Opus 10 was built at the request of a customer who had a clear vision: an instrument of medium size, easy to handle and transport, yet equipped with a generous stop list and powerful sound. These seemingly contradictory demands - compactness on one hand, full organ voice on the other - became a challenge we were more than happy to take on.
For the first time in the history of our workshop, an instrument received its own colour — created exclusively for this single piece. The royal blue cabinet with gilded ornaments gives Opus 10 an unmistakable face: its organ character is apparent before a single note is played.
A cascade of all pipe shades forms the prospect with its tin pipes. Each of them is adorned with hand carvings in linden wood featuring geometric ornaments. These motifs run as a unified visual thread throughout the entire instrument: the patterns from the pipe shades are echoed on the key fronts, stamped into leather and gilded.
The stop knobs carry the stop labels in ebony-and-brass inlay, and the keyboard is crafted from ebony wood combined with beef bone polished to a mirror finish. A deliberate contrast to the blue-and-gold palette is provided by the principal pipes of the base, left in their natural wood colour and finished with an oil treatment.
The foundation voice of the instrument is the stopped Copula major 8', providing a rich and warm basis for the entire sound. Built upon it is a series of Principals at 4', 3', 2' and 1 ½', which together create the characteristic organ mixture sound with a clear and colourful plein jeu. The specification is further enriched by a Tierce 1 ⅗', which in combination with the large quint forms the stop known as Sesquialtera - this combination can be engaged also independently across the range c1-d3.
To underline the bass line, a Regal 16' serves as the sixth stop - lending the instrument a depth and drama rarely found in a positive of this size. The total specification amounts to 6.5 stops, nevertheless the instrument received just 8', 4' and 2' stops on current customer's request.
The keyboard spans C-d3 (d#3) and the instrument offers transposition at 415 Hz, 440 Hz and 460 Hz tuning - making Opus 10 a fully capable partner for historically informed performance practice as well as contemporary concert repertoire.
The instrument is assembled from nine individual parts. Every part, with the exception of the base, weighs no more than 15 kg and can be carried by one person without difficulty. The base is larger and is carried by hand by two people only for very short distances. All other movement of the base or the fully assembled instrument is handled using a dedicated transport trolley, on which the instrument sits securely on locating pins. Disassembled, the complete instrument fits comfortably into a standard estate car. Each part is stored in its own protective cover, which keeps the instrument safe during transport and makes handling straightforward.
Air is supplied to the instrument by a quiet electric Könyves blower, complemented by a weighted balance bellows that ensures a stable and even air pressure. The pressure is deliberately kept low. It is precisely this low wind pressure that is one of the key conditions for a natural and lively pipe sound. The blower is firmly mounted in the base on silent blocks, which absorb vibrations and prevent any unwanted movement during handling of the instrument.
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