Reeding 101 - Chapter 2 - Pointers for the Reed Organ

[@cornband]

Great instruction! Reed organs are seriously under-appreciated

[@gjopp7251]

Thank you so much for a tutorial on this older generation of organ. I have been asked to play an 1800's reed organ for a wedding, and was freaking out until I viewed your pointers. They will get me through. I watched Chapter 2 three times I think! Very helpful....

[@cynthiawigington1236]

Our church was given a reed organ and I would like to be able to play I when the pianist can't be there. This is a huge help. I guess someone was playing it this weekend who was brand new to the organ and left some stops open. Thanks for telling us to close them. If I had not gone over today they may have been left open for years.

[@fltxix]

About 5:19 or so: Yep, those couplers got my attention in one of your other videos. Thank you for pointing me to this explanation. This is an excellent series!

[@arcticwolf4029]

This lesson was great. I don't have that many stops on my Dominion reed organ, but your video gave me more ideas. Thank you.

[@millerchism8746]

Found a reed organ while at my great grandmothers and wanted to learn how to operate one so this helped out.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Hi Rodney I found an old Lehr 7 Octave Piano cased Reed Organ, it has the same range as a Piano, you play it very much like a Piano but it has that Classic Reed Organ sound. All of the additional ranks of Reeds and Couplers are controlled by two knee swells so that way my hands won't bump into any stops when I'm playing.

[@ZeldaZelda-RichesToRags]

Rodney...you are so amazing! Your information has been very helpful...keep on sharing with us...is so appreciated. I got a Boston/Steinway 6 Ft grand piano with an awesome sound system...so I've gotten a little sidetracked but, my love of playing reed organ still has my heart....love playing music...May God bless you and your family!

[@michaelnancyamsden7410]

Great help to me. Have been gifted a Reed organ. It needs a little help with about 8 reeds.

[@dwightridenour8057]

These lessons are great! I'm restoring a 100+ year old Möller reed organ and these tutorials help decipher a lot if the parts I'm finding as I tear it apart. Also, I'm not sure that all of the stop knobs were in the correct positions, so I'm not sure what change they make to the sound. This lesson was very helpful.

[@ReedOrgans]

@msctchr1 The builders you listed have a very good reputation putting out quality instruments. I also found that Packards are nice organs to play too. In the area where I live, most are from the Canadian builders, such as Dominion, Bell, Karn - who built good instruments too - but in the end I think it all depends on the sound you are after, as I think every reed organ seems to have its own voice. My favorite is a huge Clough and Warren at the Lee Conklin Reed Organ Museum in MI.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

0:56 The position of where the Keyboard divides varies from model to model. On Berlin Reed Organs like this one the split is between G# below Middle C in the Bass and A below Middle C in the Treble.

[@johannessilver8653]

Good information, thanks.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Beckwith made Piano Cased Reed Organs which have up to 6 stops, and the Couplers are activated from the center pedal. Beckwith was also nice to include (with all of their instruments) a Bench, a Scarf to keep you warm while you play, and a method book with lots of very easy to play Keyboard Pieces so you can get started playing some really beautiful non-disturbing music.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

3:59 This stop is called Flute D'amore or Mezzo-Soprano Flute

[@19dt66]

Awsome videos, love the sound of these beauties. Learned a lot about reed organs. Thanks for the videos. Waiting for #3. Oh, and I LOVE your shirt.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The advantages of having those different banks of reeds in different octaves (kinda like Double the Soprano part down an Octave with a Tenor 2) is that if you make the Melody in Octaves & put all the Chords inside it, it's pretty easy to hear what the melody note is.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I'm getting a Beckwith Home Queen Piano-Organ (6 Stop Action) because as a Keyboardist I can get this awesome sound.

[@Belgologies]

I love it a lot ! Thank you so much ! What a great master you are, see you soon ! My Internet will be back soon ... Amish greetings from Belgium :)

[@baritonebynight]

These vids are better than using my 1886 Reed Organ Methods book!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Full Organ mode (all stops, effects, couplers, percussion instruments, etc) is great for just about every song.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

This Reed Organ has a 5 Octave Range exactally like a Harpsichord from F1 to F6 so you can play Harpsichord pieces on it that Bach wrote, & also use it as a Continuo Instrument. On this pparticular instrument the split is at the A below Middle C for the Treble & the G Sharp/A Flat below that for the Bass.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

0:22 I remember you playing the Mario Bros theme on the Reed Organ when you were little

[@Zylstra555]

I would love to see Reeding Chapter 3,

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

0:22 Mario Bros theme in Full Organ Mode. I find Full Organ mode on any Organ ideal for Solo Keyboard Pieces, Continuo playing, & Song covers.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Some reed Organs have up to 3 Keyboards & also Bass Pedals like a Pipe Organ so you play them like a Pipe Organ.

[@Zylstra555]

Rodney, you mentioned doing a third chapter and I really, really would like to see it. Especially with where Vox Humana should be used. I am an organist, and on my regular practice pipe organ I have a tremulant - I only use it for varying Gospel Music adding it to the second verse often to give the sound a wider effect. I would love to know how it can be incorporated into classical. I have nearly all the parts I need to finish repairing my reed organ now.

[@ReedOrgans]

@msctchr1 - In most cases it depends on how many ranks of reeds it has - especially if it has a full 16/8/4/2’ range of pitches in both treble and bass, and a sub bass. Many are fooled by the amount of stops it has - although it is a good sign to have more than 16 stops, you have to be careful that the builder split the keyboard into 5 sections, essentially one stop per octave (avoid these if you plan to play and enjoy it). All the best in your reed organ search! Rodney

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

That's why they often include a Manual with these Organs

[@nedopisa]

Great Tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@ReedOrgans]

Thank you!

