe organ at the Kyoto Concert Hall

    Characteristics

    The pipe hall at the Kyoto Concert Hall is located on the right when seen from audience seating to the rear of the stage. The reason for this coincides with the Hall’s design, and is said to help “alleviate issues with sound centricity” and facilitate an “asymmetry in orchestra sound sources”.
    Pipes belonging to the manual are located at the center of the Hall, and the pipes belonging to the pedalboard are located on the right side.

    Famed German builder

    The position of the organ in the Kyoto Concert Hall is located on the right when seen from audience seating to the rear of the stage out of consideration for the Hall’s design. Pipes belonging to the manual are located at the center of the Hall, and the pipes belonging to the pedalboard are located on the right side.

    ―Orgelbau Klais

    Orgelbau Klais

    The pipe organ in the Kyoto Concert Hall is an instrument produced by the famous German organ builder, “Orgelbau Klais”. Since its founding in 1882 by organ builder Johannes Klais (1852–1925), Orgelbau Klais has produced a wide range of pipe organs seen all over the world, from Europe and the U.S., to Asia and Oceania.

    Halls and cathedrals where a Orgelbau Klais organ can be seen

    Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne Cathedral, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Gasteig in Munich, the Birmingham Symphony Hall, the Krakow Philharmonic Hall, the Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, etc.

    Orgelbau Klais official website

    One of the largest pipe organs in Japan, with 90 stops and over 7,000 pipes

    Pipe organ

    The reason that the pipe organ in the Kyoto Concert Hall produces such powerful sounds is because of the sheer number of stops (number of tones) the organ has. With 90 stops combining both German and French pipe ranks, the pipe organ in the Kyoto Concert Hall is capable of producing expressive musical compositions of a level of richness not readily seen anywhere in the world.

    Tones produced through the rare fusion of four Japanese instrumental sounds

    Pipe organ

    In addition to the abovementioned German and French pipes, the pipe organ also comes equipped with pipes that produce sounds from Japanese instruments such as the Shakuhachi, the Sho, the Hichiriki, and the Shino flute. The pipe organ is capable of producing the sounds of Japanese music, making it possible to “Japan and the West” as per the conceptual theme for the Kyoto Concert Hall.

    Stop list (disposition)

    Listen to the sounds of the Kyoto Concert Hall pipe organ

    From the “Omron Pipe Organ Concert Series Vol. 60 (Sep. 16, 2017)”

    ♪Nicolas de Grigny: Hymn (Veni Creator) No. 1 “Five-part cantus firmus composition in tenor range ’Veni Creator’”

    ♪Louis Vierne:(Morceaux de fantaisie) - (Westminster Bells) op.54-6

    [Performance]François Espinasse (Organist of the Royal Chapel in the Palace of Versailles)

    François Espinasse

    François Espinasse

    Studying the organ under Xavier Darasse at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Toulouse, François Espinasse graduated in 1980 with the Premier Prix (1st prize). He furthered his studies under André Isoir the following year. Currently he is an organist at the Paroisse de Saint-Séverin in Paris while teaching students as an organ teacher at the Conservatoire national supérieur musique de Lyon. He also serves as a member of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (organ section) and, in 2010, was appointed as one of the four organists of the Royal Chapel in the Palace of Versailles. He has toured some 20 countries as both a concert organist and a master class professor.

    Specifications

    Overview

    Pipe organ
    Total no. of stops

    90

    Total no. of pipes

    7155

    Organ platforms

    2 (4-level manual, pedalboard)

    Construction

    1995

    Design/construction

    Orgelbau Klais (Bonn, Germany)
    Johannes Klais Orgelbau

    Assembly/arrangement

    Orgelbau Klais, Yamaha Corporation

    Organ platforms

    Pipe organs can use two different performing platforms depending on the style of the piece. One is known as a “tracker action type”, which is installed directly to the organ itself. The other is known as a “remote action type”, which is set up on the stage. The “remote action” mechanism works by sending an electric signal to the organ to produce sounds.

