Plein Jeu Harmonique French Harmonic Plein Jeu English/French

This stop is listed only by Irwin, who describes it as a Plein Jeu constructed of harmonic-length spotted metal pipes. It is not clear how Irwin formed this impression. The Plein Jeu Harmonique was reportedly developed by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who used the word “harmonique” in his mixtures to indicate not harmonic pipes, but a type of mixture without breaks, in which the number of ranks increases as the stop ascends. Other stops of this type include Fourniture Harmonique and Cymbale Harmonique, which together form a Plein Jeu Harmonique. Cavaillé-Coll reportedly always made such stops of tin, not spotted metal.

The name Harmonic Plein Jeu is mentioned only in passing by Irwin in his appendix on Mixtures, and is an inappropriate mixing of languages. We know of no examples of this name in actual usage.

Composition

Examples

Osiris contains nearly two dozen examples of Plein Jeu Harmonique. All but one are progressive in the number of ranks, ranging from II-V to III-VII. The earliest known examples are given below:

Plein-Jeu Harmonique III-VI 2-2/3', Positif; St. Sulpice, Paris, France; Cavaillé-Coll 1857-62.

Plein-Jeu Harmonique III-VI 2-2/3', Positif, St. Clotilde, Paris, France; Cavaillé-Coll 1859.

Plein-Jeu Harmonique, Grand Orgue; St. Stanislas, Toulouse, France; Cavaillé-Coll 1860.

Plein Jeu Harmonique III-V, Grand Orgue; Parr Hall, Warrington, England; Cavaillé-Coll 1875.

Plein-Jeu Harmonique II-V, Grand Orgue; Cathedrale Saint Alain de Lavaur, France; Cavaillé-Coll 1876. (Other sources list this stop as simply Plein-Jeu.)

Bibliography