I understand! I was once asked to play "When They Ring Those Golden Bells for
You and Me. It was during a series of meetings. I did play an arrangement off
the top of my head. The same person after the meeting asked me if I would play
it again. I told her that I would be glad to play another arrangement of the
hymn. However, I didn't believe I had ever played that hymn the same way twice.
I asked her after the next meeting about the arrangement if she like the second
version. She replied that yes she did. I asked her which one was her
favorite. She said she liked them both, but if she had to pick one it would be
the first version.
I normally use the word arrangement in talking with people when the more
correct term would be improvisation. People look at you funny when they hear
the word improvisation referring to a piece played on an instrument.
The Fake Books! One great thing about them is the sheer number of songs
available in just one book; sometimes 1000 songs in one Fake Book! It is
easier for me to embellish a melody line and chord symbols (if I am familiar
with the song and like to play in that style) than try to simplify something
that clearly is beyond my ability to sight read for the first time and sound
like I know what I am doing!
I suspect that many of the great last stanza arrangements available in print
for congregational singing started out as what the composer was improvising at
the church where organist. Somewhere, someone would figure out that to make
those available in print would sell many books.
I love to play and hear those last stanza organ improvisations for the great
stately English hymns especially when the sanctuary is full with people who
make great choir members. To hear the people "almost" drown out a huge
magnificent organ sound is breathtaking!
Robert McMenisFUMC Smackover, AR
On Thursday, September 14, 2017 11:18 PM, CenturyLink Customer
<jjs102@xxxxx> wrote:
#yiv8470484884 p {margin:0;}I seem to remember Hal Leonard publishing
classical and hymn fake books although I've never seen one myself. When I was
playing in church I often had to improvise extensions EG: when the collection
took longer than expected. Invariably when I did an extension there was always
some little old lady that would come up after service and ask what the name of
the piece I was playing and if I could do it again sometime. How could I tell
them that unless it was recorded it probably would never be heard again.JJS
I have enjoyed hearing Dan Miller and Hector play several most beloved pipe
organ classics. The problem I find with playing some of it is the length.
Sometimes middle section gets more complicated than the beginning. Often the
last part is a return the beginning of the piece that has the same ending as
the original.
Are there good organ books in print that have some of the classics abridged in
some way, plus conveniently leaving out "those two pages" that are much more
difficult than the rest of the piece.
I'm thinking about 19th century to the present. There are multiple versions of
Bach and Handel's compositions, though many are transcriptions. They weren't
written for the organ, but for chamber music, strings, etc.
I don't want to purchase much more music at least for now.
My hearing is giving me trouble. I sometimes hear distortion and the hearing
loss in profound in the left ear.
However, I am tired of the stuff that I have been able to find in AR. Some of
those hymn arrangements leave much to be desired!
I received a degree in music education in choral music with piano being the
principal instrument and a minor in voice and organ. I got passed the Eight
Little Preludes and Fugues by J S Bach and did learn one or two of the bigger
Bach numbers.
I love hymn improvisations that have the majesty and breadth of pieces that
would be played in a cathedral. Some of these hymn arrangements that I find
are dreadful!
Any ideas!
Robert McMenis
