Klarinet Archive - Posting 001195.txt from 2003/04

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Off-topic emails
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:48:51 -0400

Karl Krelove wrote,
>But do they argue over whether a piece written for an
>organ in a town that used A=425 should ever be performed
>on a modern one pitched at A=440?

Usually, they discuss that question in reasonable, collegial manner. The
conversation heats up when someone points out that, for instance, with a
toaster, you can set any pitch standard you please.

>And I can guess what a "Hammster" is, but what's a "toaster?"

A Hammster, for those who haven't guessed, is a derogatory nickname for
somebody who plays a Hammond electronic organ. People jokingly call
themselves Hammsters when they're stuck playing for churches or community
halls equipped with Hammonds instead of pipe organs or high-end electronic
organs. Organists regard people who *prefer* Hammonds the way clarinetists
regard people who prefer Artleys.

"Toaster" is a derogatory term for a pipeless electronic organ, though
folks usually don't mind if people call their home practice organs
toasters. They're real musical instruments, and they fit into homes and
family budgets. Electronic organs with speakers instead of pipes are also
built on a much grander scale, for public spaces, but many organists, known
as tracker-backers, strongly prefer all-mechanical or mostly-mechanical
tracker-and-slider organs (though I don't know of anyone who demands twelve
men on treadles instead of electrical wind chests; and most prefer an
electronic assist on the massive pedal mechanisms, which otherwise require
considerable brute force to pull the stop knobs). A lot of today's organs
are hybrids, loaded with electronic gear *and* genuine pipes. The
tracker-backers hate those, too. But the pure toaster is basically a
computer, with sound samples. Some people who *prefer* all-electronic
organs defend installing them in churches and concert halls and go
ballistic when people call their babies toasters.

"It will tune itself to any pitch, and it can simulate 1400 different
historic ranks, and it has MIDI input and output, and...."

"How nice for you. And does it make toast?"

Or maybe "toaster" comes from the appearance, usually a small, upright
console.

Lelia Loban
lelialoban@-----.net

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