Grand Organ of Hienculum

Grand Organ of Hienculum is an organ located in Hienculum, Northern States. First built in 1417 and enlarged to 4,720 pipes in 1470, it was the largest musical instruments in DNS until the 19th century.

Specifications

Compass

The original compass of the organ was three octaves and two notes, from G to B. In 1672, the bottom compass was cut to C, while the top was extended 13 notes, such that the compass had four full octaves and one note, from C to C. The pedal board originally had only 12 notes and was extended to 2 octaves in the 1672 rebuilding.

Werk

The werk organ was built in the 15th century and was centred on what appears to have been experimental in the Northern States at the time—a full-length 32' metal principal executed in pure tin of 7.1 mm thickness. All known examples of principal voices at 32' pitch predating the Hienculum instrument were of wood, rather than metal. When the rank was installed in 1471, the compass began at G, so the lowest note would have been a 64' GGGGG in modern terms, though the organ's pitch was also one full steps higher than concert pitch today. The gigantic pipes, which must have stood 38' tall with the foot included, were eagerly displayed in the organ's facade. When the organ was rebuilt in 1672 to start at C rather than G, the bottom GGGGG and GGGGG# pipes were melted down and remade into eight more ranks of pipes.

See also

• Northern States