Skip to main content
Norges musikkhøgskole Norwegian Academy of Music Search

Organ Mech­an­ics

Course description

The course introduces the students to the construction of the organ, its development during different epochs of history, its architecture and historical styles, the various organ systems, how they work and how they were developed. It will also provide an introduction to tempering and tuning, practical experience of tuning reed pipes and rectifying malfunctions.

Learning objectives

On completion of this course, the student is expected to

  • demonstrate tuning and basic maintenance skills
  • be familiar with the main historical organ types and organ literature written for these organ types

Overview

The course comprises a practical/theoretical component and a history component. The practical/theoretical component involves in-depth study of the organ’s sonic and technical structures. The student will practise how to tune reed pipes and rectify malfunctions.

The history component addresses the organ’s sonic and technical development in the main organ landscapes of Europe. This component also covers topics such as registration practices for historical organs, architecture and historical styles, acoustics and temperament.

Structure

The course is taught in groups.

For a summary of indicative workload and structure, please see the “Structure” section of the relevant programme of study.

The students are automatically registered for tuition/supervision and assessment in the subject in line with the progression set out in the individual education plan.

Course requirements

The student should submit two written papers of 1,200–1,600 words each during the course by the dates set by the course tutor.

Deadline: All course requirements must be approved by the course tutor by 15 May in the second semester of the course.

Final assessment

All course requirements must be met before the student can be given a final assessment..

The assessment is based on the learning objectives for the course. The course is assessed on a pass or fail basis in the form of a practical/oral exam. The assessment is carried out by two internal examiners.

Practical/oral exam

The exam is a 30-minute individual exam during which the student will be set practical tasks involving organ maintenance and rectifying malfunctions.

New assessment

In the case of re-assessment, the same procedures apply.

Published: Apr 3, 2020 — Last updated: Mar 27, 2023