History

Julian Rhodes' Dream Organs
This page hosts extensive accounts of the organ in literature, tracing it back to the ancient Greeks and to works by Milton. There are plans for organ design and essays on different aspects of the organ here, and even discussions on the organ in philosophy. In the literature found on this page, unusual organs and Arab organs are also treated, as well as the art of organ building.

Museum of Organs
This site is devoted exclusively to housing photos of famous organs in places all over Europe and North America. Brief descriptions are included, but the main attractions are the photos of the organs themselves.

The Organ and How it Works
After touring this site in its entirety, the layman should have a pretty good idea of how the organ works. The descriptions of all organ parts and functions are helped by the extensive photo and sound files. The organ history section is extensive, classified by time period, country, and then by location. You'll learn all about the organ, and its transformation over many eras.

The Player Piano Page
This page is very useful to people who are interested in self-playing pianos. Find out about their mechanism and history of their development here, and also about music-roll artists. On a practical note, you can also buy and sell player pianos on this site, get to learn about player piano societies, and learn where to get supplies or restoration services.

The Pipe Organ
This site provides concise yet broad information on the pipe organ. It provides an overview, explains individual parts, walks you through the working of the pipes, and shows how sound is produced with them. There is even a brief but interesting history of the organ that dates all the way back to 200 B.C.