On classical French organs, the plein jeu is a principal-based plenum registration. It includes the Montres, Bourdons, Prestants and Doublettes (Principals 16′, 8′, 4′ and 2′) and the Fournitures and Cymbales (lower- and higher-pitched

mixtures In chemistry, a mixture is a material made up of two or more different chemical substances which are not chemically bonded. A mixture is the physical combination of two or more substances in which the identities are retained and are mixed in the ...

). The classical French organ also allows for a reed-based registration; the grand jeu, which used a loud combination of reed stops (usually consist of trompette 8′, Clarion 4′, Prestant 4′ and Cornet séparé (or Cornet V), which comprises Bourdon 8′, 4′, 2′, Nasard 2′, Tierce 1′.) in homophonic sections of larger pieces or standalone ''préludes''. On French romantic organs, (e.g. the organs of

Aristide Cavaillé-Coll Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (; 4 February 1811 – 13 October 1899) was a French organ builder. He has the reputation of being the most distinguished organ builder of the 19th century. He pioneered innovations in the art and science of organ buildi ...

), ''Plein-jeu'' also has been the name of a single organ stop, being a mixture. On English organs, it is sometimes also known as Furniture (Fourniture, Fr.). The 'Plein Jeu' is a mixture stop voiced fairly boldly where a powerful effect is needed, particularly when added to the Great Diapason Chorus. A typical IV rank might be 19 22 26 29 in the bass. Many organ builders use the name Plein-jeu for a compound ranks stop. When a single key on the organ is pressed, four or more notes sound, each at

octave In music, an octave ( la, octavus: eighth) or perfect octave (sometimes called the diapason) is the interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been refer ...

and fifth relationships to each other. Three ranks of pipes sound three notes, and two ranks sound two notes, and so forth. As the stop progresses upward on the keyboard, the notes "break" back to the next lower octave or fifth. This stop is used to add depth, clarity, and definition and power to an entire organ compass, or just an ensemble of stops. Note that sometimes the abbreviation 'PJ' is notated in scores of French classical school music, where it carries the meaning 'Petit Jeu' rather than 'Plein Jeu'.

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