Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 2004 > 2004.07.17 > 01Prev  Next


Organ Pipe Pitch vs. Air Temperature
By Nicholas Simons

The organ builder's bible, Audsley: The Art of Organ-Building, gives
a table that relates the pitch of a flue pipe to the air temperature.
This is abbreviated below showing only the two end temperatures of the
scale.

A nominal pitch of a1 = 439 Hz at 68 deg. F. (20 C.) will change to
435 Hz at 59 deg. F. (15 C.).  A graphical representation of this table
will allow one to extrapolate at either end.

Audsley also gives details of the various pitch standards that existed
in 1899 prior to the standardisation of 'Concert Pitch', which may or
may not be a1 = 440 Hz at 20 C.!

As already stated by Robbie, you need to watch your reeds as they do
not change with temperature.  This gives problems to fair organs in hot
weather.  When very hot I switch off my organ's trombones in order to
preserve my sanity.

I hope this helps.

Nicholas Simons, GB


(Message sent Sat 17 Jul 2004, 09:52:04 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  Air, Organ, Pipe, Pitch, Temperature, vs

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page