secrets of organ playing - when you practice, miracles happen

Elevation in D Major | Louis Alfred James Lefebure-Wely | Hauptwerk Salgareda

8/14/2022

I wish more of such beautiful organ music would be sounding during Roman Catholic Masses today. I recorded this Elevation in D Major by Louis Alfred James Lefebure-Wely while on vacation in Palanga near the Baltic Sea with Ausra. She did the camera work behind the scenes. Hope you will enjoy my folding MIDI keyboard and the sounds of Hauptwerk Salgareda sample set!

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

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

PayPal: https://PayPal.Me/VPinkevicius

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-RKg

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How to Play a Recital Every Week?

8/13/2022

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My friend from Australia James Flores yesterday made a video about how to make progress in your practice. It's an excellent instructional video where James talks about 3 levels of pieces we should be learning every day. I highly recommend you watch it here if you haven't already done so:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrXfyY6ilZo

While listening to his video I decided to take it even further and adapt to my needs which would allow me to play a 30 minute recital every week. This video is dedicated to my friend Rien Schalkwijk from the Netherlands who asked a question how do Ausra and I prepare for recitals. This video answers his question from my part and I hope Ausra will record a separate video about her process soon.

I also talked about the importance of improvisation so if you are interested in learning to improvise a chorale partita, please watch this video: youtu.be/Y6vhx_gNWZI

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

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

PayPal: PayPal.Me/VPinkevicius

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

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

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

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

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TODAY our organ got the MIRROR!

8/12/2022

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Communion in C Major | Louis James Alfred Lefebure-Wely | Hauptwerk Salgareda

8/11/2022

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I hope you will enjoy these sweet sounds of Communion in C Major by Louis James Alfred Lefebure-Wely on the bench next to the Amber Museum while on vacation in Palanga. I have used Hauptwerk Salgareda sample set and my folding MIDI setup. Thanks to Ausra for filming!

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

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

PayPal: https://PayPal.Me/VPinkevicius

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-RKg

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SOPP688: The main problem with being an organist is that you usually can't practice at home because most people don't own organs and even so...probably not a pipe organ!

8/10/2022

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Vidas: Hello and welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast!

Ausra: This is a show dedicated to helping you become a better organist.

V: We’re your hosts Vidas Pinkevicius...

A: ...and Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene.

V: We have over 25 years of experience of playing the organ

A: ...and we’ve been teaching thousands of organists online from 89 countries since 2011.

V: So now let’s jump in and get started with the podcast for today.

A: We hope you’ll enjoy it!

V: Hi guys! This is Vidas.

A: And Ausra.

V: Let’s start episode 688 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Rita, and she writes:

I am learning a lot from your episodes. I am a trained pianist but also play organ. The main problem with being an organist is that you usually can't practice at home because most people don't own organs and even so...probably not a pipe organ! There are many true organists that utilize all the stops and use both feet seamlessly. Because I now play on 4 different organs… I want to give the listeners/participants the best experience. My suggestion is to focus on the easiest registrations… easiest way of just knowing how to prepare for playing the quickest and easiest way. Practice makes perfect so my goal is to gain access to my 4 churches and devote practice time to each organ. Thank you again for your helpful lessons!

V: What do you understand from Rita's message, Ausra?

A: Well, actually, she has access to 4 different organs, and that’s very nice.

V: And she is transitioning from piano to the organ, true?

A: Yes, that’s very often the case with church musicians especially.

V: Right. And probably she wants to know how to use the stops and both feet seamlessly.

A: Yeah, that’s often the case, and a problem for pianists who start to play the organ.

V: She didn’t write what is she playing, that’s the problem.

A: What kind of those four different organs there are.

V: Yeah, with incomplete information like this, we can only just imagine, you know, make some guesses. Obviously, probably she’s not playing much organ repertoire. I would guess that she’s playing more hymns than repertoire.

A: Could be. I’m not sure.

