organ
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organ
A large keyboard instrument that produces sounds through air flowing through pipes of different sizes. Organs are especially common in churches.
Beim Gottesdienst spielte der Organist auf der großen Orgel.
During the church service, the organist played the large organ.
The two meanings are very different and become clear from context. If people are talking about music, churches, or concerts, the instrument is meant. In historical or military texts, the weapon may be meant.
Die alte Orgel in der Kathedrale hat einen beeindruckenden Klang.
The old organ in the cathedral has an impressive sound.
In connection with the musical instrument, the most common verbs are 'spielen' (to play) and 'hören' (to hear). You say 'Orgel spielen' (to play the organ) or, to emphasize the place/instrument, 'auf der Orgel spielen' (to play on the organ).
Sie lernt seit fünf Jahren, Orgel zu spielen.
She has been learning to play the organ for five years.
The person who plays the organ is called 'der Organist' (the male organist) or 'die Organistin' (the female organist). These words are derived directly from 'die Orgel' (the organ).
Der Organist der Gemeinde gibt am Sonntag ein Konzert.
The parish organist is giving a concert on Sunday.
The meaning as a weapon is now almost exclusively historical or technical. In normal usage, you will encounter this meaning only in museums, films, or books about military history.
Der Führer im Museum erklärte die Funktionsweise der historischen Orgel.
The guide in the museum explained how the historical organ gun worked.
piano
'das Klavier' and 'die Orgel' are both large keyboard instruments. That is why learners can easily confuse them, especially because both are played with the hands on keys. But the sound is produced differently: in a piano, small hammers strike strings. In an organ, the sound comes from air in pipes. The typical location is also different: a piano is often found at home, in a music school, or on a stage; an organ is especially often found in churches.
In der Kirche spielte die Orgel so laut, dass der ganze Raum vibrierte.
In the church, the organ played so loudly that the whole room vibrated.
Zu Hause übt Tom jeden Abend eine halbe Stunde am Klavier.
At home, Tom practices on the piano for half an hour every evening.