Outrageous Organs

The organ has long been a favored instrument of church ensembles, rock bands, and classical masters. The instrument’s swelling tones prove incredibly versatile, capable of satisfying any musical taste. Traditional organs rely on a series of pipes to produce sound, but craftsmen have taken a few creative liberties while reimagining this iconic instrument.

Fiery in its own right, the pyrophone is also known as the explosion organ or the fire organ. Like its name implies, the pyrophone’s dynamite melodies are sourced from the systematic combustion of gasoline or propane. Of course, if played correctly, a certain part of the organ remains ignited for the duration of the performance. This unusual instrument was invented in 1875 by a maverick inventor named Georges F E Kastner. Although the pyrophone is more than a century old, it is currently experiencing a revival as more young musicians are drawn to its explosive aura.

The Great Stalacpipe Organ of Luray Caverns, Virginia, holds the title of world’s largest musical instrument. Located beneath the rolling hills of Shenandoah National Park, this symphonic singularity was first played in 1956. Its inventor, Leland W. Sprinkle, carefully crafted the organ over a period of three years. The Great Stalacpipe Organ utilizes electricity to operate. When a key on its keyboard is struck, it triggers a rubber mallet that gently taps a stalactite. The grand variety of shapes and sizes among the caverns’ rock formations allow the organ to produce a large range of pitches, making it the frontrunner in a new style of rock music!

On the shores of Zadar, Croatia, stands the Zadar Sea Organ. Proclaimed by its designer to be an experiment in instrument design, this oceanic organ has bathed its visitors in haunting melodies. Interestingly, the 230-foot-long Sea Organ has never been played by human hands. Instead, the wind and waves of the Adriatic Sea wash over its thirty-five pipes, creating harmonic echoes that draw thousands of tourists to experience its natural nots.

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