=Early Organists=.—The credit of being “father of organists” is given to =Francesco Landino=, of Florence (1325-1390), and after him to =Bernhard=, mentioned as the inventor of the organ pedals. The oldest organ compositions are some works by =Konrad Paumann= (1410-1473), who was born blind, yet, like many others since, became a thoroughly trained musician in spite of his affliction. He also played other instruments and was a fine contrapuntist. Another of the early organists is =Benedictus Ducis= (or Hertoghs), born at Bruges, about 1480. He was a pupil of Josquin des Pres. From Ducis, representing the second Flemish school, as founded by Okeghem, there is a chain almost of master and pupil, between the early masters of organ playing and polyphonic writing and Bach, who in these arts became the master of all. Paumann’s pieces show the style of composing for the instrument that was considered appropriate. They are essentially transcribed, but elaborated, vocal works. The compositions of the next organists of fame, Willaert, of Venice (1490-1562), and Cyprian di Rore (1516-1565), pupil of the former, have distinct names. _Ricercari_, _Intonationi_, _Contrapunti_, _Toccati_, _Praeambula_, and _Canzoni_, but the character remains the same, vocal pieces, elaborated and freely embellished with runs and other passage work. Later the term _Ricercari_ came to mean a sort of fantasia in fugal form, often on a popular air; _Toccata_ became a free fantasia with brilliantly figurated passages, and a _Praeambulo_ a prelude to a larger piece. Other famous organists of this period were =Bernhard Schmidt= (1520-?), German; =Claudio Merulo= (1532-1604), organist at Venice, and his successors, the two =Gabrieli’s=.