    1st organ platform

    1st organ platform (4-level manual, pedalboard)
    ・Mechanical key action
    ・Electric stop action

    2nd organ platform

    2nd organ platform (4-level manual, pedalboard)
    ・Electric key action
    ・Electric stop action

    Pedal
    Manual No. I Grand Choeur
    C-c4 61 keys
    Positif C-c4 61 keys
    Manual No. II Grand Orgue C-c4 61 keys
    Hauptwerk C-c4 61 keys
    Manual No. III Récit Expressif C-c4 61 keys
    Manual No. IV Schwellwerk C-c4 61 keys
    Pedalboard Pedalwerk C-g1 32 keys
    (Parallel type)

    Performance assistance features

    Coupler:Links manuals to allow the performer to play notes on other manuals when pressing a key on a single manual.
    III/I IV/I I/II III/II IV/II
    I/II Sub. III/II Sub. IV/III IV/IV Sub.
    I/Ped. II/Ped. III/Ped. IV/Ped.

    Tremolo:Stirs the air blown to produce a tremolo (vibrato) effect.
    Positif(I) Recit Expressif(III)Schwellwerk(IV)

    Swell box

    Swell box:This functions by opening and closing the shutters on the swell box using the foot pedals to adjust the volume of sound produced.
    Recit Expressif(III)Schwellwerk(IV)

    Crescendo pedals(two types: standard/free selection):This functions by varying the number of stops using pedals to produce a crescendo.
    Recit Expressif(III)Schwellwerk(IV)

    Sequencer

    Sequencer:This functions by advancing or regressing on a registered stop changes (combination of stops) with the press of a button.

    Memory system
    Group (1-16) × Combination (A-H) = 128 sets
    Memory card

    Two air blower systems

    Pipe organ

    Modern organs seen in regular concert halls send air from a fan into an air container and kept at a level pressure before being sent to the various pipes in the pipe organ. Conversely, traditional organs used in the West are built to contain multiple large bellows which alternate between inflating and blowing out air based on the air volume in use.
    The pipe organ in the Kyoto Concert Hall incorporates both air blower systems into its design, which can be alternated between when using Manual No. 1 and 2. The variation in the timbre of the instrument this system produces greatly expands the potential scope for musical expression.
    (I,Positif II,Hauptwerk/Grand Orgue)
    Normal wind Schwimmer
    Amendment wind 4 Keilbaelge

  • Stop List(Disposition)

    • German Stops are written in Red, French Stops are written in Black and Japanese Stops are written in .

