This in-depth three and a half hour film/documentary chronicling the birth, evolution and development of the English Pipe Organ, also serves as a course on European History 101. It delves to a certain extent into which socio/economic, religious, political, artistic or musical forces exerted an influence on its restrained headway. And it does that so well as to even explain, in the first part titled The Long Beginning, why, when compared to its Dutch and North-German counterparts, the early English organs were relatively smaller in scale and versatility. Along the way, starting with the music of William Byrd, organist and narrator Daniel Moult demonstrates many of these instruments, and sits down and chats with historians and organ builders as well. Best of all is that all of this is presented in a well organized chronological system which leads to, in the third part titled Modernity and Nostalgia, music by the latest composers played on modern instruments. And this is only the first DVD.

And there's much more. The other three DVDs are fully loaded with footage on each and every organ, starting with a detailed demonstration of its build, stops, pipes, case, tonal qualities, etc .... followed by the performance of a full piece of music by a composer associated with that period in time. The amount of captivating information collected together on all four DVDs is simply startling. And that's not all. This set also contains three CDs which, again in chronological order, include the audio tracks of most of the music and organs mentioned in the film. I must say that the package as a whole is highly impressive, most of all the film itself which has so many highly informative and sometimes enlightening moments. It even covers the history of organ builders and how they passed on and improved their techniques from generation to generation. One of my favorite segments is when organist Daniel Moult guides us, using a hand-held light, through the rows upon rows of the more than 9,000 pipes inside the case of one of the largest pipe organs in the world, the 1890 William Hill & Son instrument that resides in Sydney Town Hall. We walk along catwalks and up narrow ladders until we reach the very top of its tallest 64' Contra Trombone pipe. The experience feels like walking through the tight corridors of a submarine.

Daniel Moult heads the highly acclaimed organ department at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. As a soloist, he has performed in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia, and as a sought-after teacher, he leads masterclasses, workshops and courses around the world. His delivery and presentation throughout is both scholarly and clearly user-friendly. The packaging itself which holds the seven discs leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to ease-of-use, but the 64-page booklet more than makes up for that with detailed information, great shots of the organs and full stop lists of all the instruments used in this presentation. If you're a pipe organ enthusiast and think you've heard and seen it all ... think again. Nicely done!