organist

An organist is a musician who plays the organ, a keyboard instrument that produces sound either by pipes or digitally. Organists may perform on pipe organs, electronic organs, or hybrid instruments. In many churches and cathedrals, the organist accompanies congregational singing, leads liturgical music, and provides preludes, interludes, and postludes. They may also direct a choir or supervise music programs. In secular settings, organists appear as recitalists, accompanying ensembles or film scores, and sometimes as theater organists in cinemas or concert venues.

Playing the organ requires coordination of hands on one or more keyboards (manuals) and feet on the pedalboard, with registration practice to select stops. Musicians may improvise or perform written repertoire ranging from medieval and baroque to contemporary works. Training often includes formal study in organ performance or church music, sometimes through conservatories or universities, and professional certification or membership in organizations such as the American Guild of Organists.

Historically, the organ has played a central role in Western liturgical and concert life since the Middle Ages. Organists have been composers, improvisers, and accompanists; figures such as Johann Sebastian Bach are celebrated for their contributions to organ literature. Today organists may hold appointments as organist, director of music, or organist-in-residence, or work as freelance performers.

Organ stops determine timbre and dynamics, and players adjust registration to suit acoustics and repertoire.