Organist

Anorganistis a musician who plays any type oforgan.An organist may playsolo organ works,play with anensembleororchestra,or accompany one or moresingersorinstrumental soloists.In addition, an organist may accompany congregationalhymn-singing and playliturgical music.

A cathedral organist inLausanne Cathedral

Classical and church organists

The majority of organists, amateur and professional, are principally involved inchurch music,playing in churches and cathedrals. Thepipe organstill plays a large part in the leading of traditionalwestern Christianworship, with roles including the accompaniment ofhymns,choralanthemsand other parts of the worship. The degree to which the organ is involved varies depending on the church and denomination. It also may depend on the standard of the organist. In more provincial settings, organists may be more accurately described as pianists obliged to play the organ for worship services; nevertheless, some churches are fortunate to have trained organists capable of more elaborate "voluntaries" (the solo music before, during and after the service) andimprovisation.As most churches can afford to employ only one musician, the organist is usually also responsible for directing and rehearsing thechoir(s).In the twentieth-century, many pipe organs were replaced by pipe-lesselectronic and digital organs,often as a low-cost alternative to rebuilding older pipe organs.

In the Englishcathedraltradition the organist is now generally called "Director of Music", although their function is mainly in the training and direction of music rather than actual playing; there will generally be one or more assistant or sub-organists who play for most services and some recitals. Sometimes the organist will be assisted by anorgan scholar.The post of organist at most of the great cathedrals includes recital work and choral training. Another function of an organist is often as teacher to future players. Few organists hold historically special positions such asRaùl Prieto Ramitezwho is the Civic Organist of San Diego, the last true Civic Organist position still active in the US.

The concert organistFrederik MagleinKoncerthuset,Copenhagen

Since the strengths and weaknesses of the organ are difficult to understand without a good deal of playing experience, most music composed for organ has been written by organists. Since the majority of pre-twentieth-century organs were installed in churches, classical organ literature was almost exclusively written for liturgical use.

Many composers, therefore, are equally known for their performance talents, some historical examples beingJohann Sebastian Bach,Dieterich Buxtehude,Felix Mendelssohn,Franz Liszt,César Franck,Camille Saint-Saëns,Charles-Marie Widor,Louis Vierne,Marcel DupréandMaurice Duruflé,as well asimproviserssuch asCharles Tournemire,Pierre Cochereau,Pierre PincemailleorThierry Escaich.In Europe, the historical importance of churches as employers of musicians meant that many composers who now are very seldom remembered for their association with the organ were, nevertheless, engaged as professional organists: for example,Wolfgang Amadeus MozartandEdward Elgar.

For a list of notable organists, seeList of organists.

Ancient titles still in current use

In English churches, chapels and cathedrals the Organist may also be known asMaster of the Choristers,ChoirmasterorDirector of Music;however, there are some ancient titles still in current usage:

• Magdalen College, Oxford–Organist and Informator Choristarum
• Savoy Chapel–Master of the Music
• York Minster–Master of the Music
• Westminster Cathedral–Master of Music
• Chichester Cathedral–Organist & Master of the Choristers
• Southwell Minster–Rector Chori
• Armagh Cathedral–Organist & Master of the Boys
• Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent–Master of the Song School

Theatre organists

An organist playing the organ of theEl Capitan,Los Angeles

Thetheatre organhas a separate repertoire and playing style, and in its heyday (during the first third of the twentieth century) there were considerable numbers of organists employed, many of whom played onWurlitzerorgans. A few carry on the tradition today.

Organists in popular music

There are many organists employed in the production of popular and jazz music. In the United States most of them play theHammond organ,and many are classically trained, often in piano rather than organ. In England and Japan, one of the most popular series of instruments is theYamahaElectone;while Electones of recent decades are more properly characterized as digitalsynthesizersrather than as organs, the player interface, and the skills and coordination required to play, mean that it may be effectively regarded by some, as an organ in these respects.

Organizations

TheRoyal College of Organists(RCO) in theUnited Kingdomis the oldest institutions and professional body that regulates organ studies. From that sprang theAmerican Guild of Organists(AGO), theGesellschaft der Orgelfreunde(GdO) in Germany, and theRoyal Canadian College of Organists(RCCO). TheIncorporated Association of Organistsis an international society that fulfills an educational interest in the organ and is the holding company for regional Organist Associations, which regulate organ activities at the local level.All these institutions are oriented toward the organist involved inclassical musicrather thanpopular music,but have recently shown an interest in expanding their interests. There is also theAmerican Theatre Organ Society.

See also

• List of organists
• List of jazz organists
• Organ recital
• Organ shoes
• Stadium organist

Further reading

• Organ playing and teachingin theEncyclopedia of Music in Canada

External links

• American Guild of Organists (AGO) (USA)
• American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) (USA)
• The Royal College of Organists (RCO) (UK)
• Royal Canadian College of Organists (Canada)
• Gesellschaft der Orgelfreunde (Germany)
• Incorporated Association of Organistsin the UK