Tracker action
Encyclopedia
Tracker action is a term used in reference to pipe organ
s and steam calliope
s to indicate a mechanical linkage between keys or pedals pressed by the organist and the valve that allows air to flow into pipe(s) of the corresponding note. This is in contrast to "direct electric action
" and "electro-pneumatic action
", which connect the key to the valve through an electrical link or an electrically assisted pneumatic system respectively, or "tubular-pneumatic action
" which utilizes a change of pressure within lead tubing which connects the key to the valve pneumatic.
trace their history as far back as at least the 3rd Century B.C. with an organlike device known as the hydraulis. Also known as a "water organ" or "Roman organ," the Hydraulis was an instrument in which water was used as a source of power to push wind through organ pipes. (It is not to be confused with the hydraulic action
of a hydraulophone
, an instrument that actually uses water to produce the sound, not just as a source of power). While the control of air pressure was controlled by water pressure, hence the name, the action was a rudimentary form of modern action.
It was not until the mid 14th century that the action needed to be explored and expanded as finally more pipes were added, as well as the addition of stops
, and ultimately multiple cases and keyboards.
No particularly great developments took place in the Classical Period.
' (builder's website) of Tacoma, Washington, 'Flentrop Orgelbouw B.V.' (builder's website) of Zaandam, Holland, and 'C. B. Fisk, Inc.' (builder's website)of Gloucester, MA.
Currently, the world's largest mechanical (tracker) action organ was built by Ronald Sharp in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House
, Sydney
, Australia
, and includes over 10,500 pipes.
The above is a list of mechanisms unique to tracker action. Steam calliopes, such as those built by Thomas J. Nichol in the early twentieth century, used a very simplified tracker mechanism. For actions used in all forms of pipe organs, see pipe organ construction.
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
s and steam calliope
Calliope (music)
A calliope is a musical instrument that produces sound by sending a gas, originally steam or more recently compressed air, through large whistles, originally locomotive whistles....
s to indicate a mechanical linkage between keys or pedals pressed by the organist and the valve that allows air to flow into pipe(s) of the corresponding note. This is in contrast to "direct electric action
Direct electric action
Direct electric action is one of various systems used in pipe organs to control the flow of air into the organ's pipes when the corresponding keys or pedals are depressed...
" and "electro-pneumatic action
Electro-pneumatic action
The electro-pneumatic action is a control system for pipe organs, whereby air pressure, controlled by an electric current and operated by the keys of an organ console, opens and closes valves within wind chests, allowing the pipes to speak. This system also allows the console to be physically...
", which connect the key to the valve through an electrical link or an electrically assisted pneumatic system respectively, or "tubular-pneumatic action
Tubular-pneumatic action
"Tubular-pneumatic action" refers to an apparatus used in manypipe organs built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term "tubular" refers to the extensive use of lead tubing to connect the organ's console to the valves that control the delivery of "wind" to the organ's pipes...
" which utilizes a change of pressure within lead tubing which connects the key to the valve pneumatic.
Ancient History
OrgansPipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
trace their history as far back as at least the 3rd Century B.C. with an organlike device known as the hydraulis. Also known as a "water organ" or "Roman organ," the Hydraulis was an instrument in which water was used as a source of power to push wind through organ pipes. (It is not to be confused with the hydraulic action
Hydraulic action
Hydraulic action is strong enough to loosen sediment along the river bed and banks this will take rocks from the side of the banks and add it to the rivers loads. The water compresses the air in the crack, pushing it right to the back. As the wave retreats, the highly pressurized air is suddenly...
of a hydraulophone
Hydraulophone
A hydraulophone is a tonal acoustic musical instrument played by direct physical contact with water where sound is generated or affected hydraulically. Typically sound is produced by the same hydraulic fluid in contact with the player's fingers...
, an instrument that actually uses water to produce the sound, not just as a source of power). While the control of air pressure was controlled by water pressure, hence the name, the action was a rudimentary form of modern action.
It was not until the mid 14th century that the action needed to be explored and expanded as finally more pipes were added, as well as the addition of stops
Organ stop
An organ stop is a component of a pipe organ that admits pressurized air to a set of organ pipes. Its name comes from the fact that stops can be used selectively by the organist; some can be "on" , while others can be "off" .The term can also refer...
