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Yesterday I tested out my new portable Hauptwerk setup in the garden. It was really easy to assemble and set it up. Even easier to put it back to storage afterwards. I decided to play the 1st movement from Trio Sonata No. 1 in Eb Major, BWV 525 by J.S. Bach. Hope you will enjoy the amazing sounds of Velesovo sample set by Sonus Paradisi!
If you want to check out what exactly goes into my portable Hauptwerk setup, here's the post with pictures, videos and links to the products: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.html Thank you for your support! You get early access and I get to keep going. Buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo
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Today I was able to record the famous Veni Creator by Nicolas de Grigny using Hauptwerk Nancy sample set by Piotr Grabowski.
This suite has 5 movements: 00:00 1. Veni Creator en taille à 5 (Plein jeu) 02:34 2. Fugue à 5 05:42 3. Duo 08:58 4. Récit de Cromorne 12:41 5. Dialogue sur les grands Jeux By the way, I had to do it twice because Vidas forgot to turn off the microphone from one of the cameras and you could hear external noise. It was so frustrating that I didn't check the mic myself too. But in a way the first video served as a dress rehearsal for this one. Hope you will enjoy it! Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... Thank you for your support! You get early access and I get to keep going. Buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo I hope you will enjoy this beautiful chorale prelude Welsh Wanderings (Rhosymedre) by Phil Lehenbauer. I'm using Nancy sample set and my Hauptwerk setup.
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... Thank you for your support! You get early access and I get to keep going. Buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo Today I'd like to share with you A Mighty Fortress Suite by an American composer Phil Lehenbauer. It consists of 3 movements - Fanfare, Meditation and March. In the Fanfare we can hear jubilant invocations of the chorale tune Ein feste Burg. In the meditation the ornamented chorale melody in the soprano played by Krummhorn stop is juxtaposed with lush string sounds. In the March triumphant chords of the ritornello fills the listener with the positivity. All of this is wrapped into a colourful yet accessible predominantly Lehenbauer style. Hope you will enjoy the sounds of Nancy sample set by Piotr Grabowski on my Hauptwerk setup!
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... Thank you for your support! You get early access and I get to keep going. Buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo oday I went to Vilnius University St John's church and recorded Offertory on Liebster Jesu by Phil Lehenbauer. Hope you will enjoy the lush flute sounds on the Swell against the melody in the pedals on a juicy flute 4'!
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... Thank you for your support! You get early access and I get to keep going. Buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo Today I'm delighted to present to you Part 1 of the recital featuring music of Phil Lehenbauer, an American composer. Part 2 will be premiered next week. Hope you will enjoy the sounds of Nancy sample set by Piotr Grabowski on my Hauptwerk setup!
Please visit Phil's channel on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/OrganGuyPhil PROGRAM: 1. Soaring Praises Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/soaring-praises-homage-to-u-s-air-force-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-digital-sheet-music/21833635?aff_id=454957 2. Creator of the Stars of Night Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/creator-of-the-stars-of-night-conditor-alme-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-digital-sheet-music/21832946?aff_id=454957 3. Postlude on "Divinum Mysterium" Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/postlude-on-divinum-mysterium-of-the-father-s-love-begotten-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-digital-sheet-music/21834797?aff_id=454957 4. Welsh Wanderings ("Rhosymedre") Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/welsh-wanderings-rhosymedre-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-digital-sheet-music/21860216?aff_id=454957 5. Palm Sunday Procession Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/palm-sunday-procession-valet-will-ich-dir-geben-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-digital-sheet-music/21967274?aff_id=454957 6. Prelude on "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today" Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/prelude-on-jesus-christ-is-risen-today-easter-hymn-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-digital-sheet-music/21822703?aff_id=454957 7. Fanfare on "Lasst uns erfreuen" Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/fanfare-on-lasst-uns-erfreuen-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-digital-sheet-music/21832942?aff_id=454957 8. Veni Creator Spiritus Score: www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/veni-creator-spiritus-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-digital-sheet-music/21814984?aff_id=454957 This program will continue next week with Part 2 of Phil's Lehenbauer's organ music. Stay tuned! Thanks so much for your support! Buy me some coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo Today was very hot and humid in the house and Ausra and I didn't use Hauptwerk in the music room because we didn't want to raise the humidity even more. Instead I brought out my Nektar keyboard with the stand and practiced Canzonetta in C, BuxWV 167 by Dieterich Buxtehude using Organteq software. It's a fun little piece full of ornaments which were treacherous to play on this very light keyboard. While I was practicing, I was also watering the garden with the hose. When the work on Canzonetta became close to completion, I decided to setup my keyboard outside in the garden and make a video. Let me know if you will enjoy these sounds as well as the views of our garden and Ausra's flowers.
