List of Organ Concerti
In preparation for this project, I have compiled a list of organ concerti throughout history. Organ concerti are generally works written for organ and orchestra, but there are examples in the literature where the term concerto is used to label solo organ works. This project will explore and use the term in reference to works for organ and orchestra and will even include some select works not labeled as concerti that are written for organ and orchestra, if they are relevant. After compiling the list. I made two important observations: the pipe organ has fewer concerti written for it than other solo instruments, and almost all of the works in the list are by male composers.
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The relative scarcity of organ concerti, combined with the near-total dominance of male composers within the genre, suggests that the limitations of the repertoire are not purely aesthetic, but also institutional. The logistical challenges of writing for organ and orchestra—combined with restricted access to large-scale commissions—have historically narrowed both the quantity of works and the diversity of composers represented.
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The Organ Mass
During the Baroque period, composers would write what were known as “organ Masses,” in which a collections of versets (short organ pieces that are sometimes improvised that are used in place of verses which are normally sung by the choir) for organ would replace portions of the Ordinary and Proper texts and be played in alternation with choral singing. (Edward Higginbottom. "Organ mass." Grove Music Online. 2001). The organ Mass was not played with orchestra, but it uses a similar concept of musicalizing portions of the Ordinary as in my organ concerto.​ ​​
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SELECTED LIST OF ORGAN CONCERTI
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Baroque Organ Concerti
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The term “organ concerto” originated in the Baroque period with composers such as Antonio Vivaldi and George Frideric Handel. Most of these works do not have a notated pedal part. Handel wrote organ concerti as interludes for his oratorios and would play the organ part while he directed the orchestra.84 There are no true organ concerti for organ and orchestra written by J.S. Bach, despite organists attempting to transcribe Bach’s other works into concerti. Other Baroque composers, such as Gregor Joseph Werner (1693–1766) and Johann Adolf Hasse (1699–1783) did write organ concerti mainly for organ and string orchestra.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
- D minor for violin, organ and strings, RV 541
- F major for violin, organ and strings, RV 542 (allegro, lento, allegro)
- C major for violin, cello, organ and strings, RV 554a
- F major for 2 violins, 2 organs and double orchestra, RV 584 (incomplete)
- C minor for violin, organ and strings, RV 766
- F major for violin, organ and strings, RV 767
- C major for violin, organ and strings, RV 774 (incomplete)
- F major for violin, organ and strings, RV 775 (incomplete)
- C major for 2 organs and strings, RV 793 (incomplete)
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
- HWV 289 – Op. 4 No. 1 in G minor: larghetto, allegro, adagio, andante
- HWV 290 – Op. 4 No. 2 in B-flat major: tempo ordinario, allegro, adagio, allegro ma
non troppo
- HWV 291 – Op. 4 No. 3 in G minor: adagio, allegro, adagio, allegro
- HWV 292 – Op. 4 No. 4 in F major: allegro, andante, adagio, allegro
- HWV 293 – Op. 4 No. 5 in F major: larghetto, allegro, alla siciliana, presto
- HWV 294 – Op. 4 No. 6 in B-flat major: andante, allegro, larghetto, allegro moderato
- HWV 306 – Op. 7 No. 1 in B-flat major: andante, allegro, largo, adagio, allegro
- HWV 307 – Op. 7 No. 2 in A major: overture, tempo ordinario, tempo ordinario II,
allegro
- HWV 308 – Op. 7 No. 3 in B-flat major: allegro, fuga, spiritoso, minuets 1 & 2
- HWV 309 – Op. 7 No. 4 in D minor: adagio, allegro, adagio, allegro
- HWV 310 – Op. 7 No. 5 in G minor: allegro ma non troppo, adagio, andante, minuet,
gavotte
- HWV 311 – Op. 7 No. 6 in B-flat major: pomposo, adagio, tempo ordinario
- HWV 295a – F major (No. 13): largo, allegro, larghetto, allegro
- HWV 295b – second version: larghetto, allegro, larghetto, allegro
- HWV 296a – A major (No. 14) : largo e staccato, organo ad libitum: fuga – allegro,
andante, grave, allegro
- HWV 296b – second version, Pasticcio Konzert: andante, adagio, grave, andante
allegro, a tempo ordinario
- HWV 304 – D minor (No. 15) : andante, organo ad libitum: adagio – fuga, allegro
- HWV 305a – F major (No. 16) : concerto, allegro, andante, andante allegro
- HWV 305b – second version: overture, allegro, andante, andante allegro
Organ Concerti arranged from Concerti Grossi, Op.6
- HWV 297 – D minor, after HWV 328: overture, air, allegro, allegro, allegro moderato
- HWV 298 – G major, after HWV 319: a tempo giusto, allegro, adagio, allegro, allegro
- HWV 299 – D major, after HWV 323 : larghetto e staccato, allegro, presto, largo,
allegro, minuet un poco larghetto
- HWV 300 – G minor, after HWV 324 : largo e affettuoso, a tempo giusto, musette
larghetto, allegro, allegro
Classical Organ Concerti
​The organ concerto gained increased prominence during the Classical period, reflecting broader shifts toward clarity of form, balanced textures, and the emerging prominence of instrumental genres. In contrast to the Baroque model—where the organ often functioned within liturgical or theatrical contexts—Classical organ concerti more frequently adopt standardized multi-movement structures and clearer distinctions between soloist and ensemble. At the same time, terminology remained fluid: many works that function as organ concerti are labeled as pastorellas, sonatas, or simply concerted works, as reflected in the list below. This variability in designation underscores the evolving identity of the genre during the eighteenth century, as composers experimented with the role of the organ within orchestral settings.
