Apart from the bare constructional details, there are a number of facets of organbuilding which go to make the finished rank of pipes.
The basic sequence is:
• Pipemaking – where the organ pipes are fabricated from metal or wood. At this point, the pipes are ‘dumb’, ie do not produce any sound
• Voicing – carried out by specialist craftsmen, the pipes are adjusted in order to produce the correct sound
• Regulation – further adjustment of the power and timbre of the pipes to suit the building
• Tuning – adjustment of each pipe to make them sound at the correct pitch.
In order to understand the principles on which organs are built, in particular the extension and unit principles as applied to the theatre organ, see this section.
See further: