From its very ancient origins, much earlier than in the Christian era,
the organ was considered the most complex instrument invented by man. Organum once meant "The Machine", in all its mystery. Shared complexity from the seventeenth century with the rise of the astronomical clockwork. From the nineteenth century, other "machinery" were born, but the
organ is still both a technological object and a work of art, in
addition to being a musical instrument.
The symbolic meanings of the organ are many: So can be found analogies with human society: The organ has "lungs", formed by wind tunnel, which transmits the vital power : life, breath, to the instrument. Like society, it has pipes of all sizes from a few centimeters to over ten meters.
The symbolic key keyboards, based on the numbers 3 and 4 is also emphasized:
* 3 + 4 = 7 keys of the range.
* 3 x 4 = 12 semitones range
Minor key: based on number 3, because with 3 semitones Major key: based on the number 4 because with 4 semitones. A closer the 7 days of the week, 12 months of the year, 12 hours half-day, etc ... Let's remember that :
* The smallest geometric figure that may exist in a 2 dimensional space is the Triangle: 3 vertices and 3 sides. * The smallest geometrical figure can exist in a 3-dimensional space is the tetrahedron: 4 vertices and faces 4 Remember also that on some sacred music, words pronounced by the priest are in Minor mode (based on number 3, symbol of God), and people answers in Major mode (number 4, symbol of Earth).
PERSONAL HYPOTHESIS : As
mentionned by prominent Organ Composers like Johan Sebastian BACH,
number 3 is the "FATHER NUMBER". 3 is also the number of triangle
summits. 4 is the symbol of our terrestrial space. Because the
simplest solid object which can exist in our 3 dimentional space is the
Tetrahedron. (4 faces, 4 summits) It
is very interesting to remark that some building such as the well known
White House, as the Jacques Donatien LERAY de Chaumont has : 4 columns on the front, surmounted by a Triangle. Which
can be considered as a symbolic representation of the links between our
well known 3 dimensional world, and the 4 dimensional word, in which we
are part.
Jacques Donatien LERAY de Chaumont Mansion A much more modest house, but with same symbols !