V: Would you think that playing hymns alone she will improve with her feet and registrations?

A: Well, a little bit, yes. But not completely.

V: Mm hm. So obviously she needs more varied approach to her playing and probably to surprise her congregations with organ preludes and postludes.

A: Yes.

V: And even communion pieces. Communions usually are soft; postludes could be loud. But preludes could be both, right?

A: Yes, depends on the occasion and on the time of year.

V: And offertories, offertories also sometimes possible to play if the choir is not present, there is more time.

A: And if she is playing during service and the organ has set-up knobs, she could do the registrations in advance.

V: You mean like combinations?

A: Combinations, yes. And for example, if she plays from four different organs, I don’t know how different they are. But on those instruments that have combinations, she needs to have it set up, at least a few levels during the service that would help her during the service to be quick and efficient in changing registrations. That would be good for solo pieces and also for hymn accompanying.

V: I found in my improvisations on Hauptwerk at home that if I set up in advance six different dynamic levels plus some solo registrations, let’s say four more solo registrations, that will be already a little bit of variety to the pieces that they play. So those six levels could be pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte, and fortissimo. Fortissimo could mean full organ, correct?

A: Yes.

V: And then let’s say four different solo combinations could mean let’s say oboe in one hand, flutes in another hand; depends on some other reeds or solo stops that she has, but let’s say cornet would be nice. Cornet in the right hand part and a principal in the left hand part. Plus of course soft 16 and 8 foot stops in the pedals. Number 3 could be trumpet.

A: Yes, trumpet would be nice.

V: Trumpet against principal or two. And Number 4 - what do you think - probably softer.

A: Yes of course.

V: Suggest one, please.

A: Soft registration?

V: With solo combination.

A: Well if you have Vox Humana, I would use Vox Humana with tremulant.

V: Yes.

A: for a solo voice, and accompany with a soft flute.

V: That could be Number 4. If you have a little bit more, you could create mutations like Flute 8 and Nazard 2 ⅔ with tremulant against one little flute. That’s very beautiful. And things like that. You just experiment a little bit. Make one hand a little bit louder and accompaniment a little bit softer. Right? And you set up those combinations in advance, and when the time comes to play your piece or a hymn verse, you just press the button, the piston or toe stud if you have toe studs, and it’s easy then. But you have to practice those changes also. Don’t leave it for the performance day, unless you have lots of experience in playing different organs and changing registrations, those things have to be practiced diligently just as much as the pieces themselves. Okay. What else can we suggest?

A: Well, I think it is very happy that she has access to four different instruments, because that means she can learn to play on four different instruments at the same time. It’s very nice. Good experience for any organist. Because usually, some organists just stuck up on one instrument and then sometimes we have a problem adjusting to a new instrument when we have a chance of it.

V: Do you think four different organs means four different places also?

A: Yes. That’s a lot of driving or walking.

V: That’s a nice variety in acoustics, too.

A: Yes. But if it’s America, there might be no acoustics in those places, but I’m not sure.

V: We don’t where she is living, right?

A: Yes. But of course acoustics also adds to performance and how you play, what kind of tempo you select, and all that other stuff.

V: Yeah. And record yourself. That’s really important if you want to improve. Listen to your recordings as a listener, not as a player, but as a CD. Like, would you like to listen to such a CD when you record yourself. And if not, what’s wrong, how to improve it. If you be very specific, you can improve faster then.

A: Yes, recording is a very good suggestion, Vidas.

V: Thank you. So I think that should be helpful for starters. This was Vidas.

A: And Ausra.

V: Please send us more of your questions. We love helping you grow. And remember, when you practice,

A: Miracles happen.

V: This podcast is supported by Total Organist - the most comprehensive organ training program online.

A: It has hundreds of courses, coaching and practice materials for every area of organ playing, thousands of instructional videos and PDF's. You will NOT find more value anywhere else online...

