Organ music in the 20th century

www.organman.com — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:23:40 +0000

At the time of its early invention in the 3rd^nd century B.C., the organ was associated with gladiator fights. Around the 8^th century A.D. it became a popular instrument for crafting Western religious music. However, modern musicians have used the organ for a variety of reasons, some of them as surprising as they are compelling.Marcel Dupre was an organist who followed in the Romantic French tradition but added a modern touch of improvisation. Over more than 2000 recitals, he developed impressive five-part-fugues which showed the ability of the organ to captivate modern listeners. Olivier Messiaen was another modern composer who transposed rhythms from Greek and Hindu sources to modern music to make a new and complex sound.The melodramatic atmosphere of soap operas surprisingly made them a perfect fit for the majestic sound of the organ. This originated with early radio series like The Adventures of Ellery Queen and Young Doctor Malone, later transitioning to television shows like Love of Life and The Secret Storm. All of the above were scored by Charles Paul, a renowned and long-running soap opera organist.In the 1960s and 1970s organs also became more popular in rock music, especially for progressive artists who were looking to break the mold. Tangerine Dream and Yes both used pipe organs on a number of their albums, as did Frank Zappa. Electronic organs were used by heavier groups like Iron Butterfly and Deep Purple. Parallel to its popularity in rock and roll, Jimmy Smith made the electric organ a popular jazz instrument starting in the 1950s.Finally, the organ’s powerful sound has made it a signature instrument for sports arenas. Wrigley Field pioneered this technique when they introduced an organist in 1941, but other arenas have followed suit. It’s obvious that the organ isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, as its music continues to captivate listeners in a variety of ways.

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Organ music in the 20th century