The organ is one of the oldest instruments in Western music, and its
sound has inspired many of the greatest composers from the past half a
millennium from Bach through to Messiaen. The full possibilities of
the instrument, however, have often been overlooked. Orchestration
textbooks tend to mention the organ only in passing, with little
practical advice for the composer to latch onto. Many organ books will
explain technical jargon and how the organ is designed, but do not
discuss what should actually be written in the score. This book, on
the other hand, offers a practical guide for composers on how to write
idiomatically for the instrument with the aim of helping them exploit
the instrument's full timbral and technical potential. It provides in
depth advice not only on notation but also the full resources of the
modern organ, including dedicated chapters on registration, writing
for manuals and pedals, and using the organ in ensembles, among
others. Multiple musical examples are quoted from across the history
of organ repertoire, with a particular focus on contemporary composers
and music. There is advice tailored to non-classical musicians, such
as guidance on virtual instruments. The online companion website to
this book provides video demonstrations, chapter summaries, sample
organ stop-lists and other useful further resources. In summary, the
goal of this book is to show not just what organ music was, or what it
is, but what it can be.
Les mer
A Composer's Guide
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780197645314
Publisert
2023
Utgiver
Oxford University Press Academic US
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter