Technological improvements of the last decades, especially the continuously increased processing powers of computer systems, made virtual organs a welcome alternative for all kinds of people with an interest in music but lacking the means to acquire such an instrument of their own. Virtual pipe organs are available in different forms and qualities. Very basic examples are virtual keyboards on which different instruments such as the piano, the organ, the saxophone and the drums can be played. Also quite experimental is the Mighty Miditzer Virtual Theatre Organ, a free computer program that simulates a Wurlitzer Style theatre organ. More advanced software is offered by GrandOrgue and the Virtual Organ Company even produces “digitally synthesized classical pipe organ modules that sound like the real thing”.  Currently, however, there is one virtual pipe organ provider that stands out. In 2001 the British programmer Martin Dyde started what was then called Hauptwerk: The Virtual Pipe Organ Project – a “generic computer simulation of a pipe organ…into which you can load different pipe organs and play them using a MIDI keyboard or keyboards” (Dyde, 2002). The name refers to the division of a pipe organ into different parts according to the so called Werkprinzip, Hauptwerk being the great manual or great organ, the instrument’s main body where the most powerful sounds are produced.  

By 2006 Dyde had founded Crumhorn Labs Ltd. in Birmingham – a crumhorn being a certain type of organ reed stop – and further developed the software of what was now officially called Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ to version 2.0. Milan Digital Audio LLC with seat in Indianapolis, founded in 2002, started as provider of organ samples to Hauptwerk until it acquired Crumhorn Labs, and with it Hauptwerk, in 2008. Since then the company has put a lot of effort into making Hauptwerk’s actual 4.1.1 version the most praised virtual pipe organ on the market while continuing to produce “new and exciting virtual instruments from around the world”. Owner Brett Milan, musician and sound engineer, holds a double Master of Music in organ and piano performance and his commitment is probably not the least reason for Hauptwerk’s success. Due to the instrument’s digital nature it was not long before a lively and engaged international community of users emerged, exchanging views in all kinds of organ fora, on Facebook and on YouTube.  

It is important to note that Hauptwerk is not one instrument but an online platform offering a variegated array of virtual instruments – currently 174. Not only baroque, 

romantic, and symphonic church and theater organs from the last four centuries but even a couple of virtual harpsichords are on offer. That way, Hauptwerk provides access for everybody from professional organist to interested amateur to a wide range of historical instruments via an intuitive and easy to use interface and thus the possibility for these musicians to “accurately perform a repertoire spanning centuries of organ music without leaving their living room” (Hauptwerk, Intro video). Sixteen companies, mostly from the United States and Europe, produce, sometimes exclusively, samples for Hauptwerk. Although a lot of samples are produced by Hauptwerk’s owner, Milan Digital Audio, the main share of samples on offer are produced by Sonus Paradisi with seat in Prague, which stands out in its rigorous technological methods to make authentic pipe organ sound accessible.  

Its mission is to record, document and archive “the sound of old and significant church pipe organs in the Czech Republic and in Europe, making them available for software samplers like Hauptwerk” (Sonus Paradisi, Project). Thereby, they not only offer playable ‘images’ to users but preserve historic pipe organ sound and make it available for scientists and amateurs alike.