The pipe organ has numerous, sometimes thousands, of working components that produce its majestic ranges of sounds. Thus, the king of instruments. The “style of action” is (one of) the pipe organ’s essential inner workings. Action is determined by the functions carried out when a key or pedal is pressed so as to produce sound. Of four common actions, the tracker action and electro-pneumatic action are the two most widely used today.
Graphics courtesy of Hardman Wulitzer
Graphics courtesy of Hardman Wulitzer
Tracker Organ
The Tracker Organ is the oldest action, dating back to the 17th Century. It has a mechanical keyboard-valve system. The tracker mechanism is a rod that connects a key (or pedal) to the valve that then opens and closes a pipe. The organist has more control of the sound due to the direct connection between the tracker and keys, thus allowing air to move quickly into pipes. In the 1920s, electronic organs developed and replaced most tracker organs. Now the tracker organs have returned and are preferred by modern organists and organ builders. (Leek Team- Kilgen Tracker Organ 2022-2023 Restorati
Electro-Pneumatic Organ
The Electro-pneumatic (EP) organ has a keyboard-valve system that includes both electricity and air pressure. A key is pressed, then an electric circuit shuts, activating a magnet, which deflates an air-filled leather pouch and pulls down a “pallet” to open its corresponding pipe. In effect, these actions are reversed as the key is released. Consoles are able to stand alone since the connection only requires a cable, unlike the tracker-to-pipe action described above. This allows for more convenient settings for the various components of the pipe organ and creates flexibility for the church when considering its construction/placement. Integration with Solid State Technology also allows to significantly increase the stops/voices available to the organist as in the Berghaus Pipe Organ that our team is also currently restoring in a phased approach.
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