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  • Emmett Ankunding
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Meaning of Organ in Music

In music, an **organ** refers to a keyboard instrument that is operated by the player's hands and feet. It produces notes by using pressurized air to sound a series of pipes organized in scale-like rows. The term "organ" typically refers to pipe organs, although it can also encompass reed organs and electronic organs.

The organ is one of the most complex musical instruments and has a long and rich history in Western music. It is known for having the largest and oldest extant repertoire of any instrument. The organ's repertoire spans various genres and styles, making it a versatile instrument in both sacred and secular music.

Types of Organs

There are different types of organs, including:

1. **Pipe Organs**: These are the most common type of organ and use pipes to produce sound. Pipe organs can be found in churches, concert halls, and other large venues.

2. **Reed Organs**: Also known as harmoniums or pump organs, reed organs produce sound by using metal reeds that vibrate when air is blown over them.

3. **Electronic Organs**: These organs use electronic circuits and amplification to produce sound. They are often used in popular music genres and can simulate the sounds of other instruments.

4. **Positive Organs**: Positive organs are small, portable organs that were popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. They were often used in chamber music settings.

5. **Portative Organs**: Portative organs are small, handheld organs that were popular during the Middle Ages. They were often used in religious ceremonies and processions.

Each type of organ has its own unique characteristics and capabilities, contributing to the diverse range of sounds and musical possibilities offered by the instrument.

Historical Significance

The organ has a long and involved history, dating back to ancient civilizations. It has played a significant role in Western music, particularly in religious settings. Pipe organs, in particular, have been used in churches for centuries, providing accompaniment for hymns, choral music, and solo performances.

Throughout history, many composers have written music specifically for the organ, showcasing its capabilities and exploring its vast tonal range. The organ's ability to produce sustained sounds and its wide dynamic range have made it a favored instrument for composers in various musical periods.

The organ's historical significance is also evident in its influence on the development of other keyboard instruments, such as the harpsichord and piano. The techniques and musical idioms developed for the organ have had a lasting impact on keyboard music as a whole.

Conclusion

In summary, an organ in music is a keyboard instrument operated by the player's hands and feet. It produces notes through a series of pipes organized in scale-like rows. The term "organ" typically refers to pipe organs, but it can also include reed organs and electronic organs. The organ has a long and rich history in Western music, with a diverse repertoire and significant influence on other keyboard instruments.

1. Pipe organ - A keyboard instrument that is sounded by air moving through pipes. The pipe organ usually has several manuals as well as pedals that control the air flow through combinations of pipes. A rank of pipes constitutes one stop and consists of a row of pipes, one for each key on the keyboard. Organ pipes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and methods of setting the air columns to

vibrate. The pipes can range in size from a quarter-inch in length to over 32 feet with the shorter pipes creating the higher pitches and the larger pipes creating the lowest pitches. Organ pipes can be any shape from round to square, conical to cylindrical, or from straight to curved. The differing shapes provide a variety of tone colors. The pipes are typically constructed from either wood or metal. These materials provide another factor in the tone color of the pipe. The pipes are broken into two categories for creating sound, flue pipes and reed pipes.The flue pipes produce sound on the same principle of a whistle or recorder. The reed pipes produce sound on the same principle as the clarinet. The organ is an ancient instrument popular since the Medieval era. The use of organs is most commonly associated with religious music. 

2. Theater Organ - A pipe organ housed in an ornate cabinet and console that has in addition to the usual organ pipes, other instruments that are controlled by the keyboard. Other instruments commonly added include stringed instruments, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, bells, and other various percussion instruments. Theater organs were used in the early 20th century to accompany silent films and and to provide entertainment to the movie audience prior to the advent of sound films (1929, The Jazz Singer). The various additional instruments offered a wider range of sounds that would allow the player to create special sound effects to heighten the sense of reality. Although most theater organs have been destroyed or fallen into disrepair, a few examples still illustrate the fantastic sound of the era. 

3. Electric organ - A keyboard instrument that uses electronics to create sounds that closely resemble that of the pipe organ. The electric organ is used as a low-cost substitute for pipe organs and in popular music (i.e. rock, blues & jazz) as an alternate keyboard instrument sound.

Popular questions related to organ

In biology, an organ (from the Latin "organum" meaning an instrument or tool) is a collection of tissues that structurally form a functional unit specialized to perform a particular function. Your heart, kidneys, and lungs are examples of organs.

Most organs are played using keyboards, one or more of which may be played using the feet. They are found and used in churches, concert halls, and even in theatres, especially older movie theatres or cinemas. A person who plays the organ is called an organist.

How sound is produced. A pipe organ feeds wind into pipes, causing the air to oscillate and produce a sound. The pipes stand in line above the box referred to as the wind-chest, with wind fed from below into the pipes the organist wishes to use to produce sound.

Describing organ tone in words is difficult and often misleading. Bright, dark, rich, warm, brilliant, wooly and sweet are just a few of the common attempts to picture organ tone.

Introduction. In biology, an organ is a structure composed of a group of different tissues that work together to perform a specific function. Most multicellular organisms have one or more organs. The stomach, liver, lungs, and heart are examples of organs found in animals.

An organ system is a group of organs that work together in the body to perform a complex function, such as pumping blood or processing and utilizing nutrients.

What is the difference between a piano and an organ? A piano is a percussion instrument, whereas an organ is a woodwind instrument meaning that they produce very different sounds when played. A piano can only sound like a piano, however, an organ can be altered to sound like a variety of woodwind and reed instruments.

The piano requires a much more generalized skillset compared to the organ, which makes the piano a much more accessible option. Additionally, the piano is significantly less complicated, making performance errors less obvious and easier to avoid. ‍Pianos are ideal for leading choir rehearsals.

Church organs have been playing an important role in church architecture and worship for centuries. They provide a unique sound that cannot be replicated by any other instrument and are associated with churches and worship more than anything else.

61 keys A typical, full-size organ manual consists of five octaves, or 61 keys. Piano keyboards, by contrast, normally have 88 keys; some electric pianos and digital pianos have fewer keys, such as 61 or 73 keys. Some smaller electronic organs may have manuals of four octaves or less (25, 49, 44, or even 37 keys).

Classical music. The organ has had an important place in classical music, particularly since the 16th century.

An organ is a self-contained group of tissues that performs a specific function in the body. The heart, liver, and stomach are examples of organs in humans.

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