Incidental Music for Mass

[claire]

Thank you all for the reminder of restraint at Advent and Lent - I had kept going willy nilly!

For 'coming in' music we usually rehearse the psalm - again despite weekly practices - at the request of my nervous soloists! We do it quietly!

Our pp has suggested we use the time before Mass to play over any 'new' hymns I am introducing to the congregation (quite often Tallis, Gibbons etc) in the year I have been a choir leader/sort of organist (ex pianist Grade 6-ish)

If you know the chord sequences of your preferred composers well, it is surprising how quickly your confidence for impovising grow. 2 years ago I wouldnt have even dreamed of it. Just try it at home - it works!! Hope this helps.

[JW]

Speaking of Lent, the GIRM and 'Praying the Mass' state that the organ should be used to support the singing only during Lent, with a dispensation for the 4th Sunday of Lent and Solemnities. Is the church saying that the ideal is us not to play during Lent - after all, if we had the choral resources we could go through the season using plainsong and polyphony that doesn't need the organ? Anyone know whether our cathedrals view it like this? If I don't play before Mass, the CDs go on....

4th Sunday of Lent: (keep it restrained?)

Start: Reflection, Betty Roe (p.90 of Mayhew Short & Easy Organ)
Communion: Herzlich Thut Mich Verlangen, Bach BWV 727
http://sca.uwaterloo.ca/Mutopia/ftp/BachJS/BWV727/bwv727-let.pdf for a printed copy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB-XDeCpBKk to hear it
End: Noblimente, Quentin Thomas (p.80 of Mayhew Short & Easy Organ)

[JW]

Easter Vigil / Easter Day (This is the time to try to be really inspirational. I tend to go for popular stuff at this time of year, much of what follows will be in wedding anthologies. Have linked a few YouTube performances - for interest/inspiration/motivation!)

Start: (not Vigil!): Bach, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRrApuSyblc
Rite of Sprinkling: Improvisation, Andrew Fletcher (p.148 of Mayhew Short & Easy - Pedals)
Communion: Pachalbel, Canon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP4-_75nigI
End: Stanley Trumpet Voluntary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHVF93VTlFc&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH9iDbUn7SU&NR=1

Easter 2: Still celebrating Easter Day...
Start: Chorale: Christ lag in Todesbaden, Bach, BWV 625
http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/bach/Orgelbuechlein/Bach_Choral_BWV625.pdf (you can also access a sound file from this site).
Communion: Handel's "Largo" (Ombra Mai Fu): (featured in Gareth Malone's "The Choir" last night)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy8jkYQEjqg
End: Jeremiah Clark, Prince of Denmark's March: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANnQ55tSZ90 or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7S9ubgKl-Q

[musicus]

Thanks, JW. Useful work, as always.

[JW]

Easter 3
Prelude & Fugue 2 from Bach: 8 Short Preludes & Fugues, BWV 554
hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIP2L7jeX6Y
Music here: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/bach/bwv553/Bach_Kleine_Praeludien_2.pdf
Communion: Brahms Chorale: Schmucke Dich O Liebe Seele, (No V of Eleven Chorale Preludes, published by Chester Novello)
Hear it here: http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N06410
End: Prelude & Fugue 4 from Bach: 8 Short Preludes & Fugues. BWV 556
Hear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W203FVuCK8E&feature=user
Music: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/bach/bwv553/Bach_Kleine_Praeludien_4.pdf

Easter 4
Stanley Organ Voluntaries (Op.5 set - the 1st one, Voluntary No8 , 1st movement at Start, 2nd Movement at Communion, 3rd Movement at end. Here it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhk9p6-XDOQ
The music for all the Stanley Voluntaries is here: http://icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/Stanley.php
If you need a longer piece at the start, Voluntary 9 is a good one.

Easter 5
Entry: Stanley, Voluntary 1 of Opus 5 Voluntaries. Hear it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmZ1x7Ojhn0
Communion: Chorale: Jesus, Meine Zuversicht, Bach, BWV 728 (in Book 18 of Novello edition and p. 30 of the Anne Marsden Thomas, Graded Anthology, Book 4). Hear it at http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/track268.htm
Exit: Prelude & Fugue No. 7 from Bach, 8 short Preludes & Fugues BWV 559.
Hear it at http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/track292.htm and you can access the score from the WIMA site linked from Easter 3 above.