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/... Thank you for your support! You get early access and I get to keep going. Buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo Yesterday I recorded Welsh Wanderings by Phil Lehenbauer and received very nice comments from quite a few people. One of them was Graham Twist, one of Vidas' and mine most vocal fans and supporters. After reading his praises both in Lithuanian and English I started to feel a little guilty that I haven't played any of his pieces yet. I intend to change that. So today I sat down at the organ bench at home and practiced his Idyll. Hope you will enjoy strings and flutes of the Nancy sample set by Piotr Grabowski on my Hauptwerk setup!
Score: Write to the composer at grahamstwist@gmail.com. Thank you for your support! You get early access and I get to keep going. Buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduo
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! Vidas: Hi guys! This is Vidas. Ausra: And Ausra. Vidas: Let’s start episode 660 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Vidas! By me! And, I've been struggling with mastering Part I of Trio Sonata No. 4 by J.S. Bach. For some reason it's harder to do than I imagined it would be. How do you like this question, Ausra? Ausra: Well, because you mentioned your imagination to me, maybe your imagination is poor, that you cannot imagine it will be as hard. Vidas: Luckily, I was able to record it and master this part after I submitted this question, but yes, it was a difficult part. It’s the Trio Sonata in E minor. And usually, the first movement easier than third movement, but in this Trio Sonata, it was the opposite. Ausra: Actually, I remember myself playing this Trio Sonata many years back, and I also screwed up the first movement. For me, it was really hard, that opening, because it starts sort of slowly and then it speeds up, and I don’t know, it’s really weird. Vidas: Can you ask me how I did it? Ausra: Well, yes, of course, because you are already asking yourself questions and you are talking with yourself, I think you reached sort of a new level of insanity! Vidas: Thank you! You’re very nice. I can share that while mastering this part and other parts as well, I’ve been following my 10 step method. (Ausra is already yawning). Why are you yawning, Ausra? Ausra: Because I cannot count up to 10. Maybe up to 3. Vidas: Okay. My method is rather boring to you. Right? But I still think it works, none-the-less. Ausra: I think it’s actually a wonderful method, and I think it’s my problem that I can’t cope with it because I don’t have enough patience, but I think it’s an excellent method. I think I would benefit a lot if I would use it more often. Vidas: Would you like me to be your teacher? Ausra: Maybe not. Vidas: I could teach you patience; annoy you 24/7! Ausra: I think you do that always with huge success already, so you don’t need to do any extra hard work in teaching me. Vidas: So anyway, the first step in mastering this Trio Sonata is obviously to watch my video, because I shared all those steps in my video. I will, of course, add the link into the description of this podcast so that other people can click and watch, but generally, the thing about this step, you kind of unwrap this Trio Sonata in practicing very small segments like one quarter note at a time, then you expand it into half note level, then a whole note level, then let’s say 2 measures at a time, four measures at a time, one line, two lines, one page, two pages, and then the entire piece. Ausra is already asleep. Ausra: Well, no, I’m laughing, actually. Well, it’s not how I learn Trios, but anyway, I think it’s a good method, especially for beginners. Vidas: Can you promise, Ausra, when you will play 6th Trio Sonata, you will share your own method with us in video? Ausra: Well, I just do simple work, actually. At least when I was a student, I would play two voices at the same time, let’s say both hands, then right hand and pedals, left hand and pedals, and then everything together. That’s the way how I learn to play Trios. Vidas: Yes, but could you demonstrate it on video? Ausra: Do you think people would be interested? Vidas: We’ll find out if anybody will comment. You know? But I think it’s good to share your process, too. Not only the result. What do you think? Ausra: Well, if you watch it I can do it for you. Vidas: And of course I will watch it. It’s good for your watch hours, too! Ausra: But of course, I don’t know how soon I will be able to work on that Sonata, because right now I am preparing for my next recital. Vidas: And what’s the program for that? Ausra: De Grigny – “Veni Creator Spiritus,” then Franck’s “Prélude, Fugue et Variation,” and the entire “Symphony no. 3” by Louis Vierne. Vidas: I am very glad you have taken up this program, because it will sound wonderful on the Nancy Cathedral sample set [note: “Nancy” spoken with a French accent]. Ausra: Yes, or Nancy as you call it. [note: “Nancy” spoken with an American accent] Vidas: It’s funny. So anyway, watch my videos, of course, with this part one of Trio Sonata, ten steps, and let us know if that helps. It did help to me! It was a big help for me to follow my own steps, and I write also one more thing on the sheet of paper or on the score somewhere in the corner, with pencil, I mark my repetitions. Let’s say I played this Trio Sonata from the beginning to the end one time, and I mark one like number one. Right? And if I play it a second time, I write number two, and I count those repetitions. How many do I have to do in order to prepare it for recording or recital. Would you like to find out how many did I do with this Trio Sonata? Ausra: The actual number scares me. Vidas: Could you hold the laptop, please? Ausra: Sure. Vidas: I will go to another room and get the score and we’ll see… So I got the score, and here is this Trio Sonata. You see what I mean, Ausra? Ausra: Yes, I see, but actually, it looks like if you would be on the island, the uninhabited island and you would have to count your days that you wouldn’t mess up! Vidas: Or in the prison. Ausra: Yes, or in a prison! That’s how it looks like. Vidas: It has 40 total repetitions. 40! Ausra: So why are you not writing numbers but only these tiny sticks? Vidas: It’s easier for me to write a stick than a number. Ausra: Okay. Vidas: So basically, people could write numbers if they want, but I wrote sticks, and each stick represents one repetition. But there are actually columns of repetitions, of sticks, which means one column is one practice session. So for example, in practice session number one, I repeated this movement five times, so I drew 5 sticks. Then the second time 5. 5, 5, 5, 5, so let’s count. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight practice sessions. Not necessarily 8 days, but 8 practice sessions. Probably, I sometimes practice twice per day. But 40 total repetitions. I think that’s a good result. Don’t you think? Ausra: I think it’s an excellent result. Vidas: It was still a little bit pushing my boundaries. I would have enjoyed it more if I had added 10 more repetitions. But between, let’s say, 40 and 100, I could do it easily. Anyone could do it easily… if they reach level where they can practice my steps successfully. If not, then the piece is too difficult for them. You see what I mean? Ausra: Yes. Vidas: Yes Master! Ausra: Yes Master! I’m doomed! Vidas: Wow. It’s so fun to teach my wife! Is it fun for you, too? Ausra: Yes, sure. Vidas: Okay, wait while we’ll turn off the recording. Ausra: Wait until you will become hungry. Who will feed you? Vidas: Sure. Your mom! Ausra: You can eat your Trio Sonata! All those steps. Vidas: Okay. So guys, I hope you enjoyed this conversation. It was fun for me to answer my own question, but I hope this was useful for other people as well if they are struggling with similar things that I do. Right? Ausra: Sure. Vidas: Okay, please send us more of your questions; we love helping you grow. And remember, when you practice, Ausra: 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 join our community on BMC and get early access to our videos. A: Find out more at buymeacoffee.com/organduo
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! Vidas: Hi guys! This is Vidas. Ausra: And Ausra. Vidas: Let’s start episode 658 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Manfred, and he writes: “Hello Vidas, I was not a novice on the pedal, since I played the church organ for a couple of years. When I started to look into nicer and more demanding pieces for organ, I felt I need a better technique at least for playing scales. Fortunately I found your Course in the internet, signed up and practiced the lessons every day over 12 weeks. It is amazing: My feet find the right keys without looking. Now I can play with both feet to both edges of the pedals, even with my heels. How did I play before? I tried to play an new piece. It is amazing how easy my feet play the notes almost automatically. Thank you very much! Manfred.” Vidas: So, this is a sort of a testimonial about one of my courses that Manfred is taking! Ausra: Yes, it’s a nice advertisement for you! Vidas: Let me check which course. Yeah, this is “Pedal Virtuoso Master Course.” Ausra: That’s what I thought from his description of it. Vidas: It is a rather demanding course, and not everyone is able to finish what they start. Ausra: But if they will finish it then they will have a really nice result! Vidas: Right. So before that, he played church organ, and played a little bit of organ music, but didn’t have a pedal technique, probably, for playing accurately. So he looked on the internet and he found my “Pedal Virtuoso Master Course,” and I’m very grateful that he wrote this testimonial. Maybe it will enable other people to start practicing from this course, or other people who haven’t finished. Maybe they will pick up and keep going. Ausra: Let’s hope for it! Vidas: What other advice would you have for Manfred, Ausra? Ausra: Well, I’m really glad that he improved his pedal technique, so now he can play more demanding organ pieces, which is very nice. He might enrich his church services, or even play a recital for his congregation. Vidas: What I recommend if Manfred is really serious about taking my advice, and it appears that