A mutation stop of 2-2/3' in the manuals and 5-1/3' in the pedal. It represents the lowest non-unison pitch that reinforces a harmonic of the fundamental pitch (8' on the manuals, 16' on the pedals). As such, it is the most important mutation pitch. It serves to bind together the 8' and 4' tones in a Principal chorus.

This stop is usually constructed of open cylindrical metal pipes yielding Diapason tone, usually and properly of smaller scale than the 4' Octave of the same division. Other forms and tones are used, especially conical pipes. On the theatre organ, the 2-2/3' pitch is taken from the Tibia Clausa or Concert Flute.

The name Quint is more properly a synonym for Fifth The name Nasard and its variants are often used as synonyms for Twelfth, but they are more properly of flute tone. Adlung writes: “Minerici 3' formerly stood in the Cathedral at Merseburg, and must have been an ordinary Quinte.”

Variants

Examples

This stop is extremely common, especially under the names Quint, with about 400 examples in Osiris, and Twelfth, with about 240 examples. Osiris contains 120 examples of Docena, 45 of Octave Quint, and 13 of Duodecima. No examples of Minerici or Open Twelfth are known. Contributions welcome.

Sound Clips

See the Sound Files appendix for general information.

Bibliography