Easter 6
Entry: Preludium in G minor, Matthias van den Gheyn,
http://icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/Gheyn.php
Communion: Offertoire ou Communion, Franck,
hear: url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-TFwwizrv4[/url]
Music: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/franck/fw41/Franck_L_Organiste_35_Offertoire.pdf
This is a long piece, but it is in sections, so you can shorten it. The final two sections work well as a piece.
Exit Toccata in G Minor, Pachalbel. Here it here: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/trak1766.htm
I can't find a link to a music download, but there is a Dover edition of Pachalbel's complete organ works, and it is on p.16 of "Easy Graded Organ Music, Book 1" published by Oxford University Press.

[JW]

And still the festivals come, I've tried to suggest music appropriate to the spirit of these feasts.

Ascension (I've suggested the plaintive Ashokan Farewell at the end to reflect the feelings of those left after the Ascension - and I love the tune - you may wish to end with something more festive)
Start: Trumpet Voluntary, Henry Heron, p.14 of Old English Organ Music for Manuals, 4

Communion Siciliano from Voluntary 1 Stanley Organ Voluntaries (Op.6 set - the 2nd one) Score: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/stanley/Op_6/Stanley_Voluntary_Op.6.1.pdf

End: Ashokan Farewell, Jay Ungar (sheet music, still very much in copyright) short video by the composer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx6dxrhqPZY&feature=related


Pentecost (this could be a day to improvise - Veni Creator Spiritus is a common improvisation subject. Here is an improvisation by top organist Daniel Roth during Communion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tioi59u0Kj8)
Start: Voluntary 10 of Stanley Organ Voluntaries, Op.6 set Music here: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/stanley/Op_6/Stanley_Voluntary_Op.6.10.pdf

Communion: Liebster Jesu Chorale Bach BWV 731 hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIRneV7SLBk
End: Boyce, Voluntary in C - CH Trevor, Old English Organ Music for Manuals, Book 1, p.16)


Trinity (Some triple - time music is suggested) The pieces for the Start & Communion can be found in CH Trevor's Old English Organ Music for Manuals, 4 (p. 16 & 24)

Start: Wesley, Air & Gavotte
Hear it here http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N03023 (this is a Novello arrangement with Pedal)
Here is the version he wrote - no pedals and thinner harmony http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hN0BsAeH3Q&NR=1

Communion: Diapason movement from Voluntary 2, Stanley Organ Voluntaries (Op.6 set ) (p.24)
Sheet music here http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/stanley/Op_6/Stanley_Voluntary_Op.6.2.pdf

End: Nun Freut, Euch Lieben Christen G'mein, Hieronymus Quehl, p 42 of Ann Marsden Thomas Graded Anthology Book 4

Corpus Christi (All Catholic Composers with music composed for Catholic liturgy - the little that is known of Domemico Zipoli is intriguing)
Start: Fantasia on Adoro Te Devote, Alexandre Boely (p.31 of Trevor, Easy Graded Organ Music, Book 1)
Communion: Zipoli, Elevazione hear it here http://digilander.libero.it/alebeat/organo.htm Score here: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/zipoli/Zipoli_14.Toccata_Elevazione.pdf
End: Zipoli, Canzona in G minor, hear it here: http://digilander.libero.it/alebeat/organo.htm Score here: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/zipoli/Zipoli_11.Canzona_Gm.pdf

[dmu3tem]

Here is something rather different from that listed so far.

Why not experiment with instruments in addition to the organ/keyboard? Or just have a piece of music for
instruments other than a keyboard?

This sunday (2nd after Easter) with the former we did a couple of slow movements from a sonata for violin
and keyboard by Albinoni at communion. The keyboard parts work really well on our digital organ, perhaps because
Albinoni may have intended them for a pipe organ as an alternative to a harpsichord. (Opus 6 No. 6 in A minor, for example in my edition is marked up for organ). In other words they fall into the genre of 'Church sonatas'. You can also add on a cello or bassoon (we have the latter) as part of the continuo bass.

