Harfenregal German

A reed stop of the Regal class, so named because of its supposed resemblance to the sound of a harp. Williams gives it very small resonators and a “delicate string-tone”; Audsley reports that it was “soft-toned”. Wedgwood lists it at 8' pitch.

Adlung calls Harfenregal “a separate type of Regal”, but does not explain why. A clue may be inferred from the following statement from his entry for Regal:

Because this Regal [meaning the type of Regals described in his Regal entry] is blown by wind, it is called Regale a vent, from ventus, “the wind”, and is to be distinguished from Regale de percussion, which is struck with mallets like a xylophone (Strohfiedel); see Mattheson's [Forschende] Orchestre III, Part I, Chap. IV, §.16, in note [9] on p. 434.

Examples

Harfenregal 8', Great; Christ Church Episcopal, Tacoma, Washington, USA; Brombaugh 1979.

Harfenregal 8', Positiv; Lawrence University Chapel, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA; Brombaugh 1995.

Harfenregal 16', Brustwerk; Peterskirche, Sinzig-am-Rhein, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; Walcker 1972.

Bibliography