Swell, 1

In the organ, a contrivance for producing a crescendo and diminuendo, By enclosing a partial organ (swell-organ) in a box, the front of which could be opened or shut at will, this end was attained. In the modern (so-called Venetian) swell the front of the swell-box is composed of movable parallel shutters (swell-blinds); when these shutters are horizontal, they are usually opened by a lever (swell-pedal) worked by the organist’s right foot, and close automatically when the lever is released (but comp. Balance swell. pedal); when vertical, they are closed by a spring.—Formerly other devices were employed, notably the nag's-Aead swell, a single broad shutter in front of an echo-organ, to be raised or lowered, —On the harpsichord a swell was obtained by a movable cover.—2. A crescendo ( ), or crescendo and diminuendo (——— ———)... SwellAeyboard, the manual controlling the 192 SYLBE-—S swell-organ, generally the one next above the great-organ manual... Swe// organ (Ger. [compare Oberwerk]; Fr. clavier de réeit; It. organo d'espre ione), see Swell 1, and Organ. (In organ-music abbr. Szv., or Swell.)