Pulling Out All the Stops: The Organ, Its History and Its Music

ID : 3164

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In this course, we will explore the remarkable history, technology and music of the pipe organ. Invented in the third century B.C., the organ became known as both the “king of instruments” and the “instrument of kings,” with a fascinating history that intersects with many famous people. We will trace its development from the early hydraulis (water organ) and the medieval Blockwerk to Bach’s instruments and the giant organs of the 19th- and 20th-century international exhibitions, including one that became the famous Wanamaker Organ. We will explore how technological advances shaped the organ’s pipes, playing action, and printed music. We will listen to music composed for the organ from the 14th century to today, with special attention to Baroque and Romantic works. We will learn how musicians have harnessed the incredible resources of the organ from the delicacy of a soft flute to the dramatic power of all the stops.

Kimberly Marshall, PhD, is an international recitalist known worldwide for her compelling presentations of organ music. She holds the Goldman Endowed Professorship in Organ at Arizona State University and has received the highest honorary award from the Royal College of Organists. She has performed and presented her research at 13 national conventions of the American Guild of Organists. She is the principal editor for the Online Encyclopedia of the Organ and for the Oxford Handbook of Organ Pedagogy and Performance.
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