Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast

This question was sent by Leon and he writes: “Dear Vidas and Ausra: I had a mild case of the flu from Saturday through Tuesday. Seemed like a cold for the first two days, but "the grippe" was there when I awoke Monday. Thanks to the flu shot in September all was able to be treated with symptomatic meds, and no fever. So when I got back to practice yesterday, I decided to retry the OrgelBuchlein....

This question was sent by Lisa and she writes: “Why is it bad to double the bass line in the pedals? I don’t notice much difference in the sound. I’m a new organist, having played the piano for church for 30 years.”

This question was sent sent by Rob, and he writes: Hello Ausra and Vidas, Enjoyed the story featuring pointed high heel shoes and what Anders said in today’s post about his organ shoes. So, let me share my organ shoes (well, not literally, of course) with you, Anders and all other readers of your posts. Nobody plays the organ wearing gloves, it wouldn’t make sense. Yet, in a way, we do wear “glove...

This question was sent sent by Jeremy, and he writes: "Finding time to do the work I want to do. As we approach the end of the semester, my own interests begin to move into the background and I become swamped with work for other people."

This question was sent by Jeremy. And he writes: Speeding up fingerwork. For some reason, my fingers feel sluggish. I have practiced with high fingers (a technique I use in piano) and shortening and lengthening the note values (like swinging or reverse swinging rhythms), but still seem to get stuck at one tempo. Also, have tried Vidas suggestions of stopping on every beat, then every other beat, e...

This question was sent by Paul and he writes: “Thank you Vidas. That pedal harpsichord is 3 meters long and takes up a lot of my living room. How would you rate the "Fanfare" by Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens for difficulty? Thank you again for such quick responses. You provide much valuable information. Thank you, Paul”

This question was sent sent by Marion, and Marion writes that the goal is mainly learning to play hymns, and the time for practice is the hardest thing.

This question was sent sent by Lev, and he writes: Hi Vidas, Thank you for the hints. Maybe it is a good idea to make a particular podcast or a course about "optimal hymn pedaling for beginners" if one doesn't already exist. Best regards, Lev

This question was sent by Tamara and she writes: “Dear Vidas and Ausra: Thank you so much for your instructional emails, conversations about certain issues related to repertoire and organ playing, and support. They have been so extremely helpful in my own work. I've been following/completing each email as best I am able to get the time. I work a part-time organist position, but also 4 additional p...

This question was sent by Jay and Pauline. They are responding to my blog post from yesterday about playing with pointed high-heel shoes. I talked about when one lady, beginner organist, came and tried to play with high heels and pointed toes. And at the end of it I asked what our listeners think, should she keep trying to adjust to the difficult of playing with these high heels and pointed toes,...

This question was sent by Jonathan. He writes: Memorizing a 3-voice piece. I’m not sure how best to do this. I’ve been memorizing a phrase at a time, then gradually stringing them together. Any suggestions?

This question was sent by Anders and he writes: “Hi Vidas and Ausra I have written to you before and I was quite happy that you published my thoughts. What I’d like to tell you is that I’m really happy to have entered the world of organ playing. It is indeed a world in its own. So sad sometimes when I realize that my work mates or friends really don’t understand what they miss. They just don’t kno...

This question was sent sent by Pauline. She writes: Hi, I have a question to ask here. I am a self learned electronic organist in church. I play hymns every Sunday together with another pianist. In order to create a more inspirational music for God & the congregation, who should be playing melody and who should be the accompanist? Thanks!

This question was sent by Leon. And he writes: Dear Vidas: Two recent developments have made me feel ready for my first Bach Prelude and/or Fugue. Last week I learned about the great but shunned French organist Charles Quef. I tried his little fugue and was able to do it slightly less than half speed with fewer than three mistakes per system. After that, I wrote to my contrebombarde friend who pla...

Francois is writing: “Dear Vidas, I would like to ask about an exotic Pedal form, in German Stummelpedal, impossible to find an adequate translation... Well this pedal form, coming from Halberstadt over Böhms e-organs, to mention a better form than the ones on spinet organs, has some advantages. One is that it is not so monstrous like a conventional pedal, in an house organ. I think of building on...

This question was sent by David. And he writes: Thank you for telling me about this "mini-life" concept. It helps me to know that there are other people who do this, and that it's not some crazy idea that only I do. I am trying to work on "On This Day, Earth Shall Ring" arranged by Gustav Holst (Personent Hodie). I wonder, since this is originally written before the Baroque era but arranged by Hol...

Today, we’re going to discuss the top 10 list of my YouTube videos, because in the previous podcast, we looked at some of the videos, and it was interesting to see how many views some of them have.

This question was sent by Danielle and she writes: “Dear Vidas, I purchased the Dauqin Noel score through PayPal but have not received a link to a pdf. Can you please help? I would love to learn part of it for Christmas! Thank you very much! -Danielle”

This question was sent by Glenn. And he writes: Hi Vidas and Ausra! I love your podcast, especially that I can read the transcript when I am in a place where I can't listen. I have a question about articulation. When you have a sustained note, like in the first partial measure of BWV 603 right hand, and an adjacent voice that sounds the same note, how do you articulate it? Do you just hold the sus...

This question was sent by Bruce. And he writes: Hi Vidas, I just came across your youtube of Estampie Retrove from the Robertsbridge Codex. Do you have sheet music to this? Preferably not in tablature; actually, regular manuscript and tablature would be fun. Cheers, -Bruce

This question was sent by Irineo, and he wrote: Splendid/illustrative podcast, maestros. Great guns. But I think maestro Rob left something missing: One of my teachers many years ago told me "if you possess what's called a 'melodic ore', you have an advantage over those who don't". My questions are: 1-How can you teach students to develop that "ore"? 2-Where does it originate? 3-Are some people ju...

Let’s start episode 343 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. And in this episode we’re going to discuss top 10 of Ausra’s organ videos.

This question was sent by Estella. And he writes: My dear Vidas, I have subscribed to your organ blog and it has helped answer some questions about improving my organ skills, thank you. I have a question about the Allen Chapel organ, which is the one that I use at my church. Last year one of the keys on the Great Manual started clicking or clacking (G). After calling a repairman and 500.00, it was...

Today we have two comments which we would like to discuss. The first was sent by Irineo and he writes: “Nice post as usual, maestro. But I recall having seen (or heard) that when you use a very low fifth stop (10 2/3' for instance) along with a 16' you get the effect of a 32'. Trouble is that there isn't any 16' stop left over there. So I guess the only solution lays in calling the technician. Cou...

This question was sent by Barbara, and she writes: Dear Vidas and Ausra, Thank you so much for your wisdom and advice! I have De Grigny's Premier Livre, but haven't learned any of the pieces. If you have a recommendation on where to start, I'd be happy to take it. I love Dandrieu (know a couple of his Noels), and will use your fingerings for Couperin. First, I'll learn how to interpret all the orn...