Michel Corrette (1707–1795)
- Concerto No. 1 in G major: allegro, aria I, aria II, allegro
- Concerto No. 2 in A major: allegro, adagio, allegro
- Concerto No. 3 in D major: adagio, aria, andante, adagio, allegro
- Concerto No. 4 in C major: allegro, aria, allegro
- Concerto No. 5 in F major: allegro, aria, allegro
- Concerto No. 6 in D minor: allegro, andante, presto
Marianus Königsperger (1708–1769)
- Six concerti and two pastorellas for organ and string orchestra, with two trumpets or
horns ad libitum, Op. 18 (1754)
Georg von Reutter (1708–1772)
- Concerto in F major for organ (or harpsichord) and string orchestra
Thomas Arne (1710–1778)
- Concerto No. 1 in C major: largo ma con spirito, andante, allegro, minuetto
- Concerto No. 2 in G major: allegro, lento, moderato, allegro, con spirito
- Concerto No. 3 in A major: con spirito, con spirito, minuetto, moderato
- Concerto No. 4 in B-flat major: con spirito, minuetto, giga moderato
- Concerto No. 5 in G minor: largo, allegro con spirito, adagio, vivace
- Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major: allegro, moderato, ad libitum, allegro, minuetto
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714–1788)
- Concerto in G major for organ (or harpsichord), strings and basso continuo, dated 1755
(Helm 444; Wq. 34): Allegro di molto – Largo – Presto
- Concerto in E-flat major for organ (or harpsichord), strings and basso continuo, with
optional French horns, dated 1759 (Helm 446; Wq. 35): Allegro ma non troppo – Adagio
sostenuto – Allegro assai
- Concerto No. 4 in B-flat major for organ and orchestra: Con spirito – Minuetto – Giga.
- Concerto No. 5 in G minor for organ and orchestra: Largo – Allegro con
spirito – Adagio – Vivace
- Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major for organ and orchestra: Allegro
moderato – Minuetto – Variations.
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Georg Christoph Wagenseil (1715–1777)
- Twelve concerti for organ (or harpsichord) and string orchestra: six were published in
London by Welcker in 1761 and another set of six were published in 1765
Johann Georg Zechner (1716–1778)
- Four concerti for keyboard instrument (often played on the organ) and string orchestra
Joseph Anton Xaver Auffmann (1720–1773 or later)
- Three concerti for organ and chamber orchestra, Op. 1 (1754)
František Xaver Brixi (1732–1771)
- Concerto in D major for organ and chamber orchestra (two horns, two violins and
bass): Allegro moderato – Adagio – Allegro
- Concerto in D major for organ and chamber orchestra (two trumpets, two oboes, strings,
bass, timpani): Allegro molto – Andante molto – Allegro molto
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
- Concerto Hob. XVIII:1 in C major for organ (or harpsichord) and orchestra (1756)
- Concerto Hob. XVIII:2 in D major for organ (or harpsichord) and orchestra (composed
no later than 1767)
- Concerto Hob. XVIII:6 in F major for violin and organ (or harpsichord) with string
orchestra (composed no later than 1766)
The following work is also attributed to Haydn:
- Concerto Hob. deest in C major for organ and chamber orchestra (2 trumpets, 2 violins,
basso continuo), (composed no later than 1790–1810)
Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (1736–1809)
- Concerto in B-flat major for organ and string orchestra (1762)
Michael Haydn (1737–1806)
- Concerto MH 41 in C major for viola and organ (or harpsichord) with orchestra (1761)
Sir William Herschel (1738–1822)
- Concerto no. 1 in G major for organ and orchestra (1767)
- Concerto no. 2 in D major for organ and string orchestra (1767)
Marian Paradeiser (1747–1775)
- Concertino for organ (or harpsichord), violin, violoncello and orchestra
Antonio Salieri (1750–1825)
- Organ concerto in C major (1773)
Karel Blažej KopÅ™iva (1756–1785)
- Eight concerti for organ and orchestra – the only surviving concerto is in E-flat major for
organ and chamber orchestra, with movements Allegro moderato – Adagio – Allegro di
giusto
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Mozart wrote 17 church sonatas that were intended for liturgical use. Eight of these
sonatas feature a pipe organ obbligato solo part:
- No. 7 K. 224 (241a) in F major for organ, two violins, cello and basso continuo (1776)
