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This book is a practical guide for composers to the pipe organ, showing how the instrument is still relevant for new music today. The book is aimed both at those who have never seen an organ before and experienced composers who want a detailed breakdown of what the instrument can do. It draws on musical examples spanning 400 years, particularly focussing on music by contemporary composers. A separate companion website also provides extra content such as video demonstrations of the organ, printable material for educational use and regularly updated links to further resources.
List of contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Introduction to the organ
- Overview
- Organ Building Trends
- Historic Organs
- Common Mistakes
- Extended Techniques
- Chapter 2: Registration
- Overview
- Main Stop Categories
- Principals
- Flutes
- Strings
- Reeds
- Other Categories
- Foundations
- Mixtures
- Mutations
- Miscellaneous Stops
- Couplers
- Registration Aids
- General Pistons
- Divisional Pistons
- Crescendo Pedal
- Chapter 3: The Manuals
- Overview
- Idiomatic Writing
- Non-Chordal Techniques
- Chordal Techniques
- Playing on Multiple Manuals
- Chapter 4: The Pedals
- Overview
- Idiomatic Writing
- Double/Multi-Pedalling
- The Pedals in Context
- Chapter 5: Other Types of Organ
- Overview
- Chamber Organ
- Harmonium
- Theatre Organ
- Hammond Organ
- Chapter 6: The Organ in Ensemble
- Overview
- Organ and Choir
- Organ and Orchestra
- Concertos
- Organ and Chamber Ensembles
- Organ and Electronics
About the author
James Mitchell is the current Sub-Organist at Gloucester Cathedral. He graduated from Girton College, Cambridge with a Double First, subsequently completing an MPhil in Musicology at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He is also an award-winning composer; his music has been published by the RSCM and has been performed at various UK cathedrals and churches, including at the 2021 London Festival of Contemporary Church Music.
Summary
The organ is one of the oldest instruments in Western music, and its sound has inspired many of the greatest composers from the past half a millennium from Bach through to Messiaen. The full possibilities of the instrument, however, have often been overlooked. Orchestration textbooks tend to mention the organ only in passing, with little practical advice for the composer to latch onto. Many organ books will explain technical jargon and how the organ is designed, but do not discuss what should actually be written in the score. This book, on the other hand, offers a practical guide for composers on how to write idiomatically for the instrument with the aim of helping them exploit the instrument's full timbral and technical potential. It provides in depth advice not only on notation but also the full resources of the modern organ, including dedicated chapters on registration, writing for manuals and pedals, and using the organ in ensembles, among others. Multiple musical examples are quoted from across the history of organ repertoire, with a particular focus on contemporary composers and music. There is advice tailored to non-classical musicians, such as guidance on virtual instruments. The online companion website to this book provides video demonstrations, chapter summaries, sample organ stop-lists and other useful further resources. In summary, the goal of this book is to show not just what organ music was, or what it is, but what it can be.
Additional text
This accessible, engaging text aims to remedy this injustice through this brilliant introduction to his wonderful instrument. This book is a treasure trove of useful hints and tips for exploring. Moreover, the supplementary material attached to this book is entertaining and supports and expands upon the main text well.