[@VinceSinging]

Oh man, I need to play one!!!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@UCIzs2sMcM_Fztt8xPFX4sSg When you play a C on Reed organ it sounds as a C Sharp because this Organ transposes up a Half Step. Nowadays Reed Organs have been tuned to 440 so it can accompany the Voice.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

2:21 What is that piece of music?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@UCIzs2sMcM_Fztt8xPFX4sSg The reason why they have the reed sets split in both Bass & Treble is so you can emulate a Pipe Organ sound.

[@samuelchristensen322]

What is the song called when you start playing at 4:41? I would love to know so I can play it myself on my reed organ

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@UCIzs2sMcM_Fztt8xPFX4sSg I notice the a C Sounds as a C Sharp because this particular reed organ transposes up a Half Step (A=466 same as 440 Bb).

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

What was that opening piece?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I'd prefer having a 3 Manual Reed Organ that also has a Pedal Board like the Pipe Organ because it's even bigger in versatility plus I can play Pipe Organ pieces from any Organ sheet music.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

2:20 Song name? It's my favorite song I'd like to sing while I play on the Reed Organ.

[@SuperPianoman2010]

Hi, I am restoring a Thomas Reed organ, 61 note keyboard and 16 stops. Has couplers and bass reeds ,168 in total. The 3rd bass stop has its round label missing....would you know the stop name? Thanks

[@nikogonatos]

Great video Rodney! Quick question: I'm a church organist just learning the reed organ. Can I use the stops on a reed organ to create registrations that are typically used on pipe organs? For example, 8', 4', and 2' stops make a principal chorus. Since reed organ stops don't typically have the "pipe length number" on them, which reed organ stops can create a principal chorus?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

They'd have to add the length numbers to help

[@ruthgoebel723]

Is the 'grand organ' the same as the 'great organ' on a pipe organ?

[@thomasm.longiii3752]

8:15 to 8:39 What’s that music called?

[@PS_Principal]

Great tutorial! There were many things I didn't knew about reed organ. It was very helpful, but I have one question: on my reed organ, when left knee lever is pressed, the coupler that connects the first and the second manual is turned on. The problem is that when I pull the coupler knob out the keys are barely moving, but when I press the coupler knee lever, the coupler works fine for some time. I would be very grateful if you could possibly tell me what is the problem and how could I fix it to work right every time I pull the coupler knob out. All in all - thank you for a great video.

[@ReedOrgans]

Thanks for the comment! The left knee lever (called the Grand Organ) often operates the linkages in a different area as compared to the stops. One could say it is further down the chain... so the problem could be where the stop rod engages the link that operates the couplers. It should be an easy fix without taking too much of the organ apart, but then it all depends on the type of organ. Some organs have adjusters for this, others would need to be shimmed at the stop rod/wedge block.

[@PS_Principal]

Thank you so much for advice. I will try to fix it.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The Keys are made entirely out of Ivory & Ebony like they used to have on Pianos but nobody does it that way anymore for economical reasons, if Reed Organs were being made today they would now use Black & White Plastic Keys.

[@ReedOrgans]

A master? :) LOL Thanks!

[@thomasm.longiii3752]

Also, 4:42 to 5:15, what’s the name of the music and where the video of it (or was it just made for the video).

[@ReedOrgans]

That is the hymn, "Teach Me Thy Way".

[@cysteine251]

What is the year of the video of you playing Mario's Overworld theme?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I love that one

[@santoshghante6927]

Thankyou

[@AlwynWestland]

Thanks!!!

[@Knappa22]

Rodney quick question - is the muted stop always located next to its parent stop?

[@ReedOrgans]

Knappa22 - Yes, all the ones I have seen are beside the parent stop. But that makes me wonder if any builders separated them...

[@Knappa22]

Ah thanks :). Ever the enthusiast, my question has just made you ask yourself another! The wonderful world of reed organs :)

[@MrDude-gt3yn]

My 1902 Cornish & Co has the borrowed and parent stops separated in some places. For example, the Diapason is stop #5, but the Piano (muted Diapason) is stop #7. Looking at the linkages in the back, they are connected, so the Piano must be borrowed from the Diapason...another interesting thing is that it also has two Forte stops, Orchestral and Diapason...one opens the front swell and one opens the back swell...and there are also of course the knee swell and Grand Organ. Anyway, it's just interesting, we're restoring it now for my church! :)

[@thomasm.longiii3752]

What’s the name of the song playing on the gramophone?

[@ReedOrgans]

Toot,Toot, Tootsie, Goodbye :)

[@thomasm.longiii3752]

Rodney Jantzi Is there a video of it or is it just a video you borrowed?

[@ReedOrgans]

I made it with my gramophone, I only made a 30 second clip of it.

[@thomasm.longiii3752]

Rodney Jantzi OK then. Sounds like a cool version.

[@jrzzrj]

good show......woo hoo !!

[@mixolydius]

Are you sure about the stops? I seem the labeling is completely wrong.

[@ReedOrgans]

Yes, I have seen enough reed organs that I have a good idea as to what the stops are :)

[@c33r0k33]

Could we hear the whole Super Mario piece?

[@ramblerclassicman221]

The vox Celeste sounds like my table saw.

[@nibornibor9411]

Ur 87