Understanding the Pipe Organ: A Guide for Students, Teachers and Lovers of the Instrument

by John R. Shannon

The pipe organ, an instrument whose origins date to ancient Greece, is prominent in the development of secular and church music, and its builders were as artistic as the composers like Bach, Pachelbel and Handel who played them. This book describes the mechanics, fabrication, and acoustics of all types of pipe organs. Although it is technical in nature, its design, descriptions, and language are directed to organ students, their teachers, and all persons who love the organ. The book covers the construction of several types of pipe organ, with chapters on actions, chests, pipe work, wind supply, electrical circuitry, mechanics, registration, organ placement, acoustics, and repairs.

Genres: Music

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 2008

Reviews

[Kevin Sedota · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good overview of pipe organ function covering types of mechanisms, construction, acoustics, use, many other subjects. It covers many things i feel like i should have learned in school. It was like drinking from a fire hose. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to know more about the pipe organ. It helps to be a trained musician. I suspect some of the topics may go over a persons head if they don’t have grounding in either music or mechanics. Yes mechanics. The mechanisms used are just fascinating.

I have only two problems with this great book

1. The figures and the text that references them seem to always be on over pages. I was constantly flipping back and forth and I was trying to understand what was being described like the mechanisms.

2. I am not sure where to go from here. I had difficulty finding “further reading” limited bibliography. As a non organist it would be nice to have references to this sort of publication.

These are both easily rectified in the next edition.

[Nick Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a highly educational book that very briefly discusses the “big picture” in the building/functioning of the pipe organ. This is probably a book that should be in the library of every organist who plays a pipe organ. The last chapter — on quick adjustments and repairs that often need to be made — is alone worth the read.