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Pipe organs down the ages

The organ was invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria, a third century BC engineer. Fragments from one early organ in Pompeii are now in the Museo Nazionale, Naples. The first definition is provided by St. Augustine: “apropryte to the Instrument that is made of many pypes: and blowe with belowes." In 757, Emperor Constantine Copronymus sent an organ as a gift to Pepin, King of the Franks. By 1474, S. Petronio, Bologna, had a full scale 50 note organ with 9 stops. The low pipes in the largest cathedral organs produced some of the lowest sounds ever created by man. Perhaps predictably, given its extraordinary capabilities, a somewhat persistent element in the history of the organ is various puritan's criticism of it. Writers from Cicero to Milton saw it as a temptation away from virtue and reason. Nevertheless they continued to grow in range, power and tone. By the 19th century there was a vast amount of music for the organ. And to play it on? As many as 200 stops and 10,647 pipes….
by Basher Eyre

Created: Tue, 5 Sep 2023, Updated: Tue, 5 Sep 2023


383 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:

SU7791 : St Bartholomew, Fingest: organ by Basher Eyre
2025
SP2210 : St Mary, Westwell : organ by Basher Eyre
2025
TL0516 : St John the Baptist, Markyate: organ by Basher Eyre
2025
TG2738 : St John the Baptist, Trimingham: organ by Basher Eyre
2025
SP3813 : St Mary, North Leigh: organ by Basher Eyre
2025
SU2650 : St James, Ludgershall: organ by Basher Eyre
2024
TF7732 : St Mary, Great Bircham: organ by Basher Eyre
2023
SC4078 : St Peter, Onchan: organ by Basher Eyre
2023
ST5545 : Wells Cathedral: organ by Basher Eyre
2023
SU5123 : Church of St Andrew, Owslebury: organ by Basher Eyre
2011
SU9320 : The organ at St James, Selham by Basher Eyre
2010
TM3862 : St.John the Baptist, Saxmundham: organ by Basher Eyre
2010
TQ0126 : St. John the Baptist, Kirdford: organ (rear) by Basher Eyre
2010
SU6027 : St Simon and St Jude Bramdean- organ pipes by Basher Eyre
2010
TM3968 : Yoxford, St Peter: organ by Basher Eyre
2010
TQ3281 : The organ at St Mary Woolnoth by Basher Eyre
2010
TM3674 : St Mary, Walpole: organ by Basher Eyre
2010
TM3374 : St Mary's church in Huntingfield -organ by Basher Eyre
2010
TM1877 : Hoxne St Peter and St Paul: organ by Basher Eyre
2010
SU6134 : All Saints, Bighton: organ by Basher Eyre
2010
SO7193 : The organ at St Leonard, Bridgnorth by Basher Eyre
2009
SU7303 : The organ at St Peter's, Northney by Basher Eyre
2009
SU9643 : The organ at St Peter and St Paul Godalming by Basher Eyre
2009
SU8011 : The organ at St Mary's, Stoughton by Basher Eyre
2009
SU6505 : The organ at St Peter and St Paul, Wymering by Basher Eyre
2008

... and 358 more images.

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