- No. 8 K. 225 (241b) in A major for organ, two violins, cello and basso continuo (1776)
- No. 10 K. 244 in F major for organ, two violins, cello and basso continuo (1776)
- No. 11 K. 245 in D major for organ, two violins, cello and basso continuo (1776)
- No. 12 K. 263 in C major for organ, two trumpets, two violins, cello and basso continuo
(1776)
- No. 15 K. 328 (317c) in C major for organ, two violins, cello and basso continuo (1779)
- No. 16 K. 329 (317a) in C major for organ, two oboes, two horns, two trumpets, two violins,
timpani, cello and basso continuo (1779)
- No. 17 K. 336 (336d) in C major for organ, two violins, cello and basso continuo (1780)
Balthasar Anton Pfeyll (18th century)
- Concerto in D major for organ and chamber orchestra (two horns, strings, bass)
Matteo Andruzzi (fl. 1785)
- Organ Concerto in C major for organ and orchestra
Romantic Organ Concerti
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There were fewer organ concerti written in the Romantic period. Composers of this era were more likely to incorporate the organ into the orchestra as a symphonic or coloristic force, rather than feature it as a clearly defined solo instrument in dialogue with the ensemble, as seen in Camille Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony. As a result, the boundaries between symphony and concerto become less distinct, and works such as those by Charles-Marie Widor—which prominently feature the organ in a concertante role—have been included in this list despite not always being labeled as concerti. Overall, there is a relative scarcity of organ concerti during the Romantic period. This may be due in part to the logistical challenges of coordinating large orchestral forces with the organ, particularly in accounting for acoustical delay in expansive performance spaces.
Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839–1901)
- No. 1 in F major, Op. 137 (1884)
- No. 2 in G minor, Op. 177 (1893-94)
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Charles-Marie Widor (1844- 1937)
- Symphonie pour orgue et orchestre, Op. 42 (1882)
- Symphony No. 3 in E minor, Op. 69 (1894)
- Sinfonia sacra, Op. 81 (1908)
Alexandre Guilmant (1837–1911)
- Sonata No. 1 in D minor / Symphonie No. 1 in D minor for organ and orchestra (1874)
- Sonata No. 8 in A major / Symphonie No. 2 in A major for organ and orchestra (1907)
138
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Marco Enrico Bossi (1861–1925)
- Concerto in A minor, Op. 100, for organ, string orchestra, 4 horns and timpani (1895)
- Konzertstück in C minor, Op. 130, for organ and orchestra (1908)
- Fantasia Sinfonica, Op. 147, for organ and orchestra (1923)
Contemporary Organ Concerti
The twentieth century marks a significant revival and expansion of the organ concerto repertoire, following its relative decline during the Romantic period. This resurgence can be attributed to a convergence of technological, institutional, and aesthetic developments that made the genre more viable and appealing to composers. Advances in organ construction—particularly the standardization of console design, improvements in electric action, and increased reliability—enabled the instrument to function more effectively in collaboration with orchestras, reducing earlier logistical constraints. At the same time, the expansion of concert halls and the professionalization of orchestral institutions created new opportunities for large-scale commissions and performances.
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Equally important was a shift in musical language. Twentieth-century composers such as Paul Hindemith, Francis Poulenc, and Joseph Jongen engaged with neoclassicism and revived interest in Baroque forms, leading to a renewed exploration of the concerto as a structural and expressive model. The organ, with its capacity for both monumental sonority and intricate contrapuntal clarity, proved especially well suited to these aesthetic priorities. As a result, the twentieth and twenty-first centuries saw not only a substantial increase in the number of organ concerti, but also a broad diversification in approaches to the relationship between soloist and ensemble.
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For clarity, this list is divided into works composed between 1900 and 1950 and those written from 1951 to the present.
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Early to Mid-Twentieth Century Organ Concerti
Horatio Parker (1863–1919)
- Organ Concerto in E-flat minor, Op. 55 (1902)
Joseph Jongen (1873–1953)
- Symphonie concertante for organ and orchestra, Op. 81 (1926)
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Alfredo Casella (1883–1947)
- Concerto Romano, Op. 43 (1926)
Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)
- Concerto in E minor, Op. 31 (1931)
Hendrik Andriessen (1892–1981)
- Concerto for organ and orchestra (1950)
Paul Hindemith (1895–1963)
- Kammermusik No. 7, concerto for organ and wind band, Op. 46 no. 2 (1927)
- Concerto for organ and orchestra (1963)
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Leo Sowerby (1895–1968)
- Concerto in G major for Organ and Orchestra (1935)
Howard Hanson (1896–1981)
- Organ Concerto (1923)
Francis Poulenc (1899–1963)
- Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings in G minor (1938)
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Jón Leifs (1899–1968)
- Organ concerto, Op. 7 (1930)
Aaron Copland (1900–1990)
- Symphony for Organ and Orchestra (1924)​
Flor Peeters (1903–1986)
- Concerto for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 52 (1944)
Jeanne Marie-Madeleine Demessieux (1921-1968)
- Poème for Organ and Orchestra, op. 9 (1949)
Late Twentieth Century and Twenty-First Century Organ Concerti
​Hans Gál (1890–1987)
- Concertino for organ and string orchestra, Op. 55 (1954)
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Walter Piston (1894–1976)
- Concerto for Organ and Orchestra (1967)
Normand Lockwood (1906–2002)
- Concerto for Organ and Brasses (1986)
Jean Langlais (1907–1991)
- Concerto no. 1 for organ or harpsichord and orchestra (1949)
- Concerto no. 2 for organ and string orchestra (1961)
- Concerto no. 3 Réaction for organ, string orchestra and timpani (1971)
Samuel Barber (1910–1981)
- Toccata Festiva for organ and orchestra, Op. 36 (1960)​
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Norman Dello Joio (1913–2008)
- Concertante for Organ and Orchestra (1970)​
Anton Schoendlinger (1919–1983)
- Concerto no. 5 for organ, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and string orchestra (1978)
Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921–2006)
- Concerto for organ, trumpets (3), timpani and strings (1954)
Arthur Butterworth (1923–2014)
- Concerto for organ, string orchestra and percussion, Op. 33 (1973)
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Revol Bunin (1924–1976)
- Concerto in G minor for organ and chamber orchestra, Op. 33 (1961)
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Gunther Schuller (1925–2015)
- Concerto for Organ and Orchestra (1979)
Boris Tchaikovsky (1925–1996)
- Six Etudes for organ and string orchestra (1976)
Charles Chaynes (1925–2016)
- Concerto for organ, strings, timpani and percussion after the Spiritual Canticle of St. John
of the Cross (1973)
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Emma Lou Diemer (1927-2024)
- Concerto in 1 Movement for Organ and Chamber Orchestra, “Alaska” (1995-1996)
Kenneth Leighton (1929–1988)
- Organ Concerto (for organ, strings and timpani), Op. 58 (1970)
Petr Eben (1929–2007)
- Organ Concerto No. 1 (1954)
- Organ Concerto No. 2 (1988)
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Jean Guillou (1930–2019)
- Invention for organ and orchestra (concerto no. 1), Op. 7 (1960)
- Concerto héroïque for organ and orchestra (concerto no. 2), Op. 10 (1963)
- Concerto No. 3 for organ and string orchestra, Op. 14 (1965)
- Concerto No. 4 for organ and orchestra, Op. 31 (1978)
- Concerto No. 5 Roi Arthur for organ and string quintet, Op. 35 (1979)
- Concerto 2000 for organ and orchestra, Op. 62 (2000)
- Concerto No. 6 for organ and orchestra (triple woodwind, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, tuba, percussion, strings), Op. 68 (2002)
- Concerto No. 7 for organ and orchestra, Op. 70 (2006)
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Sofia Gubaidulina (1931-2025)
- Detto II for organ and ensemble (1972)
William Mathias (1934-1992)
- Organ Concerto Op. 91 (1983)
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Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016)
- Organ Concerto (1987)
Terry Riley (b. 1935)
- At the Royal Majestic (2013)
Andrew Carter (b. 1939)
- Concerto in C major for organ and orchestra (2005)
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Zsigmond Szathmáry (b. 1939)
- Organ Concerto (1970s; exact date varies by source)
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Liana Alexandra (1947-2011)
- Organ Concerto (2002)
Stephen Paulus (1949–2014)
- Concerto for organ, chorus and orchestra
- Concerto for organ, strings and percussion (1992)
- Grand concerto for organ and orchestra (2004)
- Double concerto for piano and organ with strings and percussion (c. 2010)
Kalevi Aho (b. 1949)
- Symphony for organ and symphony orchestra (1993)
Daniel E Gawthrop (b. 1949)
- Concerto for organ and orchestra (2004)
Christopher Rouse (b. 1949)
- Organ Concerto (2014)​
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Enjott Schneider (b. 1950)
- Symphony No. 3 “Orgelsinfonie” for organ and orchestra (1996)
- Concerto for Organ and Orchestra (1998)
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Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023)
- Maan varjot - Earth's Shadows (2013)
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Stephen Hartke (b. 1952)
- Concerto for Organ and Orchestra (1990)
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Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023)
- Maan varjot (2013) for organ and orchestra
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Roberto Sierra (b. 1953)
- Organ Concerto (2012)
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Michael Daugherty (b. 1954)
- Once Upon a Castle (2003)
- The Gospel According to Sister Aimee (2012)
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Naji Subhy Paul Irénée Hakim (b. 1955)
- Organ Concerto No. 1 (1993)
- Organ Concerto No. 2 (2004)
- Sinfonia Concertante for Organ and Orchestra (late 20th century)
Michael Gandolfi (b. 1956)
- Ascending Light for organ and orchestra (2015)
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Sir James MacMillan (b. 1959)
- A Scotch Bestiary for Organ and Orchestra (2004)
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Lowell Liebermann (b. 1961)
- Organ Concerto, Op. 141 (2023)
Thierry Escaich (b. 1965)
- Concerto no. 1 for organ and orchestra (1995)
- Concerto no. 2 for organ, string orchestra and percussions (2006)
- Quatre Visages du Temps for organ and orchestra (2018)
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Max Richter (b. 1966)
- Cosmology (2026)
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Olga Neuwirth (b. 1968)
- Torsion: Transparent Variation (2001) (organ and orchestra)
Eric Sessler (b.1969)
- Organ Concerto (2006)
Leonid Karev (b. 1969)
- Mots Interrompus for organ and orchestra (2007)
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Julian Wachner (b. 1969)
- Organ Concerto (2006)​
Eugenio Maria Fagiani (b. 1972)
- Concerto for organ and string orchestra, Op. 98 (2009)
Frederik Magle (b. 1977)
- Concerto for organ and orchestra "The Infinite Second" (1994)
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Cameron Carpenter (b. 1981)
- Der Skandal, Op. 3a (2011)
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Nico Muhly (b. 1981)
- Register (2017)
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Valentin Villard (b. 1985)
- Concerto for organ and string orchestra, Op. 46 (2009)
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Anthony Maglione (b. 1987)
- The Wedding of Solomon for organ, orchestra, and choir (2018)
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Felicity Mazur-Park (b. 1988)
- A Liturgical Organ Concerto (2025)
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Brian Raphael Nabors (b. 1991)
- Hammond Concerto (2022)​
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Emily Horton (b. 1996)
- To Wander and Return for Organ and Orchestra (2019)
New Music for Organ Performed at American Guild of Organists Conventions
The American Guild of Organists has a national convention every two years. The organization commissions prominent composers to write various organ works that are premiered at the convention. Several of these works have been organ concerti. They serve as good models for practical organ works for organ and orchestra.
2018 AGO National Convention Kansas City, Missouri
Thierry Escaich (b. 1965)
– Quatre Visages du Temps for organ and orchestra
Anthony Maglione (b. 1987)
– The Wedding of Solomon for organ, orchestra, and choir
2012 AGO National Convention Nashville, Tennessee
Rosephanye Powell (b. 1962)
– The Cry of Jeremiah for organ and choir chamber orchestra
Roberto Sierra (b. 1953)
– Organ Concerto
2006 AGO National Convention Chicago, Illinois
Aaron David Miller (b. 1972)
– Sleepy Hollow – a tone poem for organ and orchestra
Julian Wachner (b. 1969)
– Organ Concerto
2004 National Convention Los Angeles, California
James Hopkins (b. 1943)
– Concierto de Los Angeles for organ and orchestra