Hohlflöte

What it means

The Hohlflöte (“hollow flute”) is a flue stop of the organ from the group of flute stops. Its pipes are wide-scaled, often built slightly conical or cylindrical, and yield a soft, fundamental-heavy sound with few overtones — hence the impression of the hollow, round, on which the name is based. It is in common use above all at eight feet, that is, at the pitch of the notation, occasionally also at four feet. As with all stop names, the following holds: sound and construction can differ from organ to organ, since the designations are not strictly standardized.

Musical use

Flute stops form, alongside principals, strings, and reeds, one of the basic families of the organ. The Hohlflöte serves as a gentle foundation stop: alone as a calm solo voice for plain melodies, as accompaniment to a stronger solo stop on another manual, and as a soft base over which mutations or higher stops are built. It carries less far than a principal but blends well and makes the overall sound rounder. In the literature of the nineteenth century it is often called for in sustained, singing sections.

Performance practice

On every instrument, first check how strong the available Hohlflöte actually is before you plan a registration; the differences between organs are great. As a solo voice it needs a distinctly weaker accompaniment, otherwise it disappears. Because of its fundamental-heavy sound it suits combinations with a four-foot stop that gives it contour without making it sharp. Watch for clean legato playing, because with soft flutes the articulation is less clearly audible than with principals. Note your registration with stop names and foot pitch.

Bear in mind that flute stops quickly become indistinct in the low register: for polyphonic pieces in close position, a supplement by a four-foot stop is usually helpful, because it gives the lines contour. Check the response of the lowest notes, which can be sluggish with wide-scaled pipes, and begin somewhat earlier there. For the accompaniment of singing the stop is well suited, because it carries without covering.