I understand that the development of the pipe organ ties in with it being cheaper for a Prince or Count to support one organist than constantly either hiring or keeping under one's own roof a whole orchestra.
Liudas
Hogwash! Organs as large as any ever built were in existence by 1425--two centuries before the orchestra was even thought of. Furthermore, they were installed in churches, not at court. As far as I know, large (non-movable) organs were not installed in concert halls until the 18th century, by which time the instrument had reached its full state of development. Finally, no-one, but no-one, thought of the organ as a substitute for the orchestra until the nineteenth century--which reflects the general misunderstanding of the instrument among musicians at that time.
The one grain of truth in your assertion is that the theater organs of the early twentieth century were indeed intended as a cheaper alternative to full orchestral accompaniment of silent movies--but the advent of sound film put paid to both alternatives.
--
Andrew Stiller
Kallisti Music Press
http://home.netcom.com/~kallisti/ _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
