secrets of organ playing - when you practice, miracles happen

Is it a good thing to put your hands on the bench during pedal solos?

6/11/2025

Dear friends,

Here's what we found worth sharing with you this week:

1. SOPP731: Is it a good thing to put your hands on the bench during pedal solos?
2. Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene - Meditation on Christe Sanctorum, Op. 33
3. Jeanne Demessieux - Veni Creator, Op. 8 No. 8 | Hauptwerk Alessandria
4. Johann Sebastian Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 Part III, BWV 1051 | Kiruna, Sweden
5. Live Organ Music - On the Bench with Vidas No. 46 | 2025-06-06
6. Vidas Pinkevicius - Buzzing Fields, Op. 324 (Piano Solo)
7. Vidas Pinkevicius - Hammock Dreams, Op. 323 (Piano Solo)
8. Vidas Pinkevicius - Evening Glow, Op. 322 (Solo Piano)
9. Vidas Pinkevicius - Beneath the Old Oak Tree, Op. 320 (Piano Solo)
10. Vidas Pinkevicius - Veni Creator Meditation, Op. 321 (Organ Solo)
11. Vidas Pinkevicius - Summer Rain, Op. 319 (Piano Solo)
12. Vidas Pinkevicius - Wildflowers in Bloom, Op. 318 (Piano Solo)

Thanks for reading! This newsletter is free but not cheap. If you like our work and want to support it, you can buy us coffee or forward it to someone who’d like it. If you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can subscribe here.

And remember, when you practice, miracles happen!

Vidas and Ausra
www.organduo.lt

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SOPP731: Is it a good thing to put your hands on the bench during pedal solos?

6/11/2025

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Let's start episode 731 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Dan and he writes:

Interesting podcast episode here, on pedal technique, Vidas. You talk about putting hands on the bench during pedal solos. I’ll often do this, as I’m not playing anything in the manuals. Would you say this is a good thing to do, technically speaking? Or would you advise organists that you’re working with, to keep their hands on the manuals, so they can be ready for when manual parts come back in? Speaking of playing baroque music with toes only, with the Toccata, from BWV 564, and the pedal solo that it has in it, how would you play the part that has triplets in it, as smooth as possible? This is a bit in that pedal solo in that toccata that I've always not gotten as smooth as I’d like it to be, and as smooth as I’ve heard organists generally play it.

Enjoy the conversation!

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I'm afraid to play Bach's Trio Sonatas

6/4/2025

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Dear friends,

Here's what we found worth sharing with you this week:

1. SOPP730: I'm afraid to play Bach's Trio Sonatas
2. Learn with Vidas - How to Improvise Passacaglia | 2025-06-01
3. VU Organ Studio "Unda Maris" Recital | VU St. John's Church | 2025-05-31
4. Johann Sebastian Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 Part II, BWV 1051 | Kiruna, Sweden
5. Live Organ Music - On the Bench with Vidas No. 45 | 2025-05-30
6. Vidas Pinkevicius - Aurelia Triumphalis, Op. 314 (Organ Solo)
7. Wedding Music - VU St. John's Church
8. Vidas Pinkevicius - Benediction Light, Op. 313 (Organ Solo)
9. Vidas Pinkevicius - Celestial Breath, Op. 312 (Organ Solo)
10. Vidas Pinkevicius - Amen of the Soul, Op. 311 (Organ Solo)
11. Vidas Pinkevicius - Golden Hour, Op. 317 (Piano Solo)
12. Vidas Pinkevicius - Waves and Wind, Op. 316 (Piano Solo)
13. Vidas Pinkevicius - Sunlit Meadow, Op. 315 (Piano Solo)

Thanks for reading! This newsletter is free but not cheap. If you like our work and want to support it, you can buy us coffee or forward it to someone who’d like it. If you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can subscribe here.
And remember, when you practice, miracles happen!

Vidas and Ausra
www.organduo.lt

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SOPP730: I'm afraid to play Bach's Trio Sonatas

6/4/2025

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Welcome to episode 730 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast! This question was sent by Benas, our student at Vilnius University organ studio "Unda Maris" and he writes:

After learning to play Bach's Trio Sonata in Eb major, I found myself reluctant to try and explore the rest of the Trio sonatas. What could I try to overcome this fear?

Last year, I played Bach's Trio Sonata in E-flat major (BWV 525) at Vilnius University Unda Maris Studio Recital in winter. I found the entire learning process extremely difficult compared to any other piece I tried to learn. Usually, when I am learning to play any piece of music, at some point I get a certain feeling that it's all going to come together eventually and that has been a good predictor of whether I will perform it well in the concert. However, with this piece, I could not feel that at all and my concert performance was really not up to my liking, making an underwhelming result after practicing it for about a year (although I must admit, the practice schedule was not very rigorous). As a result - I am really reluctant to try to learn the rest of the Trio Sonatas. However, at some point in life, I would still like to learn them. Any tips to overcome this "fear" and strategies for my next practice sessions?

Many thanks!!

