Prestant
Organ stop, usually equivalent to the 4-foot principal; the large visible pipes in the organ case.
What it means
The prestant (German Prästant, from Latin praestare, "to stand out") denotes in the organ a stop, usually a principal at 4-foot pitch. Its pipes often stand in the organ case, the visible front of the organ, and are polished and shining. The term thus means the large visible pipes and at the same time their sound: bright, clear and carrying.
Musical use
In many organs, especially North German ones, the front principal is called the prestant, in other regions it is simply called the principal; depending on the instrument it may also be at 8-foot or 16-foot pitch. The prestant forms the basis for the blend with mixtures and other stops and makes up the typical, firm organ sound.
The prestant should be distinguished from the principal in the wider sense, the umbrella term for the foundation stops of the organ, and from stopped flutes such as the gedackt, which sound softer and darker.
Performance practice
As an organist you use the prestant as a clear foundation and combine it with other stops. Pay attention to an even touch, for the sound of the principals is clear and shows every unevenness.