Regal (instrument)

The shelf is a keyboard instrument. It is a small portable organ, which is only equipped with reed pipes. The name is thought to derive from " rigole ," the old French term for " throat " with reeds. It could also be the derivation of " regalis " ( royal ), as Emperor Maximilian I received such an instrument as a gift.

To the sound of the shelf shown:

  • The copy has deviating from the original two -felted damper strips which cover the sound holes above the keyboard. In the Sample after the first dance rhythm, these two strips are removed. The sound is throaty and brilliant.
  • Live recording 1.91 MB? / I

A shelf consists of a narrow box containing the wind chest with the reed pipes. Prior to the keyboard, behind two wedge bellows are attached, which are not served by the musician, but a second person. The shelf is set to play on a table. As a so-called Bible -bay it is called when the keyboard including pipes can be stowed in the collapsible bellows. These bellows are then designed as a " book halves ", and has the instrument by name, only size of a Bible, and looks ( from behind ) and so from. The Regal enjoyed not only in church music, but also in the theater, table, dance and house music great popularity, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the 18th century the shelf lost in popularity since its overtones, rasping tones no longer corresponded to the ideal sound.

Designation as an independent organ stops

Sometimes possess organs as a separate family called shelf - register. These are according to the pitch of comparable flue pipes with 16 ', 8' or 4 ' or another additive called and so on and off through register switches. As a further option to change the sound is a movable blind, behind which stand the shelf pipes available. How can optionally be played with open ( obertonreicherer sound ) or closed shutter ( darker, quieter sound ). The effect is similar to the swell of an organ.

Furthermore, there are small organs in designs that contain, besides one or two registers shelf pipes also labial register Gedackt about 4 ', the registers can be divided into bass and treble. Divided is then usually centered at h or c '. This allows you to play different tones with the right or left hand for melody and accompaniment.

Contemporary shelf

At the present time in addition to copies of historical instruments and modern shelves are built, which have a range of C - c3 and operated with an electric fan.

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