Observations on metal alloy and types of tongue and shallot in Lithuanian Baroque pipe organs

ENThe chapter deals with the collected analytical data and experimental attempts, revealing and exposing the difference in Vox humana pipe sound production based on the composition of metal and the specifics of tongue. The importance for restoring the true sound of an old pipe organ to suit and enhance the music that was contemporary to the time of the building of the instrument is directly connected to the movement of historically approached performance in music and the meaning of authenticity that emerged in the twentieth century. Therefore in nowadays practice of organ building we face the tendency for re-employing the old forgotten or abandoned secrets of craftsmanship, because a complex of components (metal pipe manufacture, type of construction, application of traditional techniques, and the use of specific material) plays an important role to closely mimic the historically accurate sound of an organ. In the production of sound quality of Baroque Vox humana stop, the route of the wind passing through the pipe is determined by a couple of essential components. Alongside to the shape of resonator of the pipe (discussed in Chap. 6), the construction and alloy of the shallot and tongue is no less significant to achieve the desired sound. The chemical analysis of Lithuanian Baroque Vox humana,as well as Trompete and Posaune pipes (based on the X-ray fluorescent method, XRF) displays the metal composition that was specific for organ manufacture in Lithuanian territories in the discussed period. [From the publication]