Ernest M. Skinner's book is a comprehensive guide to the design, construction, and maintenance of pipe organs. This technical manual includes detailed illustrations and specifications, as well as practical advice for organ builders and musicians. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

An interdisciplinary approach to modern organs constructed according to the classical organbuilding principles of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Examined are the elements of the classical organ (both functional--the tonal, wind and control systems--and structural, the similarities and differences among organs), the nature and behavior of the classical organ that follow, and the implications for the organists.