12 Ideas for Organists Who Enjoy Harpsichord music

By Vidas Pinkevicius (get free updates of new posts here)​​​​​​

Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day in Lithuania. In the morning I also had a fascinating podcast conversation with the Italian organist and harpsichordist Maurizio Croci (the Artistic Director of Organ Academy in Fribourg, Switzerland) about his new CD "Bach Mirrored".

​This project is based on the concept to find out Bach's harpsichord and organ works that are based on similar patterns and creative procedures.

Here 12 ideas that I learned from him:

1. Harpsichord helps organists to develop a better technique.
2. Harpsichord technique is meant to prolong sounds.
3. Organ technique is meant to make the sound more clear.
4. Intabulations were a standard practice among organists in the 16th and 17th centuries.
5. Same affects are valid for the same keys.
6. Bach's harpsichord and organ works often have commonalities.
7. Is it true for music of other composers as well?
8. Children love interdisciplinary events.
9. Variety is key in early music programming.
10. When composer creates, what comes first: keys or patterns?
11. In the 16th and 17th centuries all organists played any keyboard instrument of the day, including organ, harpsichord or clavichord.
12. For early music loving organists harpsichord is as essential as piano for enthusiasts of French symphonic style.

Next time I'll play or listen to Bach's harpsichord works, I'll make sure to check for correlations with his organ works.

If this topic is interesting to you, stay tuned for March 12 when my conversation with Maurizio goes live.