History of The Organ

  • 300 BCE

    Pipe Organ was invented!

    Pipe Organ was invented!
    The Pipe Organ is invented in the 3rd century BC. A Greek engineer, Ctesibius of Alexandria, is the one who invented the Organ.He created an instrument called the hydraulis, which delivered a wind supply maintained through water pressure to a set of pipes. The pumps and water regulators of the hydraulis were replaced by an inflated leather bag in the 2nd century AD.
  • Period: 500 to 600

    Organs Using Wind and Air.

    By the 6th or 7th century AD, bellows supplied air to an Organ in order for it to work properly. Previous organs used water to make sound but most are now using air called "wind".
  • 900

    First Detailed Record of an Organ.

    First Detailed Record of an Organ.
    In England, the first organ of which any detailed record exists was built in Winchester Cathedral in the 10th century. It was a huge machine with 400 pipes, which needed two men to play it and 70 men to blow it, and its sound could be heard throughout the city!
  • 1100

    Organs become more complex instruments!

    Organs become more complex instruments!
    Near the beginning of the 12th century organs became more complex, had many parts, and were very grand in scale.
  • Organ's Sound Becomes Better!

    Organ's Sound Becomes Better!
    By the 17th century, most of the sounds available on the modern classical organ had been developed. From that time, the pipe organ was the most complex man-made device. That title would be taken later by the telephone exchange in the 19th century.
  • Organs are Installed In Theaters.

    Organs are Installed In Theaters.
    In the early 20th century, pipe organs were installed in theaters to accompany the screening of films during the silent movie era.
  • Electronic Organs.

    Electronic Organs.
    The electronic organ developed throughout the 20th century. Some pipe organs were replaced by digital organs because of their lower purchase price, smaller physical size, and minimal maintenance requirements.
  • Modern Development of The Organ!

    Modern Development of The Organ!
    The development of pneumatic and electro-pneumatic key actions in the late 19th century made it possible to locate the console independently of the pipes, greatly expanding the possibilities in organ design. Electric stop actions were also developed, which allowed sophisticated combination actions to be created. How Organ Pipes Work
  • Hybrid Organs!

    Hybrid Organs!
    In the early 1970s, Rodgers Instruments created the hybrid organ, an electronic instrument that incorporates real pipes; other builders such as Allen Organs and Johannus Orgelbouw have since built hybrid organs.