Combination Action - Sequencers

Sequencers

In recent times, sequencers have become an integral part of combination actions, primarily on large organs. A sequencer allows an organist to program a list of registration changes and advance through it by pressing a piston labeled "+" (or regress through it using a "–" piston). It becomes unnecessary for the organist to push the proper piston; he must only press the "+" piston and the next registration in the sequence will be activated. Some sequencers have an "all pistons plus" feature, which makes all the pistons on the console (excepting the General Cancel and the "–" pistons) function like the "+" piston; in this case the organist can press any piston which is in convenient reach to advance through the sequence.

Adding a piston change in the midst of an already established sequence of stop changes is difficult or not possible with some sequencing systems.

Using a sequencer can remove many of the complications related to changing registrations during a performance that have traditionally plagued organists. However, there is a school of thought that decries the use of the sequencer on the grounds that it makes organ playing too easy. Members of this school hold that working one's way through general and divisional pistons during a piece is an integral part of playing the organ, and that the advent of the sequencer has resulted in a generation of organists who cannot play a large organ without sequencing their registrations.

Also, hand registration changes in the middle of performances is becoming something of a lost art.