Music series tracing the history of the organ from Bavaria to Blackpool, from Tyrolean castles to jazz clubs. In the first programme a visit to Chicago where Frank Pellico accompanies the action of the Blackhawks ice hockey team before travelling to Salamanca in Spain to listen to the country's oldest organ. Then, to Innsbruck to see a 1556 Ebert organ which shows the development of multiple keyboards and introduction of pedals.
Howard Goodall traces the golden age, the Baroque, when he travels to northern Spain with world organ expert Kimberly Marshall where they find some prime examples and then to a tiny hamlet near Leipzig where resident organist Cornelia Schneider plays an organ from the time of Bach. He moves to the United Provinces, modern Holland, and visits the organ at St Bavo, Haarlem. Finally he looks at the organ built by Cavaillé-Coll at the Royal Abbey of St Dennis in Paris.
The organs discussed include the daily concert of the Heldenorgel in the Kufstein forest in Austria; the organ at Blenheim Palace; the 19th century organ in St George's Hall, Liverpool built by 19th century organ builder Henry Willis; the organ in the chapel of the West Point Military Academy and the `Wanamaker' organ in Hecht's department store, Philadelphia. Phil Fluke of the Harmonium Museum in Saltare, Bradford, gives a tour and Goodall dances to the Wurlitzer at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool.
In the final episode of the history of the organ, Howard Goodall examines its role in the twentieth century and tracks down some of the devotees and dreamers for whom the organ is an obssession. Includes a Hammond B3 electric organ at the Jazz Café in London, a package holiday to Norfolk for organ enthusiasts, and heavy metal music played on a digital organ.