Definition

1. Noun:
   • A specific organ stop: A dulciana is a type of organ stop that produces a soft, sweet, and somewhat string-like tone quality. It is typically found on the manuals (keyboards) of pipe organs.

Usage

• The term is used specifically in the context of pipe organ construction and music to describe a particular tonal color or voice available to the organist.
• It is a technical term from organology (the study of musical instruments, especially organs).

Examples

• Noun:
  • The organ's Great division includes a dulciana stop.
  • For the quiet passage, the organist drew the dulciana and the flute.
  • The dulciana's sweet tone is ideal for accompanying a solo melody.

Advanced Usage

• As a specification: Often listed in organ specifications or stoplists.
  • The organ builder recommended including a 8' Dulciana on the Swell manual.

Variants and Related Words

• Dulciana Principal: A slightly fuller or more foundational variant of the dulciana tone.
• Dulcet: (Adjective) Meaning sweet and soothing, sharing the Latin root (sweet) with "dulciana," though not a direct variant.

Synonyms

• Soft string stop: A descriptive synonym highlighting its tonal character.
• Salicional: Another organ stop with a similar, slightly more pungent string quality, sometimes considered a related type.

Notes

• The dulciana is typically pitched at 8-foot length (sounding at written pitch) and is often one of the softest stops on an organ.
• It is not a phrasal verb, idiom, or commonly used outside its highly specialized musical context.

Noun

1. the organ stop having a tone of soft sweet string quality