The Cambridge Companion to the Organ

by Nicholas Thistlethwaite (Editor), Geoffrey Webber (Editor)

This Companion is an essential guide to all aspects of the organ and its music. The early chapters examine the instrument's history and construction, and consider the scientific basis of its sounds, pitch and tuning. Central chapters investigate the practical art of learning and playing, and introduce the complex area of performance practice, while the final section explores the vast repertoire of organ music, by country, focusing on a selection of the most important traditions. The contributors are all experts in their field, making this the most authoritative reference book currently available.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

340 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 1999

Reviews

[Joe Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dense handbook which certainly warrants several reads through. The work covers a wide range of pertinent subjects (from organ cases to the physics of organs to many chapters on different eras and national schools of organ music), addressing each in depth and providing examples of instruments and repertoire as appropriate. Should enrollment in an organ repertoire course be impossible, I think a studious reading of this book would serve as an adequate substitute.

[Kevin Sedota · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone looking for an introduction to the history of the pipe organ. Broken into several sections covering both the mechanisms and music for the pipe organ I found this format perfect for the trained musician who is not an organist. While I would hesitate recommending this for the non musician it is perfect for the professional or student.
While I would have liked a glossary the bibliography is excellent and a great source for next books.

[Maximillian Esmus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains lots of good introductory information for organists and organ students. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated since its publication in the '90s and a lot of the information is out of date.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book struck a nice balance between looking at the historical development of the organ as an instrument and examining the music written for it over the centuries. The authors of the chapters on the music also did a great job of exploring the relationship between developments in organ construction and developments in organ music. My only complaint is that contemporary organ music gets very short schrift.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting background to the history and development of the organ. I found it informative on how to aprpoach registration and performance of pieces from particualr eras and also understanding the background to the pieces themselves. Borrowwed from the library - would like to own a copy for reference!