Organ Pedal Technic

This School of Organ Playing presupposes a certain technical facility on the piano. The pedal exercises at the beginning are rudimentary and should be practiced in all keys, gradually accelerating the tempo. The studies are graded according to their polyphony, beginning with simple two part exercises, followed by those in three and more parts. This acquaintance with the strict principles of polyphonic music, and the introduction to effective part writing, with a knowledge of harmonic form and architectonic values, provide the essential background for the correct performance of polyphonic music, especialle the fugue. The most important musical forms have been used to illustrate the various possibilites of registration and its relationship to style (colourful, individualistic and smooth playing). The studies are so arranged that earlier technical points, etc. are constantly reviewed, through comparison of style and form, in order to fix, or refreshen, the ideas in the student's mind. It is very important that the evolution of organ music from vocal music should be made clear to the student the very beginning, both musically and intellectually. He will be shown the technical evolution of organ music during the centuries and thus prepared for an artistic execution and interpretation of old and new words, especially for the incomparable art of our great Johann Sebastian Bach.

Judith Weir's The Tree Of Peace was composed in 2016 for Organ. Commissioned in loving memory of Richard Axtell (1952-2015) talented and much-loved organist at the Parish of St. Andrew West Tarring. 'It'senormously inspiring to see the Master of the Queen's Music turning her attention to the organ once again. Judith Weir's The Tree Of Peace is a short piece commissioned in memory of the organist Richard Axtell... Despite thesimplicity of the music it carries all the hallmarks of Weir's unmistakeably refined idiom.' - Stephen Farr Choir and Organ Jan 2018 From the Master of the Queen's Music Judith Weir comes The Tree ofPeace which was commissioned in memory of Richard Axtell organist of the parish church in West Tarring West Sussex. It was given its first performance there by Charles Harrison on the 17 June 2017. It lasts some 4 minutes andproves to be a thoroughly engaging piece in her customary refined idiom. It is in three main sections with a graded increase of tempo throughout. Thematic material is presented at the start cantabile. The central sectionprovides an energetic development marked animato leading to the conclusion molto mosso which gives the theme as in the opening but in augmentation. Throughout I feel an orchestral sense of colour and interrelationships inthe music - and have found it delightful to play. A modest two manual and pedal instrument with some contrasted quiet colours available will suffice and the technical demands are by no means severe. A delightful addition to therepertoire of short self-contained delightful pieces. - Organists' Review Duration: Approx 4 minutes.

The Oxford Book of Lent and Easter Organ Music brings together a superb array of repertoire for use from Ash Wednesday through to Pentecost providing a comprehensive volume for this extended liturgical period. The pieces—largely based on well-known hymn tunes—vary in style and length suiting a range of purposes from processionals and interludes to voluntaries and recital works. A range of technical difficulty makes the book useful for players of differing abilities and clean and uncluttered scores leave interpretative decisions to the performer. An invaluable resource for a major part of the church year.34 pieces for manuals and pedals suitablefor use from Lent through to PentecostSeven brand-new commissions by important names such as David Briggs Naji Hakim and Francis JacksonA variety of musical forms including preludes toccatas fanfares and variationsCovers 17th to 21st centuries from major historic organ composers including Scheidt Mendelssohn and Reger through 20th-century luminaries Harris and Leighton to contemporary figures such as Malcolm Riley David Bednall and Christopher TamblingOriginal organ compositions plus new arrangements of favourites from Handel's Messiah and J. S. Bach's St Matthew PassionAn index of hymn tunes and pieces arranged in liturgical order