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Now that I've got my VPO...

JayR

New member
Now that I've got my VPO, where can I find some easy arrangements for pipe organ that are written for a 32-key pedalboard? I built my VPO, not because I am an organist, but because electronics is my hobby and I have an interest in pipe organs. My problem is that I have about two years of student piano classes under my belt, but that was almost 20 years ago! I find most true organ arrangements to be quite difficult because of the complex fingerings. Oddly enough, I am not doing too badly with the pedals since I play bass and read the bass clef. I just need to find some arrangements that get my fingers working on the manuals without having to concentrate on holding one or two fingers down while trying to play additional lines in the same hand. I know this what organists do, but I am nowhere in that playing field.

I had attempted to order "How to Play the Organ" from the following website...

http://www.howtoplayorgan.com/

The description of the book seemed to be just what I was looking for. Unfortunately, the author has not completely finished the book. Once I completed the order process, I was instructed by the webste to request a refund from the author, which he did promptly. Still, the book would have been nice...

So, if you could point me in the right direction to find easy arrangements of decent music for pipe organ, I would greatly appreciate it. I would hope to find some common Church hyms, perhaps a few pipe organ classics, but I would especially like the Overture to the Phantom of the Opera!

Thank you for your help!

Jay
 

Ghekorg7 (Ret)

Rear Admiral Appassionata (Ret)
hi JayR !

You're in a difficult situation here...
Get an Organ Teacher to train' you on the organ technique. 20 years back is a lotta time. To read the bass clef as a bass player doesn't help either. Pedal technique is different. Try the 13note then 17 or 20 doesn't matter the size of the board....
You have also to learn to read the g key and the c key and the 3 together, each playin' a different part....

Anyway, I reccon you;re a brave man, so I recommend you to go to Petrucci Free Library IMSLP (Google search) and Download Cezar Frank's Frankorganiste to start from somewhere and then JSBach's Orgelbuchlein(little Organ Book).
Try to play something from these and we'll talk back again. Also other members will come with advice, hold on !!

Greetings
Panos :)

PS Intro Phantom......this is not an organ work at all, just an effect for the play...:);)

PS2 What kind of VPO you got ? HW/GO/jO/Mzr ? What console/ped?
 

JayR

New member
Panos,

Thank you for your reply. I have a 2-manual Moller console. Here is a link to my thread on the console...

http://www.magle.dk/music-forums/7815-my-organ-project-moller.html

I have upgraded from MyOrgan to GrandOrgue. I am now using the Enigma Wet Sample Set.

There are a couple of YouTube videos of organists playing an arrangement of the Phantom of the Opera Overture on the pipe organ. I know the arrangement is out there somewhere, but I have not found it as yet.

Thanks again for the music selections you selected. I will let you know how it works out!

Jay
 
Last edited:

Ghekorg7 (Ret)

Rear Admiral Appassionata (Ret)
A great individual work

Hi again JayR ! Yes I've read your thread, sorry I forgot:smash:
It's a great work.
Symptosis : I played with Enigma wet all night yesterday :), it's a very good one (for free...).
So, you got everything needed for your Organ Odyssey.
Get to practice !!!

Cheers:cheers:
Panos
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Jay,

It might be worth looking at these two 'older' books (hey, they're available for free)
Organ playing : its technique and expression (c1911): http://www.archive.org/details/organplayingitst00hulluoft
and
The technique and art of organ playing ([c1922]): http://www.archive.org/details/techniqueartofor00dickuoft

Then for the Pedal excercises try
18 studies in pedal phrasing for the organ (1868) Vol 1 and Vol 2:
http://www.archive.org/details/18studiesinpedal01buck
http://www.archive.org/details/18studiesinpedal02buck

Good luck with your practicing (and do let us know how things are going and if you have more tips for us or questions!)

GrahamG
 

JayR

New member
Graham,

Thanks for the links. I actually like some of the older books. I found an old book on organ registration; and despite its age, it was very descriptive and relatively easy to comprehend.

I will download the ebooks and give them a try.

Thanks Again!
Jay
 

wljmrbill

Member
Hello Jay.. i,.e, Phantom of the opera. I know of no arrangement as such for the overture.. most of us make our won from the scores. I bought the major selections in a Book at a Performance of this musical..( at good price-$17.95) It is for piano but can be arranged for organ easy enough. Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" distributed by Hal-Leonard Corporation, 7777 West Bluemond Road, P.O. Box 13819, Milwaukee, wisconsin 53213 or Music Sales Limited,8/9 Frith Sreet, London W1V 5TZ.,England.. Book was copywrited in 1987 By Really Useful Group plc. inventory no. 00360830 .... ISBN 0-88188-615-7. It is 7 pages in length and has the 9 most used production numbers of the musical. I enjoy it very much.

As far as your organ pieces and studies.. Start simple and practice, practice,practice. There are a number of methods is learning organ depending whether you are interested in classical music, standard methods of study; popular method- based more on a melodic line with chordal structure and rhythm patterns and alot of improv style work.( like the pointer systems). I have and do teach both methods. I was classical trained:however many people only want to be able to play simple tunes for there own enjoyment.They do not have time or desire to learn more traditional methods of study. I have heard many good musicians who only use a fake book for music ( melodic line and chord cymbals) The rest in improv.

