Major Octave English Grand Octave English

Major Octave is listed only by Irwin, who says:

A powerfully voiced and large-scaled Diapason Octave of 4' on the manuals, and sometimes at 8' on the pedals. It is designed to sound with a very loud unison Diapason, such as the Major Diapason.

The name Grand Octave is mentioned only in passing by Audsley: “The term grand has been applied to other stops for the purpose of indicating their relative importance; we, accordingly, find such terms as ... Grand Octave.” We can only assume that this name indicates a 4' Grand Diapason, and thus is a synonym for Major Octave.

See Major Principal.

Examples

No examples of Grand Octave are known. Contributions welcome.

Major Octave 4'; Atlantic City Convention Hall Ballroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA; Kimball 1930.

Major Octave 4', Bombarde; Calvary Church, Charlotte, North Carolina USA; Moller 1990.

Major Octave 4', Solo; Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, California, USA; Skinner/Ruffatti.

Major Octave 4', Solo; Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Schantz 1953/1990.

Major Octave 8' (extension of Major Bass 16'), Pedal; City Hall, Hull, England; Forster & Andrews 1911.

Bibliography