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The History Of The Organ In The Christian Church

The honor accorded the pipe organ in Christian worship represents a curious paradox. On the one hand, the Christian church through most of its history has had an abiding antipathy toward instruments; on the other, the organ (together with bells) has, since the late Middle Ages, become so identified with the church that it embodies the very essence of "churchliness. " How could this have happened? This article traces the history of the organ in worship in order to answer this question.

The...

 

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