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Although the organ remained the dominant instrument in Lutheran worship in the 20th century, other instruments often were used, especially later in the century. The development of the pipe organ went through several periods of dramatic change. The "Romantic" instrument of the previous century remained most common in America in the early part of the century. This was followed by a movement to return to the building of instruments of clarity and purity of tone modeled on the organs of the Baroque period (1600-1750). Their construction often included mechanical action. Some were replicas of historic models. The movement produced a revival of a traditional repertoire for organ and for instruments. Composers also wrote modern adaptations of historic organ forms and styles. Classic tonality persisted, but it often was enriched with contemporary harmony. Settings of chorales and other hymns for organ––and at times other instruments––formed the basis of much composition. Hymn improvisation became an important feature of organ performance in worship in the last half of the century. At this time American organ design became more eclectic, producing instruments capable of leading worship and playing a wide variety of literature. As the century came to a close, features of electric action, electronic recording, and tonal duplication were added to pipe organs. The last half of the century saw the increasing popularity of keyboard instruments whose sound was generated electronically. These were designed to produce a tone and features similar to those of pipe organs. Amplified popular instruments, such as the guitar and other folk instruments, also saw increasing use in Lutheran worship in the last decades. This development supported a more entertaining, less traditional type of worship.
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