mercredi 10 juillet 2019

Importance Of Pipe Organ Maintenance

By Amy Gray


Well-established churches, especially cathedral, need massive music instruments for their congregation or choir. One of those instruments is a pipe organ. It produces sound when pressurized air is driven through organ pipes via a keyboard selection. Pipe organ maintenance is a very crucial aspect that needs to be maintained regularly. Below the importance are discussed in details.

Regular checkups need to be done for this instrument to produce the best sound quality. Tuning is one of primary keys to better sound production. An expert to avoid any damage can do it twice a year. An adjustment may be made at the end of winter and summer seasons since temperature affects them.

Another way of organ maintenance is by playing every note frequently in different time intervals. With that done, the organ will be more durable. The action prevents dust and dirt from building in the parts, relying on wind conduction and pipes as well. It ensures the needed humidity degree is in place. The drill is done to instruments that are not used regularly.

Leather and wood used to make the organ wear out as time passes by. They need to be renewed once this has been noted. Proven impregnation solutions are used for the treatment of such perishable materials. Once the soundboard is dismantled, the opening of the note channels is done first. If the damage is quite bad, the parts are replaced with new parts. The pieces require being constructed exactly as the original part.

Temperature change affects the organs sound quality. Proper care needs to be taken in rooms that are heated. The temperatures fluctuation is supposed to be maintained to prevent the wood from drying. Insecticides can be used to get rid of insects that damage the wood. Leaving alone the equipment while ensuring proper conditions are provided is the ultimate step to making the device last longer.

A trusted organist is required for a machine to work at its best. They need to have the proper knowledge and appreciate the delegated responsibility. Their work is to observe, assess, and report any damage in time for the maintenance to get done.

Pipes of this massive instrument are made of alloys of lead and tin. It makes them very delicate to handle. Bumps or knocks can cause major dents that destroy their quality. When handling them using the hand, one needs to use the utmost care. Reduction of any possible further damage can take place if the handling is done appropriately.

Organs dated back in the 17th century form an oxide layer on the metal pipes surface, making their color change to a black tone, and they also become stiffer like the shell of a crab. One should leave them as they are for polishing them will make them making lose their historic sound quality completely. Touching them with fingerprints tarnishes their surface. It could also activate rust, making them look ugly. Some shops use a clear varnish to finish the pipes. Rust is therefore put at bay reducing the cost of maintenance. Entrusting the passage of time is one of the best moves.




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