HOWARD GOODALL'S ORGAN WORKS

A fascinating journey through the evolution of the traditional pipe organ through to the digital ageIncludes four full-length programs: Medieval Organs, Baroque Organs, 19th Century and Contemporary. The organ evolved through medieval and Baroque times when Martin Luther, allegedly complaining that the devil had all the best tunes, converted popular folk melodies into hymns, and ultimately the Lutheran hymn book was produced, a sort of melodic greatest hits of the day. It is hard to overstate the influence on the organ of J.S. Bach, whose music is the finest ever written for the instrument, giving it a distinctive, living voice. Moving to modern times, we look at how the Wurlitzer and Hammond B3 have brought organ music to new audiences and new generations.