Well, to start with, nothing so far as the instrument itself is concerned. The problems (and there are many) have to do with the people affiliated with the organ — at least since the second half of the twentieth century. And what do I mean by that? The organist asks indignantly. Let's take a look and see what happened.
During most of its long and glorious history the organ was always considered the supreme instrument of Western music. The fact that it is the oldest keyboard instrument, therefore the most complex mechanically, gave it a cache that no other instrument had, or has to this day. No other single instrument was capable of duplicating or exceeding the multi-voiced textures of a vocal ensemble than the organ: This capability in turn, helped pave the way to the development of the polyphonic complexities unique to Western music. It wasn't until the development of the 18th Century instrumental ensemble which became the foundation of our modern symphonic orchestra that the organ finally encountered any competition in this area. Even then, as now, the orchestra does not have the frequency range nor, in the case of a comparably sized organ, the dynamic range.
Moreover, up through the first decade of the Twentieth Century the organ was an immensely popular instrument. Most of the great composers before or since Bach have at least dabbled with the instrument. Mendelssohn was a virtuoso and wrote extensively for it, Brahms wrote for the instrument early in his career and then found consolation in it at the very end of his life. Mozart loved the organ as did Liszt who wrote a number of substantial pieces for it. Even Beethoven wrote a few, albeit inconsequential, pieces. Although in the 19th Century the piano became the more popular instrument primarily out of convenience, it was the to organ recitals that people flocked to hear transcriptions of their favourite orchestral works and the great works J. S. Bach.
Article comments
1 - fcetier
In Dec. of 2004, "Rolling Stone" magazine selected Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" as the greatest song of all time. A key component of the song is an organ riff that was improvised by session musician Al Kooper.
I agree with their choice and I've always enjoyed music from groups that included the organ such as Blood, Sweat, and Tears and Steppenwolf.
2 - Scott Deitche
I saw Deep Purple at Giants Stadium in 1988. During "Knocking at Your Back Door", Jon Lord took a hold of his Hammond with one hand and rocked it until it almost fell over, while playing the song with the other.
You can't do that with a piano.
3 - Richard Torrence
Thanks for your good comments, but I wish you had mentioned that Cameron Carpenter is leading the "cape" movement today. Not that he has a cape, like Virgil Fox (and Leonard Bernstein) did, but that he uses crystals and unusual clothes to call attention to the presence of the organ's performer. I was Virgil's manager for 17 years, co-wrote "Virgil Fox (The Dish)," which is a marvelous, hilarious book (not because of my co-authorship, but that of Ted Alan Worth, initially, and Marshall Yaeger, who edited it and gave it shape--and produced it).
Cameron I also manage, which should make the lineage clear: 48 years ago I began to work with Virgil; four years ago I began to work with Cameron. Cameron has a brilliance and musicality that overcomes my promise to never be a manager again; I couldn't resist. And, because of media access via the Internet, and the brilliant digital virtual pipe organ available today (Virgil would have eaten his heart out to have better touring instruments than he had; Cameron will have a startling new touring organ by the fall of 2010), being a manager is even more fun today.
This is the 30th anniversary of the death of Virgil, and Cameron is less than 30 years old. Both got the genes of transcendental talent and brilliant public performance on the organ. Both also got that it is the music and the artist, not the organ, that are of prime importance.
Oh yes, and "the show." Showmanship is natural with the greatest of artists; don't let anyone mislead you on that score. Liszt, Paganini, Horowitz, Bernstein, Stokowski, Virgil, now Cameron. A great tradition.
4 - Ralph Fisher
Thank you Mr. Torrence. I do cover have further comments about both Mr. Fox and Mr. Cameron in Parts II, IIIa,b,c, IV. Unfortunately they can only be seen on my personal blog because I inadvertently published them there first, and Blogcritcs won't publish them. I've also published them now on my Facebook page. I think you'll find the series interesting.
5 - Richard Torrence
I did read the whole series, and thanks for the time that you took. To cut to the quick, it's not the organ that's important, it's the artist, and I think that you say that with reference to Lizzie, also. Much too much hang up with the organ as an instrument; it's just a mechanical (digital, also) means to an end. Paganini, Liszt, Horowitz, Bernstein, Stokowski, Fox, and Carpenter define their respective instruments. Just being able to play them doesn't say much; sheer mastery does.
Glad for your comments.
6 - Jimmy Smith
I might be dead, but I just had to wake up and tell you that the organ has evolved since Bach. Go listen to my work and know that the "Organ" is alive and well.