A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Reedstop
REEDSTOP. When the pipes controlled by a draw-stop produce their tone by means of a vibrating reed, the stop is called a Reedstop; when the pipes contain no such reeds, but their tone is produced merely by the impinging of air against a sharp edge, the stop is called a Fluestop. Any single pipe of the former kind is called a Reed-pipe, any single pipe of the latter kind, a Flue-pipe. Pipes containing Free reeds are seldom used in English organs, but are occasionally found in foreign instruments under the name of Physharmonika, etc. [See Reed.] The reedstops consisting of 'striking-reeds' are voiced in various ways to imitate the sounds of the Oboe, Cor Anglais, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Cornopean, Trumpet, etc., all of which are of 8ft. pitch (that is, in unison with the diapason). The Clarion 4-ft. is an octave-reedstop. The Double Trumpet 16-ft. is a reedstop one octave lower in pitch than the diapason; it is also called a Contra-posaune, or sometimes a Trombone. Reedstops of the trumpet class are often placed on a very high pressure of wind under such names as Tuba mirabilis, Tromba major, etc.; such high-pressure reedstops are generally found on the Solo-manual; the reedstops of the Great organ being of moderate loudness; those on the Choir organ altogether of a softer character. A very much larger proportion of reedstops is usually assigned to the Swell organ than to any other manual, owing to the brilliant crescendo which they produce as the shutters of the swell-box open. Reedstops are said to be 'harmonic' when the tubes of the pipes are twice their normal length and perforated halfway with a small hole. Their tone is remarkably pure and brilliant. The best modern organ builders have made great improvements in the voicing of reedstops, which are now produced in almost infinite variety both as to quality and strength of tone.
[ J. S. ]