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What are the standard pieces everybody plays for voluntaries at churches?

I will be playing In Dulci Jubilo and the Widor Toccata for Christmas Eve... maybe not the Widor for Christmas but for New Years if I can find a replacement.

I will definitely play the Toccata on Easter Day.
I like the St. Anne fugue for Remembrance Day, O God Our Help being the theme.

Hi Pilgrim

You are obviously way ahead of me technically -- I can't get my fingers round the Widor.

I am only a reserve organist at a small church, and I like playing some of the English pastoral pieces by Eric Thiman -- the kind of pieces that Cathedral organists look down on.

But they do for me.

I also play some of the Bach Chorale Preludes from the Little Organ Book.

I also have problems with pedals -- lack of mobility in legs and feet (I'm in my 70s) -- and tend to use manuals alone with the occasional pedal point.

i'm just glad people are actually discussing organ literature here.

I've been playing the pedals now for just a few years (actually reading the pedal line) and am not very good yet..

i have the most beautiful pieces to play tho.

I am astounded how gorgeous these organ pieces are.

Hi Apple

Yes, it would be nice to have some discussion on church organ pieces. Maybe there are some people out there who have been persuaded to play at church services but can only play manuals.
I was thinking of starting a thread for this on the main piano forum.

I played organ when I was young so I could play pedals then, but I now have to wear boots for my feet and legs. Still, I play manuals with the occasional pedal point (as I said before) but it's not ideal.

Playing hymns with a quietish 16ft added makes it all gruff, so I'm still thinking about registration.

Have you (or Pilgrim, or anybody) any advice to make my playing better?

i'm pretty good at faking the pedal sound..

i actually have a bass coupler (wish i didn't cause it makes me lazy).

i often would play the root of a chord with octaves in the left hand (the lowest note an octave below what is written).. planning out a walking bass line to fake out the congregation. i'd play the melody and fill out the chord with my right hand. i got pretty good at jumping octaves and making it seem seamless (legato). kind of hard to explain.

Many thanks, Apple.

I'll give it a shot!!

good luck.. it seems most of the accompaniments are simply the SATB lines ....... to compliment the congregation, a heck of a lot of bass balances the soprano line they sing.. (can't forget to fill out the chords tho).

i sure hope to be playing as long as you are.

You might find this series helpful.

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Old-English-Organ-Music-for-Manuals-Book-1/3630194

I have all 6 volumes and play them on the harpsichord and clavichord because I don't have an organ. They are very playable and easily sight read if you can do that. They're also really a lot of fun to play too.

John

I've tried the advice from above and things are getting better, but I'm still very nervous playing hymns at service. And I must really use the pedals more.

This link I have mentioned elsewhere:

http://www.reluctantorganist.co.uk/

and I'm going to try the advice for hymn playing:

1 Read the chord from the bottom-up.

2 Play only right hand and pedals, leave LH for stops, steadying music etc.

At least this may be a reasonable fall-back position.

I'll give it a go.

for congregational music - i set the stops. i only add more stops between verses. I would hate to see you lose the valuable notes that your left hand can play.

One can play the 'root' of the chord with the pedals. you can fairly quickly write in the proper pedal note and learn it.

It really helps to keep the knees together while pedalling.

good luck.