      Schwellwerk (Manual IV) 15 Stops C-c4 61Notes
      Pitch Pipes
      1 Quintatön 16' 61
      2 Geigenprincipal 8' 61
      3 Flauto amabile 8' 61
      4 Liebl.Gedackt 8' 61
      5 Salicional 8' 61
      6 Unda maris 8' 49
      7 Fugara 4' 61
      8 Flauto minor 4' 61
      10 Nasat 2 2/3' 61
      11 Piccolo 2' 61
      12 Terz 1 3/5' 61
      13 Sifflöte 1' 61
      14 Mixtur III 183
      16 Tremulant 1,025 Pipes
      17 IV-IVSub
      Récit Expressif (Manual III) 17 Stops C-c4 61Notes
      Pitch Pipes
      18 Bourdon 16' 61
      19 Diapason 8' 61
      20 Flûte traversière 8' 61
      21 Cor de nuit 8' 61
      22 Viole de Gamba 8' 61
      23 Voix celéste 8' 49
      24 Octave 4' 61
      25 Flûte octaviante 4' 61
      27 Octavin 2' 61
      28 Cornet V 210
      29 Plein jeu harm. II-V 233
      30 Basson 16' 61
      31 Tromp.harm. 8' 66
      32 Basson Hautbois 8' 66
      33 Voix humaine 8' 66
      34 Clairon harm. 4' 95
      35 Tremulant 1,374 Pipes
      36 IV-III
      Grand Orgue (Manual II) 13 Stops C-c4 61Notes
      Pitch Pipes
      37 Montre 16' 61
      38 Bourdon 16' 61
      39 Montre 8' 61
      40 Flûte 8' 61
      41 Préstant 4' 61
      42 Flûte 4' 61
      43 Grande Tierce 3 1/5' 61
      44 Quinte 2 2/3' 61
      45 Quarte 2' 61
      46 Tierce 1 3/5' 61
      47 Grande Fourniture II 122
      48 Fourniture IV 244
      49 Cymbale IV 244
      1,220 Pipes
      Hauptwerk (Manual II) 7 Stops C-c4 61Notes
      Pitch Pipes
      50 Principal 8' 61
      51 Octave 4' 61
      52 Superoctave 2' 61
      53 Mixtur IV-VI 305
      54 Scharff V 305
      55 Fagott 16' 61
      56 Trompete 8' 66
      57 I-II 920 Pipes
      58 III-II
      59 IV-II
      60 I-IISub
      61 III-IISub
      Grand Choeur (Manual I) 6 Stops C-c4 61Notes
      Pitch Pipes
      62 Flûte harm. 8' 61
      63 Grand Cornet V 185
      64 Bombarde 16' 61
      65 Trompette 8' 66
      67 Clairon 4' 95
      504 Pipes
      Positif (Manual I) 15 Stops C-c4 61Notes
      Pitch Pipes
      68 Montre 8' 61
      69 Quintadena 8' 61
      70 Gedackt 8' 61
      71 Prestant 4' 61
      72 Principal 4' 61
      73 Koppelflöte 4' 61
      74 Spitzquinte 2 2/3' 61
      75 Doublette 2' 61
      76 Waldflöte 2' 61
      77 Sifflöete 1 1/3' 61
      78 Sesquialter II 122
      79 Plein jeu V 305
      80 Scharff IV 244
      81 Trompette 8' 66
      82 Cromorne 8' 61
      1,408 Pipes
      83 Tremulant
      84 III-I
      85 IV-I
      Pedal 17 Stops C-g1 32notes
      Pitch Pipes
      86 Flûte 32' 32
      87 Untersatz 32' 32
      88 Flûte 16' 32
      89 Principal 16' 32
      90 Soubasse 16' 32
      91 Flûte 8' 32
      92 Octavbass 8' 32
      93 Octave 4' 32
      94 Mixtur VI 192
      95 Contra Bombarde 32' 32
      96 Bombarde 16' 32
      97 Posaune 16' 32
      98 Fagott 16' 32
      99 Trompette 8' 32
      100 Trompete 8' 32
      101 Clairon 4' 32
      102 Schalmey 4' 32
      704 Pipes
      103 I-Ped
      104 Ⅱ-Ped
      105 III-Ped
      106 IV-Ped

    7,155 Pipes

  • The Positive Organ

    The Kyoto Concert Hall has another organ known as a “positive organ”. Opening up this small organ reveals the same basic structure as the pipe organ in the Main Hall, with over 200 pipes ordered systematically inside. While not bearing the same number of pipes as the main pipe organ, this still allows for changes in tone.
    The great advantage of this instrument is its portability, enabling its use in both the Main Hall and Ensemble Hall Murata. This instrument is ideally suited to small-scale ensemble performances, and in particular compositions featuring basso continuo parts (an improvised accompaniment played in relation to a number written for the bass part) often seen in pieces from the baroque period.

    Pipe organ Pipe organ

    Overview

    1-level manual

    54 keys C-f3 *No pedalboard

    No. of stops

    4

    No. of pipes

    216

    Reference pitch

    442Hz

    Design/construction

    Orgelbau Klais (Bonn, Germany/1996)

    Assembly/arrangement

    Orgelbau Klais, Yamaha Corporation

    Donor

    OMRON Corporation

    Stop list

    Quinte 1 1/3’
    Prinzipal 2’
    Rohrflöte 4’
    Holzgedackt 8’