Trio Sonata No. 1 in Eb Major, BWV 525 by Bach with fingering and pedaling: https://secrets-of-organ-playing.myshopify.com/products/trio-sonata-in-eb-major-bwv-525-by-bach?_pos=1&_sid=a4ab43be2&_ss=r

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Is there a way Total Organist would help me develop my skills faster than where I’m at now

5/28/2025

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Dear friends,

Here's what we found worth sharing with you this week:

1. SOPP729: Is there a way Total Organist would help me develop my skills faster than where I’m at now?
2. Prelude in G (Dorian) III by Franz Tunder with fingering and pedaling
3. Learn with Vidas - How to Improvise a Suite on Veni Creator Gregorian Chant Tune
4. Live Organ Music - On the Bench with Vidas No. 44 | 2025-05-23
5. Georg Böhm - Prelude in F Major | VU Aula Parva
6. Johann Strauss Jr. - Künsterleben Waltz, Op. 316 (Organ Duet) | VU St. John's Church
7. Nils Wilhelm Gade - Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern | VU St. John's Church
8. Vidas Pinkevicius - Inner Radiance, Op. 310 (Organ Solo)
9. Per aspera ad astra (Piano Improvisation)
10. Vidas Pinkevicius - Streams of Mercy, Op. 309 (Organ Solo)
11. Vidas Pinkevicius - Kyrie of the Heart, Op. 308 (Organ Solo)
12. Vidas Pinkevicius - Echoes of the Divine, Op. 307 (Organ Solo)
13. Vidas Pinkevicius - Grace Descending, Op. 306 (Organ Solo)
14. Vidas Pinkevicius - Voices from the Depths, Op. 305 (Organ Solo)
15. Vidas Pinkevicius - Sanctuary of Silence, Op. 304 (Organ Solo)

Thanks for reading! This newsletter is free but not cheap. If you like our work and want to support it, you can buy us coffee or forward it to someone who’d like it. If you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can subscribe here.
And remember, when you practice, miracles happen!
Vidas and Ausra
www.organduo.lt

Comments

SOPP729: Is there a way Total Organist would help me develop my skills faster than where I’m at now?

5/28/2025

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Let's start episode SOPP729 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Nick and he writes:

Hi there! Been following your site for a while (and even bought a few pieces). I just recently stepped up to learn organ for my church – it’s a Catholic traditional Latin church, so I’m being asked to play hymns, interludes, and to accompany chant when I can. It’s been a while since I’ve been at the keyboard – so I’ve started myself over in theory books (currently in book 4 of a 10 book series) and am doing my best to start to learn pedals. I’ve been working with a local teacher here who is a concert organist and we’ve been going through the New Oxford Organ Method book along with Flor Peeters’ Little Organ Book. I recently saw that you all have the total organist course and I’m interested – however I also don’t want to make the mistake of grabbing too many resources. I’m emailing to get some insight into the course – is there a way it would be able to help me develop my skills faster than where I’m at now? Or, would there be a course or two that you’d recommend for purchase that would help me? Thanks for a great website – I’ve been enjoying the content so far (and used your Laetare Sunday prelude before Mass this year – so thank you for that!)

God bless,
Nick

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SOPP728: Prolific Composer James Michael Stevens: "Try to Go Slow But Never Stop"

5/21/2025

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Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast No. 728! It's Vidas and usually we do these conversations with Ausra but today I’m delighted to speak with a very special guest—someone whose music has brought inspiration, beauty, and calm to listeners and performers around the world.

Dr. James Michael Stevens, joining us from Nashville, Tennessee, is a remarkably prolific composer, pianist, and educator. He currently serves as the Dean of the School of Music at Welch College, and his creative output is nothing short of astonishing. With thousands of published compositions, Dr. Stevens has developed a signature style that blends lyrical grace, spiritual depth, and heartfelt simplicity.

Many of his works, especially his meditative piano pieces, have become favorites among church musicians, educators, and recording artists alike. His music resonates deeply with people looking for comfort, peace, and emotional honesty—and more recently, it has also found a home in the repertoires of organists.

In this episode, we’ll explore how James approaches composition and stays so remarkably productive. We’ll discuss how he balances creative flow with discipline, what inspires the emotional tone of his music, and how sacred themes guide his writing. We’ll also talk about his experiences in music education, the challenges and rewards of publishing, and what advice he would give to aspiring composers and church musicians today. Enjoy the conversation!

