What is the purpose of the pedal keyboard?
The pedal keyboard (or pedal klavier) is often used to play the bass, or lowest, voice required. Thus, in accompanying a hymn, the pedal will usually play the lowest voice line shown in the score. The basic pitch of the pedal is usually considered to be 16′ , an octave below that of the manuals. However, the pedal division of a well-designed organ has an independent set of stops of its own and can thus play independent parts. In serious organ music, the pedal frequently carries the solo line or another important, distinct part. This ability of the pedal to play a separate voice line makes the organ somewhat unique among modern keyboard instruments (in times past, large harpsichords were frequently built with pedal keyboards, and some pianos were constructed that way as well). The First Presbyterian organ, like many small and mid-sized instruments, has two keyboards or manuals. Pipes of the upper keyboard (swell) are enclosed in a swell box which allows expression (changes in volume). V
