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When electrons sing: How the Hammond organ changed the world of music
Event date: 05/17/2026
Location: Musikinstrumenten-Museum, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
In three workshops, Hammond organ specialist Peter Becker will introduce participants to the instrument’s technology and playing techniques.
Hammond organ, c. 1940, Cat. No. 5786. Photo: Anne-Katrin Breitenborn
Peter Becker has been researching the electromechanical Hammond organ for over 30 years; since the 1950s at the latest, its sound has been an indispensable part of jazz, blues, rock, pop, gospel and worship music. Today, he is one of the few experts worldwide who can restore, repair and tune organs true to the original, and he is committed to preserving the instrument’s distinctive sound, including in keyboards and clones.
On International Museum Day, he will be leading three workshops at the Musical Instrument Museum to introduce participants to the technology and playing techniques of the Hammond organ. Everyone who is enthusiastic about the sound of the instrument is welcome. No prior knowledge is required.
Cost: Museum admission €10 / concessions €5.
Children and young people under 18 have free admission.
Registration: 030 254 81 178 or kasse@mimpk.de
Workshops
12 noon: Rotating gears and ingenious ideas
Laurence Hammond was not a musician himself. How did the groundbreaking invention of this electromechanical organ come about? How does it work, and what role do the Leslie speakers play? This entertaining insight into the history and function of the instrument includes anecdotes about encounters with famous organists as well as the basics of electroacoustics.
1 pm: A new sound takes the music world by storm
Originally intended as a practical replacement for the church organ, jazz and rock musicians fell in love with the new sound. From the 1960s onwards, musicians such as Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Keith Emerson, Jimmy Smith, Billy Preston and Brian Auger, among many others, brought this distinctive sound to rock, jazz and blues music through various models. Peter Becker explains the background and context using musical examples.
2 pm: Play it Again – Listen and Join In
Now it’s time to try out some simple techniques in practice. Under expert guidance, visitors can have a go themselves. No prior musical or instrumental experience is required.