First Organ Concert / Performance

[methodistgirl]

Hi Corno Dolce & CT64,

I don't know how they do it. Remembering anything off the top of my head is beyond me. Having said that, these people we're talking about are significantly better organists than I'll ever be even in my wildest imagination.

Even so, remembering every note and nuance from a 90-120 minute organ recital, perfectly without lapse or hesitation is a stunning feat of memory. I wonder if they would remember as well if they were employed full time in a cathedral somewhere with all that entails? (not to mention the massive turnover of repertoire both organ solo and choral over 2/3 services a day seven days a week...) A very different set of skills from being a professional recitalist.

I will still say since I do it, you can also learn some of this by ear. I play
mozart by ear and Beethoven.
judy tooley

 

[Krummhorn]

Hi CT64,

Yep, you bet its alot of hard work to keep it all inside the cranium. Learning the music is the *easy* part - To keep it in there is a monumental metaphysical exertion - WHEW!!! Corno Dolce

I quite agree ... once learned Cesar Franck's Prelude Fuge et Variation for an organ competition in my 5th year of organ study. This piece had to be memorized ... there is a big difference between memorization and playing by ear ... Once learned, I could play it from any point in the piece ... my teacher would say "play measure 46" and I would. All that extra learning paid off when it came time to perform this piece in the competition. Half way through, I had a memory lapse in the middle of the Fuge - nerves I suppose - the whole piece went totally blank for a moment ... then I regained my composure, went back 8 measures and resumed playing flawlessly to the end. I won that competition, btw.

The piece is still in my head - guess it is etched there permanently - when I play the piece today (with the score) I seldom have to read the notes ... it helps also when the memorized piece is something that we like to play ... that piece along with the A Minor Choral (3rd Organ Chorale) are my two favorite works of Franck. In fact, doing the A Minor in concert in a few weeks at my church.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Krummhorn,

So far in my life I only have memorized all of Cesar Franck's organ works. Memorising all of JSBach's organ works has so far eluded me. I recall a series of organ recitals at St. Christine's Cathedral in Gothenburg, Sweden in which an 18 year gal played all of Bach's organ works from memory.

I attended all of them and was crest-fallen afterwards. She had the musicianship and technique and I was in awe. She intimated to me that memorising was the easy part - I almost collapsed in wonder. Oh well, this troglodyte(me) has yet much to learn.

Humbly,

Corno Dolce

 

[Krummhorn]

Dear Corno Dolce,

I am awash here with splendor at memorizing all of Franck's organ works. What a huge undertaking that must have been. How do you keep it fresh in the mind?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I had thought I read that the late Virgil Fox had also memorized all of Bach's organ works? Maybe EP Biggs did, too?

There is an up and coming young man, Felix Hell, who has memorized most of JS Bach's works and plays concerts in the US and Europe frequently.

 

[Daniel Palmer]

My first organ recital was seeing Carlo Curley at Lincoln Cathedral. They had a few organists there and several organs (for one or two pieces all used at once). A particular highlight was when they played Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March no 1, swapping organs at various points throughout the piece.

It's not the type of thing I would want to go to often, but I think once in a while it's nice to have something a bit different.

Daniel