Uncomfortable pedalling problem.

[FinnViking]

That's one handsome console there Finn. Church or home? Real or toaster?

That's where I work. Another view here: http://www.hakanpaa.net/mhindex.html
and here more details on the organ: http://www.hakanpaa.net/mikaelinurut.htm

And there is a slide show in my youtube-video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA6ANJkiKbQ

Just wondering why this adjustable pedal board is not more known as it should not be a great trick to build them nowadays.

[rpmkym]

Hi! I am a short aspiring organist. I bought an expensive church organ for home only to find that the bench is too high. How do I know how much to have the carpenter cut off of the bench legs?

[Contratrombone64]

rpmkym

Commonsense tells me that only you can answer that question, yes?

[Soubasse]

Finn, I've just had another look at those links you provided above (they didn't work for me the first time) and is that a "rollschweller" I see above the pedalboard? If so, I'd be curious to know what they're like to use - have only ever read about them. I always wondered when playing Reger how the hell one was supposed to execute a trill in octaves on the pedals AND a crescendo at the same time until I'd heard about those.

[Ekpes]

Greetings to all the wonderful Organist.please is there any instructional video on pedalling for beginner organist. Since you can read all the books on pedalling and still place your feet wrongly thanks

[Krummhorn]

Hi Ekpes,

There are a few YT videos on this subject. One such is here:



The other "tip" I can give is: Practice, practice, practice, practice ... and then ... practice again. Looking is okay, but I was taught not to. My organ tutor placed a towel between my waist and over the lowest manual so that I could not even peek. I found my way, but still look for proper note placement at the beginning of a piece.

[wljmrbill]

Agree. I remember my piano days too when I started and she placed a cardboard above the keys so I could not see the notes and I was only 5..

[Ekpes]

Hello sir thanks for the video.As a virtuoso organist which book on pedal techniques will you recommend for a beginner organist,because I know that you have come across so many books and exercises on organ pedal .

[wljmrbill]

Hello sir thanks for the video.As a virtuoso organist which book on pedal techniques will you recommend for a beginner organist,because I know that you have come across so many books and exercises on organ pedal .

To Quote Lars:

The John Stainer Method book will be of great help to you ... another one, called the Gleason Method of Organ Playing is also an excellent guide,

[Ekpes]

Thanks am grateful

[Krummhorn]

To add, the Gleason book can get a bit pricey (last saw it on a site at $163 (USD)). I have the old 4th edition - paid five bucks for it way back in 1961; still have the book and refer to it from time to time, especially when I start to feel that my pedal work is getting sloppy.

The Stainer method book is lots less (saw it at $14 USD) in paperback form. Also available for Kindle.

The two methods (Gleason vs Stainer) take different approaches to learning the pedaling techniques. But the result is basically the same - the feet are able to find all the right notes, hopefully.

[Albert]

The method I learned with in Germany was Ernst Kaller's Orgelschule - In German, English and French. Two books. Book one starts of with pedal exercises. A bit less heel than some of the other methods, but playing flat 30's is somewhat different than an AGO/RCO/RCCO 32 concave and radiating. I wore the seat of a pair of pants out because of the sliding from side to side on the bench to reach. That was on a BDO (concave parallel) 30 note pedal board. I still do practice touch ups after 50 years with the first few pages when I find my pedaling getting sloppy.

To the original poster, I notice that you purchased a pedal board and had a bench made. Can you lift the pedalboard up a bit to reach more easily? I have played overly short benches by putting wood under each side to lift the bench about 2.5 cm (1 inch)

[Krummhorn]

. . . I have played overly short benches by putting wood under each side to lift the bench about 2.5 cm (1 inch)

Glad I'm not the only one who uses blocks. I play at a church twice each year where the organ bench height was trimmed about 4 inches below what is considered the standard bench height. I carry blocks with me when I have to play that organ.

I use 3/4 inch blocks at my own church where I play every week. The next organ console will have a crank to adjust the bench.

[Nikam]

Precious few organ benches are the right height and adjustable benches are scarcer than hens' teeth so I always go armed with blocks when I deputise!

[dll927]

I get a kick out of calling electronics "toasters". Wonder who came up with that one. How about deep-fat fryers?? These days, no matter the type, without electricity we would be back to the old manually operated bellows. Plenty of exercise for the poor guys back there doing that.

It occurs to me that Cavaille-Coll, to say nothing of Silverman, would be dumbfounded by today's consoles. St. Sulpice, St. Ouen, or St. Sernin may have been state-of-the-art in their day, but the art has certainly changed. What, no pistons?? How dare they do that!! A while back I ran into a thread about St. Clotilde (Franck's baby) describing the organ and registrations as they were at various times and different organists. The most recent version has, down in the nave itself, a modern four-decker that I'm sure Cesar would have loved. Notre Dame Paris long ago lost its Cavaille-Coll for an electric action one (Toaster???) We've come along way, baby. But there are a handful around that are still as they were built in the 1800's.