Ophicleide (organ stop)
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Ophicleide and Contra Ophicleide are extremely powerful pipe organ reed stops. The name comes from the early brass instrument, forerunner of the euphonium, the ophicleide.
The Ophicleide is generally at 16′ pitch, the Contra Ophicleide at 32′. While they can be 8′ or 16′ reeds in a manual division, they are most commonly found in the pedal division of the organ. Voiced to develop both maximum fundamental tone (as in the bombarde) and overtone series (as in the Posaune), if the classic voicing technique and use of terminology are followed, the Ophicleide and Contra Ophicleide are among the most powerful and loudest organ stops. Generally the only type of stop more powerful are the various forms of Trompette en chamade. However, the Ophicleides require an extremely large instrument to balance their sound, and so are rarely built today, except into the largest of organs (about one hundred ranks and up).
The Grand Ophicleide in the Boardwalk Hall Organ, Atlantic City, New Jersey, is recognized as the loudest organ stop in the world, voiced on 100″ of wind pressure.[1]
