The Mixture voice of a typical Waldkirch-built instrument was
described thus:
A mixture consists of a number of ranks of open principal pipes
at different pitches which sound together for each note. A typical
"three-rank mixture" in a fairground organ comprises of a 4', the
quint 2-2/3' above it, and the 2' super octave. Where the melody
section is predominantly at 8' pitch, the mixture is added to this
foundation to achieve a forte effect in the music. The accompaniment
is also so strengthened during forte passages; in this case higher
harmonics are especially favoured, for example 2-2/3' + 2' + l-3/5'
(thereby forming a "cornet mixture"), or 2-2/3' + 2'.
Ref. page 67, "Waldkirch Street and Fairground Organs", by Herbert
Jüttemann, translation and revision by Andrew Pilmer, publ. (C) 2002 by
A. C. Pilmer Automatic Music (Leasing) Ltd., Rufforth, York YO23 3QW
Robbie Rhodes
|