Recent content by Stella Maris

I was asked to accompany gregorian chant during masses from september. I have absolutely no idea how to do it. I have listened some examples on youtube, I've seen some sheets with special arrangements. Everybody is doing it in its own way. I know there is no "correct" answer to my question, but...

Organ playing is like a drug. I can't wait the end of the day to go to practice. I count hours left till the end of the work. When I'm away from my organ for several days, I get nerveous, like a smoker without his cigarettes. I'm sad the day I can't rehearse, and awfully happy if I can do it...

This is a phrase I hear quite often in France to generalize. Solitary, rough, obstinated, strange, and unkind to those who would like to touch his organ. Is it true everywhere? I have met only gentle organists yet. Why do we have such a bad image?!

I lack a bit of ideas in improvisation. I often develop some choral theme in Bach's style during church masses, modifying the rythm or the structure or the tonality, turning minor to major, or mixing several chorals-parts together, playing the choral-theme a certain interval higher or lower ...

I was glad to find this forum. I've been reading different threads for a few days. Interesting and nice posts, thank you for these conversations! I am organ student in France (but I'm not French), taking courses for adults in a music school. I start my second year of studies in September. I am...