Saint-Seans organ music

[Contratrombone64]

Now, I don't know this work at all (not surprising) but it looks absolutely gorgeous. Must print it off and give it a whirl on my College pipe organ. Enjoy!

[Krummhorn]

Here's another for your practice sessions: 3 Rhapsodies for organ, Op. 7.

Delightful set of pieces ... and quite challenging, too. I've used the 2nd piece of the set for a prelude on special occasions.

[Corno Dolce]

You don't go wrong with the French *Beethoven* for organ...

[Ghekorg7]

An interesting piece CT, thank you for the upload, I like the way the transcriber swifts to Recit with two extra staves ....

Cheers
Panos

[Soubasse]

Those Rhapsodies are marvellous pieces and quite tricky too, as are the Trois Fantaisies, particularly with the bit of reading adjustment thanks to Camille's penchant for using the fourth stave. I'm presently whittling away at the first two Fantaisies and it's nice to be doing something a little different. Unfortunately the biggest hurdle is that most of the time I only have access to a two-manual instrument which makes all those leaps from GO to Rec to Pos a little on the imaginary side.

[Contratrombone64]

Hello Soubasse my friend. I too have access to a two manual instrument so find three manual inferred music a bit of a challenge, too.

[Ghekorg7]

Hello Soubasse my friend. I too have access to a two manual instrument so find three manual inferred music a bit of a challenge, too.

In a situation like this, i.e try to play a 3man written work in 2man, I try to figure out what JSBach and the other masters would have done if he/they were at the same challenge.
I believe that they would go for it with whatever had in hand, just peforming the piece motivated by it's inner meaning...
This leeds one to choose the right stops from what is offered by the organ in hand.

Cheers
Panos

[Krummhorn]

In a situation like this, i.e try to play a 3man written work in 2man, I try to figure out what JSBach and the other masters would have done if he/they were at the same challenge.

Bingo ... Last year, I performed the Mendelssohn Sonata I on my church's II/9 pipe organ. Ideally, this piece is best situated for a 3 manual at a minimum. When I've performed the work on a 3 manual, it was lots easier.

Converting it to 2 manuals, I had to be quite creative, and had to use all four of my four generals for the piece, but it proved to me that it can be done.

The Chorale No 3 in A Minor of Cesar Franck was another challenge - again being very creative with registrations, I was able to do the piece great justice on my church's II/9.

By the same token, many organ works include 32's in the registration requirements, but this doesn't stop me from playing them.

[Ghekorg7]

......... again being very creative with registrations, I was able to do the piece great justice on my church's II/9.

By the same token, many organ works include 32's in the registration requirements, but this doesn't stop me from playing them.

Great work here and beautiful pieces.
Feels nice to know that your II/9 is able to overcome any situation. This must be an example to others who complain about the Organs in their Churches. To be creative is the key, but one has to do a lot of homework and be devoted to his goal to accomplish a certain level of creativity. Years of experience also
count to this.

Also, there are 16' stops that require a 32' added to feel a great bass, but other 16' that sound big and bombastic can do the trick.
I believe if one wants to play a piece nothing can stop him/her to do it in any situation.

Thanks for sharing Krumhorn
Cheers
Panos

[Krummhorn]

. . . but one has to do a lot of homework and be devoted to his goal to accomplish a certain level of creativity. Years of experience also count to this.

You are quite correct, Panos

I would spend hours upon hours choreographing my registration changes with some of those pieces .. and with the limitation of 4 generals (no divisionals, no reversibles, no toe studs) and careful use of the Crescendo shoe, I was able to make it happen.

There are some pieces that I would never consider tackling with a II/9; then those particular pieces are now well beyond my playing abilities now. The 'ol digits don't always move as fast as I would like anymore . The feet, however, are still quick as lightening.

[Ghekorg7]

Cressendo shoe. You're right Krumhorn

The often forgotten kinda magic help. I like the way it opens (or adds) gradualy the stops! This thing also wants practice to be exact on "witch position" the (usualy right) feet's gonna push down.
Another point that makes things messy is "when", if the piece wants full feet work...there's a third foot needed

To sum-up, all these we discussing end in one thing : never stop practice.
And allways get advice and/or suggestions from other players, teachers, books, videos ect no matter how old we are, even if we are ourselves teachers/masters.
I never believed in one only truth. One can allways get help or a great thing from someone objectively considered insignificant and small! - remember the ancient Greek tale of the Lion and the mouse....

This is one of the best things this forum is famous about and so many unknown people come and reed what is written and uploaded

Lars, this thing with with the digits....I don't wanna even think about...it's like a thriller/horror movie starring Peter Cushing, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee together

'till our next discussion
Cheers
Panos

[Contratrombone64]

Sorry, we are not discussing practising or not here, "we" (I) was discussing the organ music of Saint-Saens

[Ghekorg7]

Sorry, we are not discussing practising or not here, "we" (I) was discussing the organ music of Saint-Saens

Hi David !

To be able to perform Saint-Saens' music, one has to go thru hard training. So expanding a bit our discussion to some technical matters I think it adds to the thread as a whole.
Camille I believe if he could whatch this, would be ok with.

Please don't be so severe with Lars and me, or to put it in another way, like always being strictly inside the harmonic scale, do some out of key passages !

Best regards and cheers
Panos

[Krummhorn]

Sorry for the slight derail, David ...

And now, back to the topic