In
1887, Torakusu Yamaha built the first Yamaha reed organ and the Yamaha
Company began. Ten years
later, Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. was established with Mr. Yamaha as its
president. That year, the
company completed its first export order, 78 organs destined for
Southeast Asia. Yamaha’s
first upright piano, grand piano and harmonica were introduced in 1900,
1902 and 1914 respectively. Also
of note, a Yamaha organ and piano were awarded the Honorary Grand Prize
at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.
The St. Louis World’s Fair was also the germ that produced the
world’s largest organ (at that time), which later became the great
Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after much rebuilding and
enlarging.
In 1932, Yamaha began building pipe organs, and the Magna Organ,
their first electronic organ, debuted in 1935.
In 1959, the Yamaha Electone organ was introduced.
A United States subsidiary of the company was started in 1960
with Yamaha Electone organs appearing in the United States in 1969.
Yamaha became the largest manufacturer of keyboard instruments in
the world and the United States was no exception to its popularity.
Many families purchased them, mainly spinets, for the home, but
their consoles were also popular. They
had a very warm tone with many additional features, and indeed, many
professional organists owned and performed on them.
The Model E-5 was a professional home model of the mid 1970s with
the famous three-position stop levers and virtually any voice you can
imagine. It included B-3-type percussion, a Slide control for Hawaiian
Guitar and other effects, a Vibraphone that would knock your socks off,
and a Portamento bar for special effects.
The Portamento bar can be heard on Lenny Dee’s recording of Also
Sprach Zarathustra, where he simulated radio waves (the base
recording was done on the Hammond Concorde).
These are just a few of the many effects on this organ.
This model was later superceded by the E-70, which had better
voicing and could sound like a real theatre organ.
The FX-20 was the rocket model of the 1980s featuring a third
keyboard synthesizer, realistic orchestral sounds and a drawer with
control levers simulating the drawbars of the Hammond organ.
Yamaha also made many spinet models to serve virtually any
musical need. Of course,
Yamaha is a renowned leader in the manufacture of electronic keyboards
for home and professional use. These
keyboards are not in the scope of this website, but Yamaha manufactures
superior instruments.
Yamaha is also renowned for their pianos and band instruments.
They also manufacture archery equipment, skis and sound
equipment. And let this
be known: THEY MANUFACTURE YAMAHA MOTORCYCLES!
They have being doing so since 1954.
Yamaha has been very ambitious in promoting music to young
people. They have founded
music schools and the Yamaha Festival, a worldwide competition for
organists.
Yamaha has been a truly successful company for well over a
century and it looks like they will be in the forefront for many years
to come.