Properly used, the names Rauschflöte and Rauschpfeife refer to a compound stop of two unbroken open metal ranks: 2' and 1-1/3', sometimes with a third 2-2/3' rank added. A few sources equate this stop with the Rauschquinte, but most sources distinguish between them. Grove dates it from the late 16th century, and gives alterate definitions for Rauschwerk. The name appears to derive from the German word rauschen, meaning “to rustle”, but Williams considers that unlikely. The rauschpfeife was also a pre-Baroque wind instrument, having a capped reed and loud tone. Williams reports that early examples of the stop were flute or semi-flute Mixtures imitating the instrument.

Examples

Osiris contains over 100 examples of Rauschpfeife, from II to V ranks, the earliest of which are shown below. No examples of Rauschflöte are known. Contributions welcome.

Rauschpfeiffe II, Pedal; Katherinenkirche, Hamburg, Germany, Stellwagen 1543. (This stop may date from as late as 1670.)

Rauschpfeiffe II, Pedal; St. Jacobi, Lüdingworth, Germany; Wilde 1598.

Rauschpfeife II, Hauptwerk, Pedal; St. Petri und Paul, Cappel, Wursten, Germany; Schnitger 1680.

Bibliography