Complete Organ Method A Classic Text on Organ Technique

by Stainer, John; Harker, F. Flaxington

• ISBN13: 9780486430799
• ISBN10: 0486430790
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-12
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

Sir John Stainer is remembered today as a pioneer of English musicology. Beyond his duties as organist of London's St. Paul's Cathedral, he was a founder and president of the Musical Association, professor of music at Oxford, vice-president of the Royal College of Organists, and later president of both the Plainsong and Medieval Music Society and the London Gregorian Association. In this highly readable volume, Stainer's objective was "to place the true principles of organ playing before the beginner," so that the student would "face at once the special difficulties of the instrument and persevere until they are surmounted." He begins with a brief history of the instrument followed by an explanation of organ construction, a thorough discussion of the various stops and their management, and a major section devoted to practical study -- including detailed pedal technique, precision in manual touch, hand-foot independence, pedal scales, trios, and finger substitution to achieve a perfect legato. With the author's meticulous explanations and accompanying illustrations, students can actually teach themselves to play. Sir John's book, first published in 1877, quickly became the classic for beginners -- so popular that publishers Schirmer, Ditson, and Presser each issued its own "Americanized" edition in the early twentieth century. In addition to the seven organ pieces of the original edition, including five of Stainer's own works and two pieces by Guilmant, three additional works round out this Dover edition. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Original Edition
Editor's Preface
A Short Sketch of the History of the Organ	p. 1
Ancient Flutes
Flutes on a Box of Wind
Primitive Bellows
Reed- and Flue-pipes
Keys for the Hands
Keys for the Feet
Sliders
Two or More Rows of Keys
Portatif and Positif Organs
Swell Shutters
Horizontal Bellows
Concussion Bellows
Composition Pedals and Combination Pistons
Pneumatic Lever
Improvements in Organ-pipes
Harmonic Stops
Addenda to Part I	p. 8
Pneumatic and Electric Actions
Tubular Pneumatic Action
Electric Action
Adjustable Combination Action
Reversible Pedals or Pistons
Tremulant
Automatic Suitable Bass
Universal Air-Chest
Stop Switch
Crescendo Pedal
Double Touch
Stop-Keys, or Tilting Tablets
Melodic Coupler
Duplex Chest Action
Inclined Manuals
Spherical Pedal-Board
Short Explanation of the Construction of an Organ	p. 12
Tracker Action from Key to Pallet
Sticker, Backfall, Tracker
Arrangement of Pipes
From Bellows to Pipes
Trunk, Wind-chest, Pallet, Groove, Slider
Couplers
Tubular Pneumatic Action
Electric Action
Stops and Their Management	p. 19
Tone-quality
Length of Pipes
Classification of Stops: Double, Foundation, Mutation, Compound
List of Chief Manual Stops, Flue and Reed, with Character of Tone
List of Chief Pedal Stops
Combination of Stops on each of the Manuals from pp to ff
Combination of Pedal Stops
Use of Solo Organ
Manual Couplers
Special Stops invented by Hope-Jones
Care of the Swell Organ
Balanced Swell Pedal
General Remarks
Use of the Swell Pedal
Management of Stops
Practical Study	p. 30
Difficulties Peculiar to Organ-playing
Position on Bench
Straight and Radiating Pedal-Boards
Principles of Pedalling
Free Ankle-joint: Exercises
Method of Pedalling without Looking at Feet: Exercises
Manual Touch: Its Characteristics
Position of Hand: Exercises
Scale-Passages on Pedals
Use of Alternate Toes: Exercises
Independence of Hands: Exercises
Independence of Hands and Feet: Exercises
Toe and Heel: Exercises
Each Hand Separately with Feet: Exercises
Scale-Passages
Easy Trios
The Legato Style
Exercises for Shifting the Fingers
Exercises on the Legato Touch
Supplementary Pedal Studies
Double Pedal
Sliding Foot from One Key to Another
Hints on Organ-Accompaniments: Hymn-Tunes, Chanting, Gregorian Chant
Chorales and Hymn-Tunes
Extended Passages for the Feet
Expression on the Organ
Conclusion--Allegretto in F (Stainer)
Andante in A (Stainer)
Fantasia in E minor (Stainer)
Adagio in E[flat] (Stainer)
Prelude and Fughetta in C (Stainer)
Cantilene pastorale (Guilmant): Playing on Two Manuals with One Hand
Caprice in B[flat] (Guilmant): Rapid Change of Manuals
Savior of the Nations, Come (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland) (Bach)
Andante religioso, from Sonata in A, Op. 65, No. 4. (Mendelssohn)
Prelude and Fugue in C (Bach)
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.