When we hear a musical ensemble playing with a lush sonority, exemplary balance and a pleasing tonal blend, a common comment is that it "sounds just like an organ."
The pipe organ, the "king of instruments," comprises literally thousands of pipes, chambers and flues, assembled so that the tones and pitches within a given set will match as perfectly as human craftsmanship can make them. After that, it's simply a matter of pressing the keys -- the right keys, that is, from up to six manual and pedal keyboards, augmented by a varied assortment of stops and couplers.
That organlike sonority can come from the king of instruments, played by one busy organist, or it can be played by a carefully rehearsed ensemble of skilled players. A great example is the British band tradition, and particularly the thousands of brass bands lovingly sponsored by companies, towns and institutions throughout Britain.