Notice how they are planned. The key feature with each movement is the use of terraced dynamics. In the sonata we
played the two movements fall into three sections, the first marked 'f', the second marked 'mf', the third marked 'p'.
It is clear that these are Albinoni's directions, not some editor's additions. On a two manual harpsichord, you can then see
how this would have been realised. The opening section is done on the 'full' instrument with the two keyboards coupled together. The 'mf' section is done on the 'great' manual, and the 'p' on the 'swell' manual. All you therefore have to do is apply the same principles to a 'conventional' two manual pipe or digital organ heightening the contrasts through your judicious selection of different sets of stops. No need to waddle around on the pedal board either except perhaps for slow sustaining chords.

The actual 4 movement (slow-quick, slow-quick)structure is also potentially attractive from a liturgical point of view viz:
Movt 1 running into Movt 2: Voluntary before the service.
Movt 3 (slow recitative type piece): Play at communion.
Movt 4 (relatively fast 6/8 gigue): Play at the end of the service after the final hymn.

If you follow this pattern you will note that Albinoni often uses the same basic material, including the over-arching structure
in all four movements.

You can do the same sort of thing with many other sonatas by Baroque composers. The Church Sonatas for 2 violins and continuo by Correlli are well known. Indeed it is clear that Albinoni knew of them. Bach certainly copied Albinoni's own sonatas. If you want English composers try the super set of 12 Trio Sonatas by William Boyce.

On the instrumental non-keyboard front I have frequently performed duets for Clarinet and Oboe, Clarinet and Flute, Clarinet and Violin, Clarinet and Bassoon. I have also plans to perform a (scarifying) set of 6 variations on 'Hail Queen of Heaven' for Violin, Clarinet and Bassoon.

Thomas Muir

[organist]

I have a really useful book called "After the last verse" published by Mayhews and I also have Mawby's "Hymns for occasions". It can be good to use a free harmonisation not on the last verse but afterwards to fill in after the last verse. I am very restrained in Lent avoiding the big diapasons and trumpets so they came back with a real punch at Easter. The Murray interludes are lovely and really work (even on the piano). I've got a wealth of organ music of all periods but I still think Bach is the tops - the Orgelbuchlein is full of seasonal and other treasures. I have a delightful 2 part piece for Easter on "Christ lag in todesbanden" by Bach and it only uses the pedals at the end. And I definitely think silence is golden. Some pieces stand on their own as masterpieces and any quiet improvisation after them is to be discouraged. Having said this a couple fo summer school workshops did free me up to try making up things and sometimes it really works well!

[JW]

Just had to post this - came across it this evening and it made my evening. Looking at similar posts there seem to be some very talented young organists in the Netherlands at the moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaY3ORoX6Vw&feature=related

[organist]

Thanks for sharing - am posting this to my blog! What talent!

[JW]

Some of Samuel Wesley's short pieces are well worth investigating for Service Music. They are for Manuals only and are fairly easy to play. I have an OUP book of a selection edited by Robin Langley from which the Communion and Final Music in Sundays 9 & 10 is taken.

Sunday 9:

Start: Short Prelude & Fugue in C, attr. Bach BWV 553.
Music here: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/bach/bwv553/Bach_Kleine_Praeludien_1.pdf
Here the Fugue hear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZnoJbQ7plk There are also (some distinctly odd) links to the Prelude

Communion: No X from 'Wesley, 14 short pieces'
End: No XIII from 'Wesley, 14 short pieces'

Sunday 10:
Start: You could play some plainsong while people are coming in - I frequently get appreciative comments when I do this. Anything from the Masses, or see the suggestions earlier - I think it was Docmatic.
Communion: No VI from 'Wesley, 14 short pieces'
End: No XIV from 'Wesley, 14 short pieces'

[JW]

In the summer, you might want to keep practice to a minimum, but still try to play a variety of pieces. Here's what I'll be playing for Sundays 11, 12, 13 and SS Peter and Paul (replaces 14) this year. Much of it is from the excellent OUP Old English Organ Music Series. Enjoy!