he is, is to record his playing and to put it online. Share it with his congregation. Perhaps nowadays a lot of services are being done online, and he could put it on YouTube. You know? What do you think about it? Ausra: Well, I know that you basically record and publish everything that you are doing. I’m not that kind of person, but well, it’s up for everybody to decide, you know, how they want to do it, or if they want to do it. Vidas: Yes, but if they want my advice and they trust me, then they would improve even more, because the reason I’m suggesting this is our weekly contest. He could participate… Ausra: Well yes, but I would suggest for somebody to record themselves in order to listen back to them and to improve, because the improvement will be greater and faster if they will do that. But you know, I think only things that you have done really well you need to publish, and put it online. Vidas: Yes, but this weekly goal to share one piece, it’s a kind of good deadline for people. Not too much, not too little, just about right. Ausra: You know, it depends what kind of person you are and what kind of lifestyle you lead, because for somebody, it might be too stressful to record one piece per week at a high level. Don’t you think so? Vidas: Maybe that piece is too difficult then! Ausra: Well, but maybe you want to learn the longer piece which is more demanding, and you need to spend maybe a few months working on it. Vidas: Sure. Sure. Ausra: Because otherwise you might become an organist who plays always the pieces that are one or two pages long, and not improve much further. Vidas: With time, I think recording goes easier and people get used to the current workload and get easier over the longer pieces. I’m noticing it myself. Last week I recorded three movements from Trio Sonata, the entire Trio Sonata! Ausra: Well, not everybody has so much time to practice. Vidas: As are you? Ausra: Yes. And not everybody has a DMA degree, so don’t praise yourself too much. Vidas: Maybe I should praise myself a little more because… or not. Ausra: Because what? Vidas: Because I recorded Trio Sonata! You see? Ausra: Well, yes, I know, and everybody knows how wonderful you are. Nobody doubts it. Vidas: Okay, guys, I think you get the point. Ausra is different from me, so if Manfred would like to get a second opinion from Ausra, and of course it’s his choice to apply her advice. My advice is different, and well, exactly Ausra. I agree with you. Not everybody has the same goals. Not everybody has the goal to quadruple their results. That simple. And if they are happy with their current level, or improving just a little bit, then they can do what they’ve been doing! Ausra: Well, I’m just saying that people have other things in life as well, and for example, you live with the organ. For you this is the most important thing. You can spend 20 hours a day just doing what you really love and what you really like. You don’t have, you know, like daily duties like teaching full time or doing whatever full time. So you can learn a new Trio Sonata every day! That’s okay! But maybe a person has only a half an hour or an hour a day to practice at the most. Vidas: Wait, I’m not suggesting that Manfred or anybody else to record every day a Trio Sonata. I cannot do it myself, you know? Ausra: But that’s what you were talking about and praising yourself. Vidas: I was praising myself that I’m improving. You know? It goes faster—hard pieces. I think when Trio Sonata three movements is like 13 to 15 pages long, and I was able to do it in one week. Ausra: And I am only telling you that if you are learning or posting for the performance for the competition every week a new piece, that these pieces might be really short and sort of insignificant at first. Vidas: At first. Yes. So well yes, and everybody has their own situation and has to decide for themself what’s the next step. Right? We only can share with them what we are doing. Right? I’m sharing my story, you are sharing your story. That’s it. People can take or leave it. Ausra: Sure. Vidas: Right? Because otherwise they cannot really be forced into doing anything we say. Right? They will still choose to do or not to do. Right? Ausra: Sure. Vidas: Simple. Ausra: Yes, and you know, everybody has to find her or his own way of doing things. Vidas: True. Okay guys, thank you so much for sending these beautiful questions and testimonials. Please send us more of them; we love helping you grow. And remember, when you practice, Ausra: 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 join our community on BMC and get early access to our videos. A: Find out more at buymeacoffee.com/organduo |
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Authors
Drs. Vidas Pinkevicius and Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene Organists of Vilnius University , creators of Secrets of Organ Playing. Don't have an organ at home? Download paper manuals and pedals, print them out, cut the white spaces, tape the sheets together and you'll be ready to practice anywhere where is a desk and floor. Make sure you have a higher chair. |
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