, and ultimately multiple cases and keyboards.
Baroque and Classical
This continued in the 17th and 18th centuries.No particularly great developments took place in the Classical Period.
Romantic
In the Romantic Period came a new style of organ building. The organ became larger and louder and pneumatically assisted action became the norm in large instruments, to offset the extreme key weight caused by high wind pressures.Today
Although tracker action was less utilized in the early twentieth century, particularly in England and America, its use has enjoyed a strong renaissance in the same areas since World War II, especially in instruments modelled on historical antecedents. Today, many builders are using tracker action throughout the world, and it has been successfully employed in organs of many styles. Some active builders of tracker action organs include: 'Taylor and Boody' (builder's website) of Staunton, Virginia, 'Paul FrittsPaul Fritts
Paul Fritts an American organ builder based in Tacoma, Washington who, following historical models, has created over twenty mechanical action instruments that have contributed to the revival of historically informed organ music. The Fritts organ at St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio is his...
' (builder's website) of Tacoma, Washington, 'Flentrop Orgelbouw B.V.' (builder's website) of Zaandam, Holland, and 'C. B. Fisk, Inc.' (builder's website)of Gloucester, MA.
Currently, the world's largest mechanical (tracker) action organ was built by Ronald Sharp in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and includes over 10,500 pipes.
Components of the Action
The action consists of many types of devices used for the playing of such said organ, as listed below:- Trackers – trackers are the portions of the action used to make a pulling motion. Trackers can be used over long distances. They are thin strips of wood, roughly 1 cm wide and 2 mm thick. Although flexible, at rest they hold their shape. Playing a note pulls on the end nearer to the keyboard, so they are in tension while the note is playing. The term comes from the Latin verb "trahere", to draw (pull).
- Stickers – used for a pushing motion; often paired with trackers. Their length is limited by the material, though most of the time, capping off at about 10 inches.
- Levers – levers are used to transfer from a tracker (pulling) to a sticker (pushing), or a general change of direction, or both.
- Backfalls – backfalls are used for motion over a small or short distance where trackers and stickers would be otherwise illogical to use. As a natural result, the motion also changes direction.
- Squares – a specific type of lever commonly used in organs which is at a right (90°) angle. Squares can also come in a “T” shape and form.
- Rollers – Wooden shafts, which rotate. Used for parallel direction in vertical or horizontal motion. They have small levers on each end, like cranks.
- Roller board – location upon which rollers are attached (note: rollers are often used densely in one section of the action and so are often closely associated with the roller board.)
- Stops – knobs which indirectly control the flow of air over certain ranks of pipes. They are activated with a pulling motion by hand, and deactivated (or stopped) by pushing them shut.
- Trundle – Trundles are used as a substitute for levers in the action associated with the Stops and Slider boards.
The above is a list of mechanisms unique to tracker action. Steam calliopes, such as those built by Thomas J. Nichol in the early twentieth century, used a very simplified tracker mechanism. For actions used in all forms of pipe organs, see pipe organ construction.
Tracker action and other kinds of action
Tracker action is the most artistically successful type of action. Two other kinds of action used in pipe organs are as follows:- Electric action in which electric valves are used to allow wind into the pipes
- Pneumatic action in which compressed air is used to control valves that allow wind into the pipes
Advantages and disadvantages
Currently, some organ builders use tracker action in new organs, others use electric action, and still others use either type depending on the instrument. There are builders and organists who have strong feelings regarding the advantages of one type of action over another.Advantages of tracker action
- Tracker action gives the organist more precise control over the exact moment air enters the pipe.
- This control affects the attack and release of a note through different touch. Before the invention of electric action, the organ was a touch-sensitive instrument.
Disadvantages of tracker action
- The consoleOrgan consolethumb|right|250px|The console of the [[Wanamaker Organ]] in the Macy's department store in [[Philadelphia]], featuring six manuals and colour-coded stop tabs....
or keydesk (where the organist actually plays) cannot be moved. - On some instruments, as more stops are used, the organist must apply more pressure/force to a key in order for it to play, resulting in heavy playing action when playing full organ. This can be particularly burdensome when two or more manuals are coupled. Problems of heavy action can almost always be overcome through correct use of body weight.