Transcript Organ Registration Workshop

ORGAN
REGISTRATION
Workshop
Aram Basmadjian
March 13, 2008
Music
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Supports the Worship Program
Must adapt to worship objectives
The Primary Musician is ????
Good music supports worship and prayer
Bad music is distracting & inappropriate
Also an evolving aspect – more of an industry!
The Organ as the Primary
Instrument?
 Taken for granted by most people
 Considered the ultimate worship instrument
 Types of instruments
 Just a few more keyboards?
 Technological advances – benefits to the music
minister
 Other instruments: replacement, augmentation or
both?
Basic Service Playing
What does a congregation hear?
4’ Tone is Key to congregational singing
Fundamental sound is the Diapason family
Improbable to find an organ w/o diapason
8’ provides foundation, 4’ defines pitch
Registration
IS :the proper selection of stops (sounds)
IS NOT: the same thing as expression
Diapason “choruses” provide foundation
8’ & 4’ generally enough for hymns
Add 2’ as necessary
Where does one go from there?
Reeds FIRST!!!! (as available, of course)
Mixtures can be confusing to congregations
Divisional Information
 Great Division
Provides foundation
“bottom” keyboard
Main diapasons here
Flutes for singing?
Sometimes necessary
“Pitch Definition”
Mixture usually big
Reeds not always here
CAN be used as solo
 Swell Division
What does SWELL
mean?
“moderate” upperwork
“colors” usually here
Mixture can be useful
Reed chorus present?
What’s a Celeste?
WHY NOT for singing?
Greatest flexibility
Divisional Info, Continued
 Choir Division
Why called “Choir?”
Evolved over time
Lighter, more color
Sometimes “positiv”
Sometimes negative !!
Not always expressed
“icing on the cake”
 Pedal Division
Usually smaller
Foundation is 16’ tone
Best if “stand alone”
Couplers to pedal add but
can subtract, too
Less is better
Pitch definition is key
Diapasons vs. flutes
Hymn Playing
 Accompaniment or Leading??
 Most important aspect of service-playing
 Key ingredients:
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Registration
Introduction
“Play the Words, not the notes”
Changes / Modulations
Hymn Registration
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Remember 4’ tone
Diapasons are always the foundation
Use softer 2’ first, even if coupled
Reeds offer more sound, pure tone
Mixtures with Great Care!!
NEVER Celestes??
NEVER Tremulants??
Hymn Introductions
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First Impressions are Lasting!!
Consistent Registration
Consistent Tempo
Congregations are what count!!
But Congregations don’t COUNT. . . .
Changes at the wrong time stop the
singing
Hymn “Accompaniment”
 Remember to let people breathe (once in
a while). . . .
 Singing while playing? Some can do this
 Registration changes – where & when
 Expression: NOT a substitute for
registration
 “Playing the room”
Additional Items for Discussion
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Preludes and Postludes
Accompanying a solo singer
Accompanying an instrumentalist
Ensemble Playing
Weddings & Funerals – kinda the same
Keyboards, MIDI, Etc.
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Musical Instrument Digital Interface
Devices vs. People
Sampling – High Quality Sound
Sequencing: Hands-free Accompaniment
Music Software: a nightmare?
The Relentless Job
 Ministry takes commitment.
 Performance takes practice.
 Inspiration takes Clergy support.
 Big choirs take a miracle. . .
 Tenors take a bigger miracle.
Summary
 Practice Hymns!
 Try something new regularly.
 Know the Congregation you serve.
 Know the Clergy you serve with.
 Be Optimistic – God likes that!
 Never forget your own Spiritual Life.