Organist: Encyclopedia - Organist

Organist

An organist is a musician who plays the organ, whether pipe or electronic.

In the United States there is a national organisation called the American Guild of Organists (AGO). Comparable bodies in other countries include the Royal College of Organists (RCO) in the United Kingdom and the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). All these institutions are oriented toward the organist involved in classical music rather than popular music.

Organist - Classical and church organists

Worldwide, the greatest number of organists are principally involved in church music, due to the vital role that the organ plays in traditional Christian worship. The role of the organ varies from denomination to denomination; for example, Lutheran churches in the U.S. have greater emphasis on use of the organ in worship than some others. Since there were few organs installed in locations other than churches until the late 19th century, classical organ literature was almost exclusively written for liturgical use.

Organists are expected to accompany congregational singing of hymns, accompany the choir, and provide solo music for preludes, postludes, and covering music during otherwise silent portions of the worship service. Many organists also direct a choir.

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. Like other musicians, many organists also teach.

Organist - Theater organists

The theater organ has a separate repertoire and playing style, and in its heyday there were considerable numbers of organists employed. A few carry on the tradition today.

Organist - 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 the Hammond 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 the Yamaha Electone; while Electones of recent decades are more properly characterized as digital synthesizers rather than as organs, the player interface, and the skills and coordination required to play, mean that it is effectively an organ in these respects.

Organist - Famous organists

Notable classical organists of today include: Marie-Claire Alain, Diane Meredith Belcher, Kevin Bowyer, Carlo Curley, Ken Cowan, Eberhard Fölster, Rosalinde Haas, Felix Hell, Frederick Hohman, Peter Hurford, Paul Jacobs, Olivier Latry, Evgenija Lisitsina, Alan Morrison, Thomas Murray, Simon Preston, Cherry Rhodes, Lionel Rogg, Daniel Roth, Thomas Trotter, Wayne Marshall, John Weaver, Gillian Weir and Everhard Zwart.

The post of organist at most of the great cathedrals includes recital work and choral training. Musicians such as Malcolm Archer, Stephen Darlington and Barry Rose are accomplished organists as well as choral directors.

Notable organists of the past, many of whom were also composers for the instrument, include: Feike Asma, Johann Sebastian Bach, Marcel Dupré, Louis Vierne, César Franck, Jean Langlais, Helmut Walcha, Virgil Fox, Charles Courboin, Fernando Germani, Maurice Durufle, Marie-Madeleine Durufle-Chevalier, Jeanne Demessieux, Pierre Cochereau, Karl Richter, George Dorringtion Cunningham, Sir George Thalben-Ball, Alexander Schreiner, Camille Saint-Saens, Karl Straube, Everhard Zwart. In Europe, the historical importance of churches as employers of musicians meant that many composers not now remembered for their association with the organ nevertheless were engaged as professional organists: for example, Mozart, Reger, and Elgar.

Organist - List of active concert and church organists

• Alain, Marie-Claire (France)
• Belcher, Diane Meredith (USA)
• Burroughs, Michael (USA)
• Cowan, Ken (USA, born in Canada)
• Frenkel, Simonah (USA, born in Russia)
• Haas, Rosalinde (Germany)
• Hell, Felix (USA, born in Germany)
• Kiviniemi, Kalevi (Finland)
• Jacobs, Paul (USA)
• Lohmann, Ludger (Germany)
• Morrison, Alan (USA)
• Nordstoga, Kåre (Norway)
• Sherer, John (USA)
• Teti, Federico (USA, born in Italy)
• Watanabe, Kiyo (USA, born in Japan)
• Weaver, John (USA)
• Wilson, Todd (USA)

See also

• organ recital
• Organ Music Sample
• International Organist

Categories: Classical musicians by instrument | Organists

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Organist", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki