Promoting the organ since 1911

Incorporated Association of Organists

GSO is affiliated to the IAO, which helps provide education and training relative to organists (playing, interpreting, caring for the organ and so on) and the wider public. The IAO also speaks on important issues with a united voice, and enable its members and affiliated associations to extend the range of their activities without financial risk.

John Riley

An organist based in Edinburgh, with a particular interest in organ improvisation and related creative skills. His website offers a range of free online teaching resources geared to organists of a range of abilities.

Lost organs:
St James’s Paisley

St James’s Church of Scotland in Paisley closed for good in 2016, and the rapidly deteriorating organ was left in situ with the new commercial owners. This video clip by GSO member Peter Christie presents a sound and picture archive of the fine Willis/Walker organ from before the closure.

Orgelbuchlein article

GSO member John Turner wrote this article, reflecting on J S Bach’s Orgelbuchlein and other matters, after revisiting these pieces on the piano during the 2020 Lockdown.

Royal College of Organists

With members in nearly 40 countries around the world, the RCO works to promote the best in organ playing and choral directing, to encourage anyone who is interested to learn more about this fascinating and versatile musical instrument, and to explore its history and repertoire.

SCOTS

The RCO Scottish Churches Organist Training Scheme exists to find and encourage emerging organists in Scotland, as well as to help those already in posts to develop their skills.