Used for mainly for accompanimental work and providing upper harmonics in the ensemble (especially at 2 2/3', 2' and 1 3/5' pitches). The harmonic flute is generally the loudest of the flute family and the theatre organ variants can hold their own against a small-scale Tibia Clausa. Construction: Tonality: | |
STOP NAMES | |
Sub Bass | 32' extension, usually of Flute (on pedal organ). May be derived acoustically. Invariably stopped. |
Bourdon | 16' extension of Flute. From the French 'bourdonner', to buzz. Usually stopped, usually of wood. |
Open Flute | May be of metal or wood construction. Often stopped in the tenor to save space. |
Stopped Flute | Fitted with a stopper (a kind of plug, moveable for tuning purposes).May be of metal or wood construction. |
Concert Flute | Specific name for an open flute. |
Hohl Flute | Stopped flute with a small hole in the stopper to promote development of the fifth harmonic. |
Harmonic Flute | Open flute (usually stopped in the tenor) with a small hole bored half way up the back of the resonator.The pipe therefore sounds an octave higher but with pronounced overtones and a characteristic 'orchestral' sound. |
Quintadena | Fairly quiet stopped flute, usually with characteristic metal canisters, and a box beard around the mouth. Produces a very pronounced fifth harmonic (louder than the fundamental). Useful as a combining stop with other soft stops to provide additional colour. |
Piccolo | 4' or 2' Flute stop, sounding one or two octaves above the unison, respectively. |
Twelfth | 2 2/3' Flute stop, sounding 12 whole tones above the unison. |
Tierce | 1 3/5 Flute stop, sounding 18 whole tones above the unison. |




Concert Flute (Wurlitzer)
Lieblich Flute
Quintadena (Kimball)

Open Flute (Compton)

Stopped Flute (Compton)