V: Total Organist helps you to master any piece, perfect your technique, develop your sight-reading skills, and improvise or compose your own music and much much more…

A: Sign up and begin your training today at organduo.lt and click on Total Organist. And of course, you will get the 1st month free too. You can cancel anytime.

V: If you like our organ music, you can also support us on Buy Me a Coffee platform and get early access:

A: Find out more at https://buymeacoffee.com/organduo

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Two-Part Invention No. 13 in A Minor | Johann Sebastian Bach | Hauptwerk Velesovo

8/9/2022

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Today I'd like to share with you another video with Two-Part Invention No. 13 in A Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach which Ausra filmed me playing at the beach in Palanga. I used Hauptwerk Velesovo sample set and my folding MIDI keyboard to do this. Let me know if you enjoy it!

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

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

PayPal: https://PayPal.Me/VPinkevicius

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-RKg

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Two Part Invention No. 10 in G Major | Johann Sebastian Bach | Hauptwerk Velesovo

8/8/2022

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It was my pleasure to relax with Ausra during our vacation in Palanga and at the same time to record some charming music on our portable Hauptwerk setup. So today I'd like to share with you my rendition of Bach's Two Part Invention No. 10 in G Major. Hope you will enjoy the sounds of Hauptwerk Velesovo sample set!

Score with complete fingerings: secrets-of-organ-playing.myshopify.com/products/two-part-invention-no-10-in-g-major-bwv-781-by-j-s-bach?_pos=1&_sid=b72fa77fa&_ss=r

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

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

PayPal: PayPal.Me/VPinkevicius

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

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

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

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

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Two Part Invention No. 8 in F Major | Johann Sebastian Bach | Hauptwerk Velesovo

8/6/2022

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Today I'd like to share with you Bach's Two Part Invention No. 8 in F Major which I recorded earlier this summer while on vacation with Ausra in Palanga, a resort town on the Baltic Sea coast. Hope you will enjoy the sounds of Hauptwerk Velesovo sample set!

Score with complete fingering: secrets-of-organ-playing.myshopify.com/products/two-part-invention-no-8-in-f-major-bwv-779-by-j-s-bach?_pos=1&_sid=87e05591e&_ss=r

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

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

PayPal: PayPal.Me/VPinkevicius

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

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

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

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

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The Water Is Wide, Op. 145 | Vidas Pinkevicius | Holy Cross Minster, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany

8/5/2022

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This is my first video on the Klais organ at the Holy Cross Minster in Schwäbisch Gmünd while Vidas and I are waiting for our concert tonight. It's very hot here. Hope we will survive today's concert...

Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/meditation-on-the-water-is-wide-op-145-organ-solo-by-vidas-pinkevicius-2022-digital-sheet-music/22315376?aff_id=454957

Score: secrets-of-organ-playing.myshopify.com/products/meditation-on-the-water-is-wide-op-145-organ-solo-by-vidas-pinkevicius-2022?utm_source=copyToPasteBoard&utm_medium=product-links&utm_content=web

Score: www.sheetmusicdirect.com/en-US/se/ID_No/1156177/Product.aspx

More information about the organ: www.orgel-information.de/Orgeln/s/sa-se/Schwaebisch_Gmuend_Heilig_Kreuz_Muenster.html

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

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

PayPal: PayPal.Me/ausramotuzaite

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

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

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

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

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Two Part Invention No. 7 in E Minor | Johann Sebastian Bach | Hauptwerk Velesovo

8/4/2022

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Have you played Bach's inventions in the park on the bench? I have while on vacation with Ausra in Palanga. It can be done with this folding MIDI keyboard. Hope you will enjoy the sounds of Hauptwerk Velesovo sample set!

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

Score with complete fingering: secrets-of-organ-playing.myshopify.com/products/two-part-invention-no-7-in-e-minor-bwv-778-by-j-s-bach?_pos=1&_sid=94cec26ac&_ss=r

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

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

PayPal: PayPal.Me/VPinkevicius

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

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

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

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