Sunday 11
CH Trevor: Old English Organ Music, 1
Start: Pastorale, Charles Wesley, (p.14). Hear it here http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/trak2573.htm. Incidentally, this Charles Wesley is the eldest son of the hymn writer - the link on 'Virtually Baroque' is to the wrong Charles Wesley!
Communion: Grave, John Alcock (p.15)
End: Fugue in F Minor, Charles Burney (p.22).
Hear it here: http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N06296

Sunday 12
CH Trevor: Old English Organ Music, 2
Start: Diapason Movement, John Keeble, (p.6) Hear it here: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/trak2435.htm
Communion: Adagio, John Bennett, (p.10)
End: Voluntary in G Minor, Thomas Roseingrave, (p.12). Sound: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/track676.htm

Sunday 13:
CH Trevor: Old English Organ Music, 2 (except for final voluntary....)
Start: Voluntary in E Minor, John Stanley (p.18) Opus 6 No IX All Stanley scores can be found here:
http://icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer/Stanley.php
Communion: Adagio, Diapason Movement from Trumpet Voluntary in D by William Goodwin, (p.08) Hear it here: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/trak2439.htm
End: Beethoven, Ode to Joy. There is a good version here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEIe73fX5D4 and a very easy score here. http://www.free-scores.com/download-sheet-music.php?pdf=8305

SS Peter & Paul
Some (fairly easy) 3-stave music, as it's a major Solemnity, using the CH Trevor edited: Progressive Organist Book 1, published by Elkin:
Start: Trio (Op.49, No.4) Josef Rheinberger, (p.28)
Communion: Prelude (Op.21, No.7) Gustav Merkel, (p.14)
End: Fughetta (Op. 37, No.2) Gustav Merkel, (p.12)

[organist]

I have quite a lot of organ music (about 500 individual volumes in all) so if you are in need of easy organ music let me know and I'll see if I can help. Postage is expensive these days so a contribution towards that would be appreciated.

[JW]

Some suggestions for July. It's odd that there are only two Catholic composers (I exclude S. Wesley as he was not a Catholic for long) in these suggestions. Perhaps we need more Catholic organ composers of easy music? The 19th & 20th French school of Catholic organists, whilst having produced incredible music, are generally way beyond the capacity of me, the congregation I serve and the organ in my church. Mr. Muir, you need to publish!!

14th Sunday
Following Nazard's comments about lack of 21st Century music, the latest I have is Mayhew's 'Short & Easy Organ Collection'. These 3 pieces are copyrighted 2000, so they're not quite 21st Century.

Start: Improvisation', Andrew Fletcher (p.148)
Communion: Serenade, Betty Roe (p.162)
End: Meditative Postlude, June Nixon (p.188)

15th Sunday
Going back into the 20th Century and some suggestions from '148 Interludes for Organ', another Mayhew publication;
Start: (1) No. 7, Dom Gregory Murray, (2) No.12, Andrew Moore
Communion: No. 116, Noel Rawthorne
End: No. 104, Dom Gregory Murray

16th Sunday
Not a lot of easy music in the Romantic and Modern periods, so forgive me if I jump back to the turn of the 18th Century and my favourite English organ composer, Samuel Wesley. Despite being nephew to John and son of Charles, he converted to Catholicism for a brief period at the age of 18. That must have caused some family debate These are from my copy of 14 Short Pieces (OUP, ed. Langley)
Start: No II
Communion: No XII
End: No IX (or No VII as IX is harder than it looks!)

17th Sunday
Time, perhaps, for some Buxhtehude Chorales:
Start: Chorale "Vater Unser Im Hemmelreich", BuxWV 219
Sound: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/track820.htm
Score: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/buxtehude/BuxWV219/Buxtehude-VaterUnser.pdf

Communion:
Chorale, "Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland", BuxWV 211
Sound: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/track331.htm
Score: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/buxtehude/BuxWV211/Buxtehude-NunKomm.pdf

End:
Chorale, "Wir Danken Dir, Herr Jesus Christ", BuxWV 224
Sound: http://www.virtuallybaroque.com/trak1640.htm
Score: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/buxtehude/BuxWV224/BuxWV224o.pdf

[organist]

Look out for Colin Mawby's pieces on Gregorian chant and I have some attractive pieces by Franck and Vierne for manuals only.