A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Venetian Swell

VENETIAN SWELL. The first Swell Organ produced its effect by placing the front of the box containing the pipes under the control of the player, who by means of a pedal could raise or lower the panel at will, so releasing or muffling the sound. This plan was first adopted in the organ at St. Magnus, London Bridge, built in 1712. [See Organ.] The first Harpsichord Swell made its crescendo by the raising of the lid. These clumsy contrivances were superseded by the Venetian Swell, an invention patented by Shudi in 1762 [see Swell, Harpsichord], and so called from its resemblance to the laths of a Venetian blind. This ingenious device was first applied to the Harpsichord, but was soon adopted by organ builders. The louvres are generally in horizontal rows and are so hung as to close by their own weight; but in very large Swell Organs the size and number of these shutters made them too heavy for control by the foot, and they are now often placed vertically and closed by a spring. The old form of Swell could only be left either quite open or completely closed: in recent years a balanced Swell has been introduced which allows the shutters to be left at any angle. In almost all cases the control is given to the foot of the player—generally the right foot. This arrangement has had disastrous effects upon the pedalling of many players. Several ingenious attempts have been made to enable the organist to open and close the box by other means. In the large organ built by Mr. Willis for the 1862 Exhibition, a crescendo could be made by blowing into a small pipe. This however was liable to inconvenient sudden sforzandos. Mr. R. H. M. Bosanquet uses a moveable back attached to the seat by a hinge. A strap fastened to this is passed over one shoulder and under the other arm of the player. When the player leans forward he pulls on the back of the seat, and this opens the Swell. The action of the back Swell and Swell Pedal are distinct, so that acting on the former may not depress the latter.

[ W. Pa. ]