Hello,

This is my first foray into the organ forum. In addition to being a pianist, I am also an classical organist. Like many organists, the only opportunity I had to practice was in in a cold Church some way from where I lived. Buying a home classical organ such as an Allen was out of my budget. About five years ago I discovered the Hauptwerk software. I don't want this to sound like an advert so I'll place the disclaimer that I have no commercial interest in Hauptwerk and will not benefit in anyway from mentioning it here. I am simply a keen organist who has found this software to be rather marvellous, and I wanted to share it with fellow organists.

Hauptwerk runs on a (fairly high specification) PC/Mac and enables the playing of organs through midi. It can be used with any keyboard device that will output midi, although the full benefit can be achieved with a minimum of a couple of keyboard and a pedal board. The most impressive part of Hauptwerk is that the available organs, which are purchased independently from third part vendors, are sampled from real Church organs. This involves recording every note, of every stop, of every division across the instruments - sometimes multiple times. Have a listen to recording using Hauptwerk organs on the Contrebombarde website and I'm sure you'll agree the realism second to none.

Hauptwerk has really gathered pace in the five years I have followed it. There are many many quality instrument available including the much anticipated and soon to be released Salisbury Catherdral instrument. Individuals and Churchs are in increasing numbers building large installations around consoles running Hauptwerk. I converted an old analogue two manual console to provide midi output which I then used as a practice instrument with Hauptwerk. I am now in the process of building a four manual midi console using bits I have bought recycled from redundant Church organs.

I sinceley hope that Hauptwerk is of interest to other organists.

Best wishes,

James

I have hauptwerk on my Computer. I am a classical organist. I just dont have a digital keyboard anymore to use it.

I really really really want the Bovenkerk Hinsz, FC Schnitger organ. That is a beautiful organ!
http://store.hauptwerk.com/Bovenkerk-Hinsz_p_64.html

i will send someone (an enthusiast to this thread)

The software sounds interesting, however, it seems that those organs that would interest me most aren't available, namely the big Cavaillé-Colls at Notre Dame de Paris, St Ouen (Rouen) and St Sernin (Toulouse) or the big Sauer at the Berlin Cathedral. Also, there seems to be not a single Walcker to be found.

It is very costly for companies like Hauptwerk and sonus Paradise to sample these organs, therefor few are available.

There are a lot of other companies out there. Not necessarily better or worse, well worth the look!

Go here-

There are Cavaille Coll organs available!- http://www.hauptwerk.com/instruments/

Also there is the very famous. AND FREE trial- of Miditzer theatre organ- http://virtualorgan.com/

I forgot to also mention that there is a free version of Hauptwerk.

There are three Cavaillé Coll instruments available, I would recommend that you have a listen to these, they are rather marvellous. A good starting point is the page referenced by Brandon:

http://www.hauptwerk.com/instruments/

James

I use the free version of Hauptwerk and an old midi keyboard. No pedals and only one keyboard but still, it's fun to play.

Sam