The Church Organ

Introducing: a Place for Church Organists

After sitting at the church organ console for over twenty-five years, I have developed these web pages as a convenient and focused resource for church musicians like myself. These articles are designed to both introduce the beginner to the church organ as well as be a resource for advanced organists. I want you to be able to spend your valuable time playing and practicing, not visiting useless web sites.

Types of Church organs

Since this project is intended to be practical in nature, it will not be limited to "real" organs. Having a pipe organ of considerable size is a great blessing but the reality is that most churches will have either a small pipe organ or an electronic instrument.  The key to success is to make the most of what you have. I have played drawbar organs, both small and large electronic organs and real pipe organs. Each has its own qualities and techniques.

Pipe Organs

In a pipe organ, sound is produced by pressurized air passing through pipes. Depressing a key causes a valve to open admitting air into the pipe. In flue pipes a thin stream of air is directed across a small opening in the side of the pipe. This results in the air pressure fluctuations called sound. In reed pipes air passes over a thin metal strip causing it to vibrate. These vibrations are amplified by an attached pipe.  Mechanical action organs have a direct physical connection between the keys and the valves; this is also known as a tracker action.  Electric action organs have electro-magnets which open the valves and are connected by wires to switches at the keyboard. Pneumatic (air-powered) valves assist the magnets in electro-pneumatic organ actions.

Drawbar Organs

This type of instrument uses tone-wheels or a modern synthesized equivalent to produce fairly pure tones.  These tones are combined at different amplitudes using drawbars.  This type of instrument is less suitable to classic organ literature but can be effective for gospel songs and hymn accompaniment. The Hammond organ is the prime example of this kind of instrument.

Electronic Organs

Electronic circuits generate the sound in these instruments. The older analog organs used vacuum tubes and then transistor circuits to simulate pipe sound. Most of these were not very realistic but they still have a good sound that can be used in the worship service. Beginning in the early nineteen-seventies organ sounds were simulated using digital techniques. These produced a much closer approximation to real pipe sound. Now, several decades later, computer based organs can produce very realistic pipe sounds. Popular makes of this kind include Allen, Baldwin and Rodgers.

Reed Organs

Before the advent of electronic organs, small churches that could not afford a pipe organ sometimes used a reed organ. This instrument looks very similar to an upright piano but has small metal strips called reeds which vibrate to produce sound when air is forced over them. This air is pressurized by a foot pedal pump mechanism.

Styles of Church Organ Music

Church music styles are vary from ancient and classical to  contemporary pop and gospel.  The author is most familiar with classical and traditional gospel styles but is not excluding those who play other styles.  The church organist works within the style guidelines of their church so we will make no attempt to change this.

Hymns   

Hymns are defined in this context as songs of praise and worship proclaiming the work and character of God. They can have a simple multi-verse structure or a verse-refrain pattern. Their mood can range from the quiet and meditative to jubilant and festive march anthems. Examples of this would be "Holy, Holy, Holy", "Blessed be the Tie" and "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name".

Gospel Songs

Gospel songs are songs of testimony, telling of your personal experience, feelings and attitudes. In a narrow sense they are songs about the good news of Christ's redemptive work of salvation but this definition is much more narrow than the way it the term "gospel songs" is usually meant. The forms of gospel songs varies from the simple chorus to a complex verse chorus arrangements with bridge sections, repeating sections and codas. The styles are also quite varied taking on influences of all secular styles of music. Examples of this type of song would be "Jesus Loves Me", "At Calvary" and "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms".

Organ Compositions

Many pieces written especially for the organ can be used in a church service setting.  Since many of these pieces were intended to be played on an instrument in a church they are well-suited to that role. Examples of this would be Bach Chorale Preludes, excerpts from Widor's Organ Symphonies or Mendelssohn's organ sonatas.

Arrangements for Organ

Playing well-written arrangements of hymn and gospel tunes can be rewarding. Some of the arrangers I prefer are Fred Bock, Don Hustad and Harold DeCou.

Improvisations

It is not always possible or even desirable to play pre-written music.  Much of the time I will use a hymn score as a guide to improvise organ music. See the article The Basic Skills for Organ Hymn Improvisation for what it takes to do this well.