All Shapes and Sizes

 All Shapes and Sizes

 

I know you find this difficult to believe, but when Mr Gary has finished all his work I will have over 2400 pipes, about 500 more than I’ve had since 1945

 

So as promised here’s some useful information about all my lovely pipes.  They come in all shapes and sizes, literally

 

Now I’m just a grand old lady, not a scientist, so I don’t quite follow all the science of pipe making, e.g. where the sounds come from, what makes a difference to the quality of sound, what materials are best and so on.  This is just my non-psychist understanding of it all!

 

The longest pipe is one of those ones that look like water works pipes, from our London friends, at about 26’.  The smallest pipes are just a few cms inches long.  The longer the pipe, the deeper the sound.  But as I’ve already told you my deepest pitch 16 hz is going to be from the lowest note on my new contra trombone  -  the lovely new wooden resonator is about 16’ high;  the 26’ high huge water tube pipe gives a sound a fifth higher, at GGGG.  The highest note probably may not be heard  -  perhaps it might sound like a squeak or maybe a dog whistle, but above the audible range for many people.  I just don’t know quite how Mr Gary will manage to tune every one of my 2400 pipes!

 

So here’s something about shapes and sizes

 

Some pipes:

©       are like flutes, others are called reeds with a vibrating mechanism to produce sound

©       are open at the end, others have a bung in the end  -  which lengthens the sounding size of the pipe, and gives a lower note

©       are fat, others thin

©       have flaps on the top, others don’t

©       are metal, others wood

©       have open mouths, others have a lip or beard, so the sound becomes a bit more stringy

 

Some metal pipes:

©       are just plain, others are lovely with spots

©       are made of lead  -  and are heavy;  others are less heavy and made of zinc

 

Is that enough information for you?

 

Whatever the size or shape of the pipe, or the way they work, they definitely work best if they are clean.  Now, as you know, my older pipework hasn’t had a good clean for over 60 years, so the lovely sounds they can produce have been a bit clogged up.  They will also definitely sound a lot better for having had a thorough clean and polish

 

If you want to know more about all of this, either ask nice Mr Gary or use Mr Googel to ask the inertnet for answers  -  I’ve told you all I know and, apart from that, I just do my very best to sound fantastic! 

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Summer madness

Image
Summer madness Well I thought I'd heard it all, but obviously I haven't One of my lovely organists today is going to start a two week cycle ride, the length of the whole country, to raise money for my renovation and new pipes.  Wow! I'm told he's going from South to North  -  not sure why, but then I've never been on a bike  -  and will play 4 organs on the way.  He's playing my keys here in the Abbey next Thursday evening All my followers can easily check on his progress.  He's obviously seen how modern I can be and is going to keep a Blog  -  just like I do  -  and put photographs on something called Instagram How good is that!  And I do hope he will be able to raise lots of money for the work that I need to be done Now, Dear Follower, what are you going to do to raise £££s for me?
Read more

Wind (not a repeat!)

Image
Wind (not a repeat!)   I have already told you about wind, the sort that is used by my lovely pipes to make music   And I have told you about the massive reservoirs used to store wind before it flows through to my pipes.   These huge heavy chests, with hinged sides and floating tops, were carefully built by Mr William in 1911 and have survived all these years, just getting dirtier every year that’s past, and with their leather hinges increasingly having to be patched up   Three of the reservoirs are huge, and the fourth more of a baby size.   They have all been lifted down, and all four have gone for restoration.   This took a lot of heaving, and Mr Gary was fortunate to have such strong henchpeople on hand   Two of the reservoirs went with Mr Edward to his workshop, and the other two have gone to Mr Dave in East London.   Great progress is being made and soon these reservoirs will come back to my Abbey, to be hoisted high up into new positions, and the trunks from the
Read more

Let’s talk trunks

Image
Let’s talk trunks   Trunks and wind might not sound particularly exciting, but when your double risers and electric blowers are all moved around, this becomes a most important subject   In 1911, Mr William connected my blowing mechanism to 3 double risers and those were then connected to my windchests.   A whole series of zinc trunks made those connections   But with the passage of time, my trunks became rather the worse for wear.   Their bends began to leak (you can imagine straight trunks are a very good idea, but in practice bends are essential) but old newspaper stuffed in saved the day.   Joins too become a bit brittle, but drawing pin fixes have proved invaluable in keeping me going   After all these years, and now with my lower regions completely reshaped, my trunks too have therefore had to be given attention by Mr Gary   He told me that in these modern times, u-bends and black plastic pipes can be very effective.   Now I did have to remind Mr Gary that I’m
Read more