James Michael Stevens Website: https://www.jamesmichaelstevens.com/welcome.html

James Michael Stevens All music at Sheet Music Plus: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/category/arrangeme/?q=James+M+Stevens+Music+ASCAP?&aff_id=605733

James Michael Stevens Organ Solo Music at Sheet Music Plus: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/category/instruments/piano-and-keyboard/organ/organ-solo/?prefn1=artists_composers&prefv1=James+Michael+Stevens&aff_id=454957

James Michael Stevens on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7oMHPMTAKVFtskAXuQ4u1k?si=vk9WqmheTUWEfnAAJpUGIA

You can support this channel by becoming a member here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO4K3_6QVJI_HlI5PCFQqtg/join

If you like what I do, you can buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo

PayPal: https://PayPal.Me/VPinkevicius

We support Ukraine: https://www.blue-yellow.lt/en

My Hauptwerk setup: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.html

Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online: https://www.organduo.lt/total-organist

Secrets of Organ Playing - When You Practice, Miracles Happen! https://organduo.lt

Listen to my organ playing on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ckKPIvTWucoN3CZwGodCO?si=YWy7_0HqRvaZwBcovL-

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3 Dances from Braunsberg Tablature | 1 stop organ (Toornvliet, 1975) | St. Joseph Church Haarlem

5/15/2025

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Today I'd like to share with you 3 Dances from Braunsberg Tablature. I recorded it on 1 stop organ (Toornvliet, 1975) when Ausra and I visited St. Joseph Church in Haarlem. Thanks so much to Erik Jan Eradus for his hospitality!

00:00 Chorea
00:49 Dance I
03:35 Saltarella

Score: http://fontesmusicae.pl/notes-editions-c-series

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SOPP727: Is this an embarrassingly slow tempo for BWV 624?

5/14/2025

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Let's start episode 727 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Gene and he writes:

My question is tempo, on BWV 624: Hilf Gott, dass mir's gelinge by J.S. Bach. I'm amazed that I can play it pretty well, and it sounds pretty good on my funny, little house organ. Fluit 4, on the triplets and to Pedal. Cantus on Principal 8. I can play it @75, metronome, mostly. Soon, I will be able to do it, start-to-finish. Of course, I listen to people on YouTube playing it much faster. Is this an embarrassingly slow tempo? What should be a goal?

Hope you will enjoy this conversation!

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May 09th, 2025

5/9/2025

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ogether with Vidas, on Wednesday we performed an inspiring organ duet concert in Bodø Cathedral, Norway 🇳🇴. From Ukrainian 🇺🇦 and Lithuanian 🇱🇹 themes to original works, this lunchtime recital program celebrates the spirit of freedom through powerful and emotional music. Thank you everyone who came to listen to us play! Thanks to George Chittenden for invitation and hospitality! Hope you will enjoy the video!

PROGRAM:

00:00 Variations on the Ukrainian National Anthem for organ duet, Op. 226 by Vidas Pinkevičius

Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/variations-on-ukrainian-national-anthem-op-226-organ-duet-by-vidas-pinkevicius-22432710.html?aff_id=454957

10:33 Reverie for organ duet by Juozas Naujalis

Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/reverie-by-juozas-naujalis-arr-for-organ-solo-22792168.html?aff_id=454957

14:02 Fugue “Kyrie eleison” by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis

Score: https://22ca72d9-c365-4fff-8c25-87b773cd3fa4.filesusr.com/ugd/bf51ff_b46cd6e415134ca69d339b24adee7171.pdf

17:45 The Narva March, Op. 247 by Vidas Pinkevičius

Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/the-narva-march-op-247-organ-solo-by-vidas-pinkevicius-23060040.html?aff_id=454957

23:30 Four Lithuanian Folk Songs for organ duet by Kristina Vasiliauskaitė

Score: https://www.mic.lt/en/database/classical/published-scores/3627/

31:49 Prayer to the Sun, Op. 26 by Aušra Motūzaitė-Pinkevičienė

Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/prayer-to-the-sun-op-26-organ-solo-by-ausra-motuzaite-pinkeviciene-22793090.html?aff_id=454957

36:29 Hey, Sokoly for organ duet, Op. 225 by Vidas Pinkevičiue

Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/hey-sokoly-op-225-organ-duet-by-vidas-pinkevicius-22431657.html?aff_id=454957

🎹 Performed on the majestic Eule organ of Bodø Cathedral.

Organ specification: https://biof.no/Bodo-domkirke/?Article=18

If you like what I do, you can buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo

PayPal: https://PayPal.Me/ausramotuzaite

My Hauptwerk setup: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.html

Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online: https://www.organduo.lt/total-organist

Secrets of Organ Playing - When You Practice, Miracles Happen! https://organduo.lt

Listen to my organ playing on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2pXxZgiFPMKiqBRYi9rSLT?si=Xe1nTroTSmOGPtv8bP8MSw

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<<Previous

Is it a good thing to put your hands on the bench during pedal solos?

SOPP731: Is it a good thing to put your hands on the bench during pedal solos?

I'm afraid to play Bach's Trio Sonatas

SOPP730: I'm afraid to play Bach's Trio Sonatas

Is there a way Total Organist would help me develop my skills faster than where I’m at now

SOPP729: Is there a way Total Organist would help me develop my skills faster than where I’m at now?

SOPP728: Prolific Composer James Michael Stevens: "Try to Go Slow But Never Stop"

3 Dances from Braunsberg Tablature | 1 stop organ (Toornvliet, 1975) | St. Joseph Church Haarlem

SOPP727: Is this an embarrassingly slow tempo for BWV 624?

May 09th, 2025

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