Pipe organ

This article is part of the . See that page for details.

Styles of pipe organ

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A more detailed article is to be written at styles of pipe organ.

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During its history, several distinctive styles of pipe organ have been developed and achieved popularity at particular times and places, for example the baroque organ, the English romantic organ, the French classical organ, the symphonic organ and the theatre organ.

Related Topics:
Baroque organ - English romantic organ - French classical organ - Symphonic organ - Theatre organ

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Even after their period of popularity, instruments of each popular style have continued to be constructed. Each style has its own music (see organ repertoire) which is most authentically played on an instrument of that style, so for example the baroque organ is particularly favoured for playing Bach. So, for example, the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, whose construction started in 1969 and was completed in 1979, is a baroque style organ.

Related Topics:
Organ repertoire - Bach - Sydney Opera House Grand Organ

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Not all pipe organs can be assigned to a particular style. Larger instruments may combine several styles in an attempt to provide authentic voices for an extended repertoire, and each one of these instruments is unique. Smaller instruments often combine elements of several styles as a compromise, and so do not fit comfortably into any of them.

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Even when an organ is initially built to a particular style, if at a later time it is extended, often the fashion has changed, and the style becomes a compromise. Such extensions are often criticised by organ enthusiasts as unsympathetic to the original style.

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