Oxford Companion to Music ISBN 0 19 311306 6 | The vade mecum of any serious music lover and a tremendous source of knowledge. Though classically-biassed, it contains many answers to pertinent theatre organ questions. |
The Cinema and Theatre Organ | Perhaps hard to find, but worth searching for as it contains a lot of fascinating information which, although rather generic, still represents the best attempt to date to thoroughly describe the workings of the theatre organ. |
At the Mighty Organ | Interesting book with information about the history of the theatre organ, some technical information, and information on the then (1974) state of the theatre organ in the UK. |
The Organ | Part of the Grove musical instrument series, this book covers the organ most comprehensively. Theatre organs rate only a page, but not unsympathetically. Perhaps the best illustrations of organ pipes and construction. |
Encyclopaedia of the American Theatre Organ | Seminal work on all American theatre organ builders, arranged alphabetically. Whilst not containing technical information per se, it is a lavish production containing a huge number of fascinating details and photographs. Volume 1 (432 pp.) covers builders Aeolian to M.P. Moller, and Volume 2 (950 pp.) builders L.D. Morris to Wm. Wood Pipe Organ Co. and suppliers. |
Encyclopaedia of the American Theatre Organ Volume 3 | Continuation of the late David Junchen's work by Preston Kaufmann, based partly on material assembled by Junchen, and the volume the world was waiting for. Volume 3 (448 pp.) covers the Wurlitzer company history in minute detail. Volume 4 (said to cover the technical aspects of this builder's products) is long awaited with rumours surfacing from time to time of its preparation. Worth waiting for, if it is to be as good as its companion volumes. |
Organ Historical Society | One of the widest mail/web order sources on organs, mainly classical but with much theatre organ material. Books, music and recordings all feature. Well worth a browse, especially before Christmas or other birthdays! |
The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ - An Illustrated History David L. Junchen compiled and edited by Jeff Weiler American Theatre Organ Society, 2005 isbn 0 9763338 0 5 774pp. | The "volume 4 that never was" - further highly detailed information about the Wurlitzer company and its pipe organs (theatre and classical). Jeff Weiler's labour of love in re-compiling a lot of information collated by Dave Junchen is a remarkable information source. |
o.o.p. = out of print (as far as is known). Most of the above books do surface in the second-hand market from time to time and are worth searching for. | |
