articles / Chapman Challenge

How Do You Tune a Pipe Organ and How Often Do They Need Tuning?


KUSC’s Alan Chapman has a lot to say about music, but can he say it in 60 seconds? That’s the Chapman Challenge. We ask a question and Alan has a minute to answer it.

Today’s question is from Bob Marcotte who wants to know “How do you tune a pipe organ and how often do they need tuning?”

Hit play below to listen to this week’s Chapman Challenge on Arts Alive.
 

How Do You Tune a Pipe Organ and How Often Do They Need Tuning?

 
 
Well, I figure the answer should be accompanied by some organ music, so let’s go with some Handel.

Organ technicians will tell you that a pipe organ is a delicate musical instrument. Some are more temperamental than others, but all of them need regular care and service. And the most common maintenance is tuning. Pipe organ tuning is affected by temperature changes, so you might expect to tune an organ when seasons change, when the heat is turned on in the winter and when the air conditioning is turned on in the summer.

Since the pitch of each note depends on the length of the pipe, tuning means making changes in the lengths of the pipes. One method involves tapping up or down on the metal collar at the top of a pipe to raise or lower the pitch. One technician works inside the organ while another sits at the keyboard.

And it can take a while. There’s a set of pipes for each different sound. For example, the organ at Walt Disney Concert Hall has 6,134 pipes. The initial tuning of that organ took a year.

That’s today’s Chapman Challenge. Is there a question you’d like to have answered in 60 seconds? Send it to us at [email protected].

Written by:
Alan Chapman
Alan Chapman
Published on 01.14.2020

MORE LIKE THIS

What’s the Relationship Among the Movements in a Symphony?

What’s the Relationship Among the Movements in a Symphony?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses the harmonic and melodic relationships among the movements of a symphony, using Beethoven's Fifth Symphony as an example.

Chapman Challenge
04/01/2019
Chapman Challenge: How Does a Composer Pick the Key for a Piece?

Chapman Challenge: How Does a Composer Pick the Key for a Piece?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses how composers choose keys for their pieces, considering factors like instrument range, personal preference, and connections to previous works.

Chapman Challenge
04/01/2019
How Do You Loan a Stradivarius?

How Do You Loan a Stradivarius?

Explore how rare Stradivarius violins, often owned by foundations or wealthy individuals, are loaned to musicians through intermediaries like the Stradivari Society of Chicago.

Chapman Challenge
03/03/2020
What is the Most Common Key for a Symphony and Why?

What is the Most Common Key for a Symphony and Why?

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains why D major is the most common key for a symphony, highlighting its popularity among 18th-century composers like Haydn and Mozart.

Chapman Challenge
03/01/2020
The Difference Between a Viola and a Viola Da Gamba

The Difference Between a Viola and a Viola Da Gamba

In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains the differences between a viola and a viola da gamba, highlighting their physical characteristics, how they're played, and their historical context.

Chapman Challenge
01/24/2020
What Happens When a Violinist Breaks a String?

What Happens When a Violinist Breaks a String?

Explore the Chapman Challenge where Alan discusses what happens when a violinist breaks a string during a performance, citing examples from renowned musicians.

Chapman Challenge
11/10/2019