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handling page turns

goodwill67

New member
Hello all.

I have never posted here before. I hope this is an acceptable question. I have it in mind to prepare an organ recital at the church where I am organist. As a pianist-turned-organist I have played many piano recitals which were of course done my memory, but I have never played an organ recital and do not choose to memorize it. I am finding myself concerned about managing page turns, particularly in works which offer little, if any, opportunity to turn fluently. I would prefer not to use a page turner. I was wondering how members of this forum have handled this. Many Thanks.
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi goodwill,

Welcome aboard, please do make yourself feel right at home and stay for a spell. As an organist who does like to memorise recitals but who also understands that some people prefer to have music, here's what I did in the past. I would photocopy the music but reduce the size somewhat and mount the pages onto very heavy stock paper like what one could use for framing or backing artwork. Today there are portable flat-screen displays where you scan in the music and then place the screen on the music rack.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce :tiphat::tiphat::tiphat::tiphat:
 

goodwill67

New member
Hello.

Thank you for the helpful reply. I had actually thought of this. Have you ever experienced a case where there were still too many pages to fit across the rack even when placed on above the other? Some of the Vierne symphony movements for example, especially in No. 5, are quite lengthy. perhaps certain things should simply be memorized or avoided.

Thanks again for the response.
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi goodwill67,

I have done two sheets to a page and used longer printer paper for more images on a sheet. Above all, do what feels comfortable for you.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce :tiphat::tiphat::tiphat::tiphat:
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi goodwill67,

As one who doesn't totally memorize the music, I employ the assistance of a page turner in all of my public performances. This works out well at my home church as I am severely limited on the number of pistons and generals, and the page turner then assists with the adding and removing of stops as needed.

I have used the method Corno Dolce mentions above for doing extended service music preludes in church. However, those smaller notes are becoming harder to read as I advance in age :rolleyes:.

Oh ... and Welcome to Magle International Music Forums :cheers:.
 

acc

Member
Welcome goodwill67! :tiphat:

In lengthy works, there are usually some places where you've got a free hand to turn pages. If such a place occurs in the middle of a page, you might then mount pages as CD suggests, but mounting this particular page twice. So for example, if it's page 6, you mount pages 1,2,3,4,5,6 together, then again pages 6,7,...

Even a piece like the Finale from Vierne's #5 can be done this way, with the following mountings (page numbers from the Durand edition): 48–51, 52–55, 56–59, 59–61, 62–70. The last section is bigger, but it stays on the music rack (i.e. you don't have to "turn" it while playing). You also have to memorize the last lines on pp.55 and 61, but that's not a big deal.

Another point: whenever you play in public from photocopies, be sure to take the original score with you as well. Just in case someone from the official copyright-people is in the audience...
 

JONESEY

New member
Hi Goodwill,

In the past I've taken to memorising a few lines of the next page, just to get me to a point where I can turn the page without interrupting the flow of the piece.

I'm also considering a recital at our local church (and am also a pianist turned organist!) but for this I would probably get someone to turn the pages for me.
As Krummhorn said, they can also help with the stops as well which I think will be a great help.

My advice for what it's worth would be to do some practising with a page turner so can get used to it, and your page turner gets used to your playing etc.

Hope that helps.
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Jonesey, long time no see, how are you? I had a teacher who gave up on me memorising as I just was too good a sightreader to do it. I guess you're either gifted at memory work or sightreading ... somefolk are blessed with both, not me.
 

stoferb

New member
Re-arranging the score is an alternative I've used at times. You'll be surprised what you can achieve with scissors, adhesive tape, glue, paper, a photocopier and some planning. But if I were to have an organ recital without a page-turner I would learn the pieces by heart or choose other pieces that doesn't require a page-turner. Sometimes I've used partial memorization like acc and jonesey suggests and it works too - if you turn to the right page that is. Don't forget paper clips. :)
 

JONESEY

New member
Hi CT, I'm fine thanks ... have been away on Holiday and then catching up on work!.
Had a go on the pipe organ in the local church for 30 mins when we were on holiday, very nice mellow sound, until you played some bigger chords and it ran out of puff temporarily - made me chuckle.

Back to the discussion though, I always found sight reading to be the hardest thing in my Piano days, and it's carried through nicely in my organ playing!!!!!
 

JONESEY

New member
It was in a village in Devon. Lovely sounding organ apart from the occasional wheezing!.
We did also visit the local Cathedral and saw the pipe organ from a distance - 32 foot pipes were something to behold (never seen, let alone played an organ with 32 foot pipes!).
I have been in contact with the Organist there and should be able to secure a demo on the organ during our next visit ... that'll be something!.
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Jonesey - come to Sydney and I'll get your a session on the enormous monster at Sydney Town Hall which has functional, fully voiced 64' stop (look at my avatar and you'll see a photo of said stop).

Oi, Devon, loverrrr ... noice.
 
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JONESEY

New member
CT - we have family over in Australia and I'd love to visit. If we ever make it over there I'll be sure to take you up on your offer.

Devon is proper noice as they all say :grin:
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
"proper noice" ... sweet, I remember the Devon accent from my "year of pilgrimage" in the UK. Yeah - come to Sydney, you'd be very welcome AND get a personalised tour of our biggest and best pipe organs. I know most of the Sydney city ones.
 

goodwill67

New member
Thanks

hello.

I would like to thank all of you who responded to my question about page turns. These are all some excellent suggestions which I will surely implement. Thank You.
 

raymondo30837

New member
"proper noice" ... sweet, I remember the Devon accent from my "year of pilgrimage" in the UK. Yeah - come to Sydney, you'd be very welcome AND get a personalised tour of our biggest and best pipe organs. I know most of the Sydney city ones.


Hi, Yes, Many non organists do not know of the many fine organs in Oz. A visit to Sydney town hall, for a start, is a relevation. People in Australia hopefully appreciate thier organists and the continuation of a fine tradition for this instrument. I am in awe. It is not only Europe that can claim culture.

My Regards Raymond.
 

jvhldb

New member
I had a problem with music turning last week. I solved it by photocopying the pages (single sided). When placing them on the music stand I started with the back page on the right hand side of the stand, every sheet after that was placed on top of that, but with the right edge about 1.5 cm to the left of the previous page, thus creating an off-set stack.

In stead of turning the pages I slide the top page to the left ever time. It's faster than turning a page, with the off-set edges it is easy to grab the edge with either hand. You can also change the music in the middle of a page, when one hand is free, as both pages remain visible.
 
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