I am sure there are many on this site who would disagree with me as they do not believe in anything but old traditional methods and anything else is crap... Oh well to each his own. I find that being able to play both methods gives me an advantage in performing where ever I may find myself. Of course I enjoy classical and popular music , not so much Jazz area. Good Luck my friend and find a teacher for getting basic down for yourself.
 

Ghekorg7 (Ret)

Rear Admiral Appassionata (Ret)
......
As far as your organ pieces and studies.. Start simple and practice, practice,practice. There are a number of methods is learning organ depending whether you are interested in classical music, standard methods of study; popular method- based more on a melodic line with chordal structure and rhythm patterns and alot of improv style work.( like the pointer systems). I have and do teach both methods. I was classical trained:however many people only want to be able to play simple tunes for there own enjoyment.They do not have time or desire to learn more traditional methods of study. I have heard many good musicians who only use a fake book for music ( melodic line and chord cymbals) The rest in improv.

I am sure there are many on this site who would disagree with me as they do not believe in anything but old traditional methods and anything else is crap... Oh well to each his own. I find that being able to play both methods gives me an advantage in performing where ever I may find myself. Of course I enjoy classical and popular music , not so much Jazz area. Good Luck my friend and find a teacher for getting basic down for yourself.

Hi Bill !
I agree 120% with you.
I also was very classical trained (piano/organ) and also very jazz/impro trained for years.Add to this our Greek folk music training (it's way diferent from classic and/or Jazz stuff)
: "...being able to play both methods gives me an advantage in performing where ever I may find myself"

This is the point Bill. And that one must get the highest possible enjoyment playing music, not being trapped inside a box of closed mind dicipline stuck in just one thing no matter how great this thing is.

My son is 12y.o. and he studies the organ for 5 years now. His teacher (the best in Greece:rolleyes::shake::whistle:) is like you. Both systems. The boy selected the second - lines & chords on Yamaha Electone 2m/ped. Advantage: many many different styles of music (from Bach to American Country), learn registration/arrangment, play for his friends to sing and : never boring practicing ! Disadvantage : lesser technique, but he can catch up later when grow up.

And yes...I wait for some of our friends here to disagree hard enough, mainly for the classical training is the best for knowing exactly your instrument and get the most out of it, ect . Part true of course.

Cheers
Panos

PS. Btw have you got the Paramount 310 (Wurlizer Theater) set for Houptwerk3 ? I missed that, I just got it and I'm amazed. How many pieces of music I can now play with it ....!
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Panos,

Yup! The Paramount 310 is a blast! For a free Hauptwerk instrument I must say that it is superb... and so much fun to play... in all sorts of styles! Now I guess that I must practice, practice, practice too ;)

(oh, and I learnt guitar when I was a boy, piano when I was a teenager, and now I'm learning the organ... well, when I'm not designing them!)

GrahamG
 

Ghekorg7 (Ret)

Rear Admiral Appassionata (Ret)
Hi Panos,

Yup! The Paramount 310 is a blast! For a free Hauptwerk instrument I must say that it is superb... and so much fun to play... in all sorts of styles! Now I guess that I must practice, practice, practice too ;)

(oh, and I learnt guitar when I was a boy, piano when I was a teenager, and now I'm learning the organ... well, when I'm not designing them!)

GrahamG


And you design them well !;)

The SUPERB 310, indeed ! I'm in...love:lol:

Problem - Help ! : The screen is BIG I can't see the pedal stops to alter them as I like. In any of the three of them. I just play the preset general/ individual combinations, alter the 3 man but stuck with the ped presets.

Any solution ?:pray:

Cheers
Panos:cool:
 

ggoode.sa

New member
Hi Panos,
There is a solution in the works, but it'll be a few weeks still to get it done... a smaller screen with smaller stop graphics.... but no Crescendo or Svorzando. Of course if HW 4.0 is released soon then that might have scrollable graphics... which would also solve it!

GrahamG
 

Ghekorg7 (Ret)

Rear Admiral Appassionata (Ret)
Hi Panos,
There is a solution in the works, but it'll be a few weeks still to get it done... a smaller screen with smaller stop graphics.... but no Crescendo or Svorzando. Of course if HW 4.0 is released soon then that might have scrollable graphics... which would also solve it!

GrahamG


Thanks for so quick reply. You have the same problem on your PC ?

I cannot live without Cressendo/Svorzando, so I 'll walk with the 15 preset Bass. Afterall they are ok, enough for a large list of play.

I heard roumors about HW4. Is gonna happen soon? There would be a free version also?

Have fun
Panos
 

rmaryman

New member
JayR-
you might consider getting a copy of "The Organst's Manual" by Roger Davis, published by W W Norton. There are exercises in the book that will be helpful to learn the technique part of playing AND there is repertoire that starts out quite simple and gradually increases in difficulty as skills are gained, and much of it is useful, not just like playing scales for the sake of exercise. I do have to agree with others that would recommend lessons, as a good teacher WILL help you to avoid the pitfalls that all self-taught players run into, and it is easier to learn it right the first time rather than UNlearn it later after bad habits are already formed.
Rick in VA
 
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