Rodgers A648, Owner'S Manual

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Mutation Common name Relationship to concert pitch
2-2/3’ Nazard one octave and a fifth above
1-3/5’ Tierce two octaves and a third above
1-1/3’ Larigot two octaves and a fifth above
Mutations are most commonly from the flute family and are often used with other flute stops
in registrations or ensembles for early organ music. Because mutations often appear in
divisions with a number of other flute stops, a great diversity of solo color can be achieved by
using various combinations of stops. See the following table for common solo registrations
utilizing mutations.
Common Registrations for a Solo Melody
Using Flute Stops and Mutation Stops
Flutes 8’ + 4’ + 2-2/3’ + 2’ + 1-3/5’
Flutes 8’ + 2-2/3’ + 1-3/5’
Flutes 8’ + 4’ + 2-2/3’
Flutes 8’ + 4’ + 2-2/3’
Flutes 8’ + 4’ + 2-2/3’ + 2’
Flutes 8’ + 4’ + 1-1/3’
Larger organs may have one or two mutation stops from the principal family. In most cases,
these ranks are used to add color to the principal chorus.
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Roman Numeral? It’s a “Mixture” stop.
Mixture stops are easily identified because of a Roman numeral. Mixtures consist of multiple
Principal ranks; the Roman numeral following the name denotes the number of ranks contained
in the mixture. For example, a
Mixture IV stop contains four ranks of Principal pipes. (A “rank”
is a distinct set of pipes. Most stops consist of one rank of 61 pipes = one pipe per keyboard
note. A four-rank mixture would have 4 pipes playing on each note.) Common mixture stop
names include:
Mixtur, Mixture Cymbale Chorus Mixture Grand Fourniture
Fourniture Zimbel Grave Mixture Harmonics
Plein Jeu Scharf, Scharff Rauschquint Acuta
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Céleste stops
Célestes are unique among organ stops in that they are intentionally tuned sharp or flat in
relation to the rest of the instrument, thereby producing an undulating (or “wavy”) effect.
Célestes are paired with a partner stop (often called a “unison”) which is similar in color to the
céleste stop but is in tune with the balance of the organ. When the unison and céleste are
drawn together, the tuning discrepancy between the two stops creates a beautiful undulating
quality suitable for lush, romantic textures. Célestes are either from the string or flute family,
with the latter usually being the quieter of the two. Some Céleste stops have a “II” (Roman