In General

9. Use 8' (and possibly 4') REEDS to add “fire” to a bright principal chorus, or 8' and light 16' reeds to add gravity to a more foundational principal chorus.

While mixtures add brightness to a principal chorus, reeds add “fire.” Chorus reeds are usually added after a principal chorus has been built through the mixture stop. However, reeds may also be added before the mixture, saving the “brightness” until after the “fire.”

The addition of 16' (or 8' and 16') reeds gives the ensemble a certain “grave” quality that is particularly appropriate for one or more verses of grand, stately hymns. The hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (St. Anne) may work well when registered in this way. However, do not use this idea if the 16' manual reed is too heavy.