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Playing contemporary music on an organ

diapason

New member
Hello fellow organists and musicians,

Does anyone know of a hymnal, praise book, song book or what have you that contains the new contemporary songs, and is written in a way that is more playable on the organ?
I am weary from the time it takes to adapt many of these songs ,that are clearly written for piano, and make them playable on the organ. I have been playing for church services for many years, but I play the organ, not the piano, so it is more difficult and time consuming for me to adapt the typical flowing left hand into chords. I have several new hymnals that contain contemporary songs written in SATB four part harmony, but there are a lot of popular contemporary songs that I can not find in that format.
Any resources that you can share would be greatly appreciated. I am a busy grandma who doesn't have the extra time to sit in church on Saturday afternoon and make these songs playable on the organ. They are so much easier to play if the left hand is written in chords. Then I'm able to be finished with my practicing and on my way enjoying my grandkids.
Thank you for your help.:)
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Diapason ... and welcome to MIMF, btw :cheers:

Our church uses the hymnal With One Voice, published by Augsburg Fortress (The Lutheran Church publishing house). One would need to purchase the Accompaniment edition as the pew edition just has the single melody line. There are a number of contemporary hymns like, On Angels Wings, which has a flowing accompaniment.
Sometimes though, these hymns are just best suited to be played on the piano ... on some organs, especially those in dry acoustics (as my church is) the accompaniment becomes rather choppy and clunky ... for those I use the piano.
 

musicalis

Member
Dear Diapason

May be can I help you ?

I have stated a thread called "organ accompaniement" that has never got any answer. Is this thread, I planed to help organists who want to play songs for which they have not the accompaniement, (the left hand in your case).
Send me by e-mail one or two of the musics you would like to play and I'll try to help you if possible. (Send a score please, not an audio file).
 

jvhldb

New member
The song book that Dutch Reformed Churches use in South Africa is written for piano. On the organ we play the bottom/bass line on the pedal, the tenor line with the left hand and the soprano & alt with the right hand. I don't know if it will work for you. I find it impossible to play chords on our church organ, the melody is simply overwhelmed.
 

methodistgirl

New member
Welcome to the forum! I have played contemporary music on the pipe
organ before. I had a ball playing songs like the contemporary praise
and worship songs. Try Integrety Hosanna. They might help you.
judy tooley
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Sorry, call me old fashioned by why are they using an organ for contemporary worship music? Wouldn't a guitar, drum kit, and vocalist be more suitable? *shudders deeply*
 

Flute'n'Pedal

New member
Ya, CT, that's true enough. But what organist would dare to say it to the church? Assuming that the aforesaid organist is not seeking immediate termination.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Sorry, call me old fashioned by why are they using an organ for contemporary worship music? Wouldn't a guitar, drum kit, and vocalist be more suitable? *shudders deeply*

Our 'contemporary' service is now what we call Convergent Worship ... starts out with an organ prelude and then uses both piano and organ in a variety of ways during the service for hymns and chanted liturgies ... The more 'cavorted' hymns are lead by the piano with the organ adding an ethereal touch mostly to add 'fill'. Seems to work out and people like what we are doing ... this service used to be one of those 'happy-clappy' ones ... we changed the format at the beginning of this year, and attendance is growing.
 

Serassi1836

New member
On the organ we play the bottom/bass line on the pedal, the tenor line with the left hand and the soprano & alt with the right hand. I don't know if it will work for you. I find it impossible to play chords on our church organ, the melody is simply overwhelmed.
I play chords on the organ. With the right hand I play the melody, with the left one the chords and with the pedal a member of the chord.
 

jvhldb

New member
I play chords on the organ. With the right hand I play the melody, with the left one the chords and with the pedal a member of the chord.

Ok. I had the wrong organ, I used to play that way until I started learning the pipe organ. On an electronic organ it woks fine, but on the pipe organ I can't get it to work properly. No matter what registration I use, the chord seems to drown out the melody. However I still use the method on my organ at home. When I get tired of practicing I usually play a couple of songs with just the melody and chords, after 20 years I it takes no brain power at all so it's very relaxing.
 

methodistgirl

New member
The main organist at my church plays contemperary during the morning
service and it sounded great on the organ along with a small band.
judy tooley
 

JONESEY

New member
Hi Johan,

Can you try playing chords on the swell manual, with a quiet registration, and then the melody on the great manual with a louder registration?, it might 'feel' a bit odd, but it might just work.
 

jvhldb

New member
I tried that, but it didn't work very well, I simply can't get the volume balanced between the two manuals. The pedals also have only two volumes, to soft or to loud. Besides, with a full church belting out a hymn in different keys we need every rank on the organ just to make sure that the organ can be heard in the front pews and to drown out the echo in the church. It's only during holidays, weddings and funerals that we can use different registrations.
 

JONESEY

New member
Sorry Johan, I misunderstood - I thought this was just something you were doing in your spare time, not for a congregation.
The Church that I play at is pretty small, so most registrations can be used on the organ and still be heard.

Sadly, the days where the Choir stalls are used is gone, otherwise I'd have to think more carefully about registrations, I'm sure.

Happy Easter - hope the services go well.
 

methodistgirl

New member
Everybody, I can just hear your pipe organs now laughing because
some of you think that way. Relax and try playing something with
a catchy tune like Everlasting God or My life is in you. I did play I
can only imagine one the pipe organ and it sounded real good.
Contra, it wouldn't hurt to try a gospel song that rocks out on the
pipe organ. I love it.
judy tooley
 

anin

New member
please i need some hymns so i need your help please i need
1)There shal be showers of blessing
2)hallelujah chorus
3)this is the day the Lord ha made(d:- t:- l:- s:-:- in key D)
please i am counting on u please if u have free music sites in which i can get any of these

[edit: email reply address removed]
thanks


whitaker.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

methodistgirl

New member
Let me ask you this question. Do you know how to take songs from a
regular hymnal book copy them and then do alterations. You need to
use a regular hymn from the book and do some adjustments. Like if
you have a nice pair of slacks that are too long you take and hem it.
Use some imagination with it like a craft. It's like taking a regular photo
and turning it into a painting. I hope you can visualize what I am trying
to tell you.
judy tooley
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
please i need some hymns so i need your help please i need
1)There shal be showers of blessing
2)hallelujah chorus
3)this is the day the Lord ha made(d:- t:- l:- s:-:- in key D)
please i am counting on u please if u have free music sites in which i can get any of these

[edit: email reply address removed]
thanks

Hi anin,

1. There Shall Be Showers of Blessing
2. Hallelujah Chorus is not a "hymn", but here's an MP3 of it
3. This Is The Day the Lord Hath Made

As to free scores, be careful about copyrighted works. You might check this Public Domain Choral wiki site for what you are seeking.
 
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