organ (music)

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Oldest of the keyboard instruments, in which sound is produced when a depressed key opens a valve, allowing compressed air to pass through a single pipe or a series of pipes. The number of pipes may vary according to the size of the instrument. Apart from its continued use in serious compositions and for church music, the organ has been adapted for light entertainment.

Only one note is sounded by each pipe. The pipes are lined up in ranks or rows, and are brought into play (‘speak’) by a stop operated from the console by the player. An organ is made up of different manuals (keyboards) that control separate divisions of the organ, each with its own pipes and stops. These separate manuals are the great, swell, choir, solo, echo, and pedal organs, and are controlled by the player's hands and feet. By various groupings and subdivisions of the above, the organ is capable of a wide variety of timbre and volume.

Black, yellow, and green are colours found in many African flags and reflect the islanders' heritage. Effective date: 6 August 1962. >>