great organ: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very low frequency; technical term)Technical/Formal (Music, Organology, Historical Instruments)
Quick answer
What does “great organ” mean?
The largest and most important keyboard division of a pipe organ, containing the principal chorus and typically located at the front of the organ case on the main level.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The largest and most important keyboard division of a pipe organ, containing the principal chorus and typically located at the front of the organ case on the main level.
The central division of a large pipe organ that provides the foundation of the instrument's sound. In historical contexts, it can also refer to a large, independent organ designed for public or church use, as opposed to smaller chamber organs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in technical meaning. The term is standard in the organ-building and playing traditions of both regions. Spelling remains identical.
Connotations
Technical precision, tradition, classical music heritage.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse but standard within the specialised field of organ music and construction in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “great organ” in a Sentence
The [adj] great organ [verb]The great organ of [location/noun]To play/couple/draw on the great organVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
N/A
Academic
Used in musicology, historical instrument studies, and architectural history papers discussing church interiors.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation. Would only appear in very specific contexts like a tour of a cathedral.
Technical
The standard term in organ building, specification documents, organ recital programmes, and organ pedagogy to denote the primary manual division.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great organ”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great organ”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great organ”
- Using 'great organ' as a descriptive phrase (e.g., 'a great organ performance') instead of recognising it as a compound noun for an organ division.
- Confusing it with 'Grreat Organ', a brand name for pet food.
- Misspelling as 'great orgAn'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In technical usage, it is a fixed compound noun referring to a specific division of a pipe organ, regardless of the instrument's overall size. A small organ may still have a 'great organ' division.
The great organ is typically unenclosed, meaning its pipes are in a fixed box, producing a direct sound. The swell organ's pipes are housed in a shuttered box, allowing the player to control volume through a pedal, creating a 'swelling' effect.
Traditionally, it is played on the lowest of the two or more manuals (keyboards) on an organ console, which is often called Manual I or the Great manual.
Historically, yes. In older texts (pre-19th century), it could refer to a large, stationary church organ as opposed to a smaller, portable one. In modern organ terminology, it almost exclusively refers to a division.
The largest and most important keyboard division of a pipe organ, containing the principal chorus and typically located at the front of the organ case on the main level.
Great organ is usually technical/formal (music, organology, historical instruments) in register.
Great organ: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈɔːɡən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈɔːrɡən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'great' organ as the 'greatest' or main section of the instrument, just as a 'great hall' is the main hall of a building.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS SIZE/IMPORTANCE (The primary division is labelled 'great').
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'great organ' primarily?