Organ Industry Partnerships
Original Organ Music for Manufacturers & Sample-Set Developers
David Hicken is an English composer, concert organist and Official Hauptwerk Artist whose original contemporary organ music combines memorable melodies, rich harmonies, virtuoso writing and dramatic musical storytelling.
With more than 62 million YouTube views and a lifetime of experience as a composer and performer, David brings a distinctive musical perspective to collaborations with digital organ manufacturers, Hauptwerk sample-set developers, console builders and specialist music technology companies.
Through original compositions, professional performances and high-quality audio and video recordings, he helps bring the extraordinary capabilities of modern and historic organs to life.
Bringing Instruments to Life Through Original Music
I believe the most compelling way to demonstrate an organ is through music written specifically to explore its character and capabilities.
Every organ has its own personality. The colours of its individual stops, the relationships between its divisions, its expressive possibilities and the sheer power of its full sound all provide inspiration for composition.
Rather than simply demonstrating an instrument's technical specifications, I want to create music that makes people excited about what they are hearing.
My approach combines the grandeur of the classical organ tradition with contemporary musical storytelling, creating compositions that are melodic, dramatic, accessible and unmistakably written for the organ.
For manufacturers and developers, this offers an opportunity to present an instrument not merely as a product, but as a source of musical inspiration.
Original Organ Compositions for Product Launches
A remarkable instrument deserves remarkable music.
I welcome commissions for original organ compositions created specifically for new instrument launches, Hauptwerk sample-set releases, promotional campaigns and special projects.
A composition can be developed to highlight the particular strengths of an instrument, whether that means its delicate colours, contrasting divisions, expressive reeds, powerful foundations or the dramatic impact of its full organ.
The aim is always to create a compelling musical work in its own right, rather than a sequence of technical demonstrations.
These compositions can become the centrepiece of product-launch videos, advertising campaigns, presentations and special events, giving an instrument a distinctive musical identity.
For organisations interested in commissioning new music, further information is available on my Organ Commissions page.
Professional Performance Videos & Promotional Recordings
Alongside composing and performing, I produce professional audio recordings and performance videos of my music.
This allows me to offer a complete creative collaboration, from the initial composition through to the finished musical performance.
Potential projects include:
- Original launch compositions — music written for new digital organs, Hauptwerk sample sets and specialist organ products.
- Professional performance videos — original music showcasing the character and expressive possibilities of individual instruments.
- Promotional music licensing — existing compositions and recordings licensed for advertising, websites, product presentations and promotional films.
- Product-launch collaborations — coordinated musical performances and recordings supporting new instrument releases.
- Featured artist partnerships — creative collaborations with manufacturers and developers who share my enthusiasm for bringing the organ to new audiences.
- Demonstration music — selected recordings or specially prepared performances for exhibitions, showrooms and instrument presentations.
Each collaboration can be tailored to the instrument, intended audience and objectives of the project.
Collaborations with Hauptwerk Sample-Set Developers
As an Official Hauptwerk Artist, I have the privilege of composing and recording music using virtual recreations of historic pipe organs from around the world.
One of the things I find most inspiring about Hauptwerk is the opportunity to explore instruments with completely different musical personalities.
A French symphonic organ may suggest an entirely different composition from a German romantic instrument or a monumental modern organ. Each instrument has its own character, and that character can influence the direction of the music I write.
I am particularly interested in collaborating with sample-set developers on new releases.
By gaining access to an instrument during its development or before its public launch, I can explore its tonal characteristics and potentially create an original composition that demonstrates its distinctive musical possibilities.
A specially composed work, accompanied by a professional performance video, can give a new sample set an engaging musical introduction while helping organists imagine what they might achieve with the instrument themselves.
Featured Performance: Ascension
My original composition Ascension was recorded using the Munich St. Margaret Hauptwerk sample set developed by Piotr Grabowski. The performance demonstrates how the distinctive character of a historic organ can inspire exciting new contemporary music.
Ascension — David Hicken | Munich St. Margaret Hauptwerk sample set by Piotr Grabowski.
Partnerships with Digital Organ & Console Manufacturers
I also welcome opportunities to collaborate with digital organ manufacturers, Hauptwerk console builders and specialist organ technology companies.
Whether introducing a new flagship instrument, demonstrating an innovative console or presenting a new generation of digital organ technology, I believe original music can communicate an instrument's capabilities in a way that technical specifications alone cannot.
My interest is in creating performances that inspire people to listen, explore and discover what makes each instrument special.
Original compositions can be particularly effective in demonstrating the musical possibilities of an instrument, from its most delicate expressive colours to the grandeur and excitement of the full organ.
Collaborations may involve commissioned compositions, promotional performances, music licensing, product launches or longer-term artistic partnerships.
Featured Performance: Exaltare
Exaltare illustrates the dramatic energy, virtuosity and musical scale that original organ compositions can bring to promotional performances and instrument presentations.
For manufacturers seeking to communicate the excitement and expressive possibilities of their instruments, music of this character can provide a compelling alternative to conventional demonstrations.
Exaltare — Original organ composition by David Hicken.
Music Licensing for Advertising & Promotional Media
In addition to newly commissioned compositions, selected works from my existing catalogue may be available for licensing in product advertisements, promotional videos, presentations and other commercial media.
My music ranges from intimate and atmospheric to powerful, dramatic and cinematic, offering a distinctive sound for projects seeking the extraordinary character of the pipe organ.
Licensing arrangements can be discussed according to the intended use, distribution, duration and scope of the project.
For wider film, television, advertising and video game projects, please visit my Organ Music for Film, Television & Advertising page.
A Shared Vision for the Future of the Organ
Throughout my career, I have been fascinated by the extraordinary possibilities of the pipe organ.
Yet I also believe that the instrument has enormous potential to reach audiences far beyond its traditional surroundings.
My goal is to contribute to a new repertoire of exciting, melodic and dramatic organ music that appeals both to established organ enthusiasts and to people discovering the instrument for the first time.
I want audiences to experience the organ as something powerful, contemporary and relevant, while celebrating the extraordinary craftsmanship and musical heritage behind the instruments themselves.
Technology has opened remarkable new possibilities for composers and performers. Digital organs, virtual pipe organs and meticulously sampled historic instruments allow us to explore sounds and musical traditions that were once accessible only to a relatively small number of musicians.
For manufacturers and developers who share that vision, I believe there are exciting opportunities to work together and introduce the organ to new generations of listeners.
Discuss an Organ Industry Partnership
If you represent an organ manufacturer, Hauptwerk sample-set developer, console builder, distributor or music technology company, I would be delighted to hear from you.
Whether you are planning a product launch, seeking original music to showcase an instrument, interested in licensing an existing composition or exploring a longer-term creative collaboration, please get in touch.
I welcome enquiries from companies and organisations worldwide.