(engels) For centuries at a stretch, Holland (or 'the Netherlands', if you like) has been a country with a great organ tradition. The high density of historical organs is unique.
Information
A pipe organ is a large and very complex musical instrument. There is no other instrument so varied in size, composition and sound. The technical construction of the VAN DER POEL -KERKORGELS- is completely based on the construction and idea of pipe organs.
Pijporgelklanken komen in eerste instantie over als stabiele tonen die na een aanblaasverschijnsel (‘spuck’) een star en onveranderlijk geluid voortbrengen zolang de toets ingedrukt blijft. Dit is geenszins het geval. Na uitgebreide studie van orgelpijp en na uitvoerige analyse van pijptonen is duidelijk geworden dat pijpen een uiterst complexe, allerminst stabiele golfvorm produceren.
Quality, not Quantity
A well voiced pipe organ is capable of leading the congregation in singing. Lots of electronic organs are offered with an attractive amount of stops based on the argument that the instrument should have lots of variation possibilities. The reality is unfortunate in that for this kind of organ you have to use more than one stop to produce a sound which is close to the character and power of one pipe-organ stop. Thus, in relatively small churches there are electronic organs commanding over 40 stops. The VAN DER POEL system is capable of giving each stop its own character, liveliness and power, which reduces the need for over dimensioned stoplists. Rather than targeting on quantity of fairly basic sounds, we focus on quality and individual character of sound.
Most of the arguments and techniques discussed above hold true for organs placed in smaller rooms. Quality, customizing and voicing are equally important for home organs. As a rule, differences are only found in power, stoplist and size. Often a home organ is designed to play a wide range of literature. Although the dimensions of church organs are not feasible in the common living room, the sound impression of a church organ is often desired. For this reason, VAN DER POEL -KERKORGELS- completely custom-builds these organs. For the correct sound impression of the different manual and pedal departments the speakers are placed differently for every department. The speaker layout is custom-made for each organ, including the radiance angles of the speakers.
Taking completely different styles of organ literature into account, the organ is designed to provide its player with several specifications, tunings and voicings. Naturally, the different specifications are placed in the same case and played from the same manuals and stop knobs. Everything else is organ-specific. Even the manual order can be different. The voicings are completely independent of each other. Only in this way is it possible to play French music at an organ based on the Cavaillé-Coll tradition and Bach on a Schnitger inspired organ. As noted before, the tuning - Werckmeister, Meantone, Kirnberger, etc. - can be adjusted to the simulated organ type. Home organs can be categorized in two different types of framework: organs with a low console and speakers placed below the manuals and organs with a speakerfront. Electronics and voicing possibilities are completely identical for both types.
Every period in pipe-organ building is characterized by its own methods, choices of technologies and materials for an optimal sound and durability. VAN DER POEL -KERKORGELS- supplies durable technologies and materials to guarantee a long lifespan. Massive wood is used wherever required from a functional or visual point of view. Wishes of the customer are decisive here as well as with other aspects.
Several manuals are available, each different from the other. A high-end synthetic manual of 54 or 61 keys with light mechanical pressure point, or a custom-made wooden manual with a clear, advanced magnetic pressure point, compass and key material according to customer's request. Pedals are made according the BDO-norm with 30 keys and concave layout. Stop knobs are made of wood with handwritten stop names; as knobs with light- or movement indication; as stop levers, or a combination of those. One or more manuals such as Choir or Swell can be fitted with an expression pedal. Pedals are made of wood and the effected department will have a real swellbox effect, because the computer will simulate a swellbox including the effect on harmonics - which is essential for French reeds to sound natural, just to give an example.
VAN DER POEL organs can be equipped with a digital internal reverb which is externally adjustable. The same goes for the general volume. Moreover, an external digital acoustic environment can be attached to the organ which is also completely adjustable to personal use and taste. Even several different acoustical rooms can be simulated. To achieve this effect, two or four external speakers would be used to simulate the acoustic environments envisioned.
New developments in the digital organ market are often accompanied by huge devaluation of older digital organs. If you wish to stay on top of new developments you will generally have to trade in your organ for a new one, which often entails substantial financial expenses. This is the reason why VAN DER POEL organs contain sound made by a simulation program and not by hardware. The simulation program can be changed easily. Updating to the latest developments in simulation can be arranged on site. Custom updates, changes or enlargements can be accomplished without replacing the organ.