Some of the biggest instruments have 64-foot pipes (a foot here means "sonic-foot", a measure quite close to the English measurement unit) and it sounds to an 8 Hz frequency fundamental tone. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart called the organ the "King of instruments". A large modern organ typically has three or four keyboards ( manuals) with five octaves (61 notes) each, and a two-and-a-half octave (32-note) pedal board. Pipe organs range in size from a single short keyboard to huge instruments with over 10,000 pipes.
Along with the clock, it was considered one of the most complex human-made mechanical creations before the Industrial Revolution. It has existed in its current form since the 14th century, though similar designs were common in the Eastern Mediterranean from the early Byzantine period (from the 4th century AD) and precursors, such as the hydraulic organ, have been found dating to the late Hellenistic period (1st century BC).
Some special registers with free reed pipes are expressive. Some organs are totally enclosed, meaning that all the divisions can be controlled by one set of shutters. Although the keyboard is not expressive as on a piano and does not affect dynamics (it is binary pressing a key only turns the sound on or off), some divisions may be enclosed in a swell box, allowing the dynamics to be controlled by shutters. The pipes are divided into ranks and controlled by the use of hand stops and combination pistons. Small organs are called " positive" (easily placed in different locations) or " portative" (small enough to carry while playing). These instruments vary greatly in size, ranging from a cubic meter to a height reaching five floors, and are built in churches, synagogues, concert halls, and homes. The pipe organ is the largest musical instrument. Problems playing this file? See media help.
George's Minster in the town of Dinkelsbühl Improvisation in e, played on the organ located in the St.
Increasingly hybrid organs are appearing in which pipes are augmented with electric additions. Since the 16th century, pipe organs have used various materials for pipes, which can vary widely in timbre and volume. Pipe organs, which use air moving through pipes to produce sounds.