Bennett Early Keyboards :: 2 Rank Chamber Organ

2 Rank Chamber Organ

This organ was conceived and designed as a true house organ. Its size, design and tonal characteristics are set to work in the domestic environment. This instrument’s basic 8’ sound is a rank of gently blown wooden principals. This rank is open from tenor f, the remaining octave and a half is completed with rich sounding, narrow scaled stopped pipes. A 4’ stopped flute completes the chorus. This rank provides brightness without overpowering either the 8’ or the player. Its sweet sound is also useable on its own at either 4’ or 8’ pitch.

The simple suspended action allows the player complete control over the pipe speech.

The case, which reflects 17th and 18th century Italian designs, is mahogany with white oak and walnut details. The naturals are covered in yellowheart and the sharps are African blackwood. The speaking façade pipes, built of Alaskan yellow cedar, are drawn from the principal rank.

Range: C-d’’’

Dimensions:
Width 36”
Depth 21”
Height 81”

Click the play button to hear the "2 Rank Chamber Organ" 8'

8' + 4"

Thanks to the Carson Cooman for providing these recordings. www.CarsonCooman.com

"This is exactly the sort of instrument I'd hoped for: one which encourages the refinement and sharpening of technique, allowing for as much expressive and articulative control as is possible in an organ, and with a beautiful, rich principal-based sound that is not overbearing but also timbrally interesting enough to allow hours of playing.

As practically useful as the general trend of the last 30+ years has been with focus on small organs being so heavily on their use as continuo instruments, it has caused a neglect of the potentials of the small chamber organ for expressive realization of solo music. And what you've built here is I think currently quite unique among small instruments today, certainly in this country..."

Carson Cooman May 2013