On hearing the word organ, our mind goes straight to the western cathedrals and to the imposing sound of what might be called the most remarkable musical-technological invention of all time.How many of us, though, know that this sound, which for centuries has been part of the religious service of the Western church, is of Greek origin?

In fact the organ, which is the oldest instrument of all keyboard instruments, was invented by the Greek mechanic, Ktisivios. Its history goes back to the 3rd century BC, and its first name was hydravlis as the movement and the production of air was produced by a hydraulic mechanism.

Since then, the development of the organ, technologically, has been tremendous. The pipes now sound with the support of electric power and not the hand movement of those people who patiently pushed the bellows up and down in order to produce air so that the organist would show the congregation his dexterity!

We are now at the point where the organ is the most technically perfect polyphonic musical instrument. What can be played on the organ is close to that of an orchestra as far as concerns the sounds and the means of expression it has. And when it is considered that for this, only one performer who plays with both hands and feet is needed!

The organ repertoire covers a half millennium period and music lovers can listen not only to Bach’s works with which the organ is closely associated in people’s minds. The period when the famous Toccata and Fugue in D min. was used in horror silent movies has passed. From Liszt and Brahms to Franck and Messiaen, from Italian and Spanish music to the English and Dutch, all the great classical and contemporary composers have written organ works. Let’s enjoy this music!