Today I'd like to share with you my rendition of Three Lenten Preludes by Tamsin Jones which I played live during one On the Bench with Vidas episode. Hope you will enjoy it!

Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/three-lenten-preludes-23005154.html?aff_id=454957

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

Today I'd like to share with you Ave Verum of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I recorded it at Vilnius Holy Cross Church. This little church in the middle of Vilnius old town has an old 19th century 1 manual and pedal organ with 11 stops of anonymous builder. Many years ago I had my first job as an organist here. It was fun to try it out again. Hope you will enjoy it!

Organ specification: http://vargonai.lt/vargonai_vilnius_bonifratru.htm

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

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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

Today I'd like to share with you my rendition of one of the most beautiful hymn preludes by Phil Lehenbauer - Welsh Wanderings (Rhosymedre). I recorded it at Zion Lutheran Church in Walla Walla, NSW, Australia. Hope you will enjoy it!

Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/welsh-wanderings-rhosymedre-organ-work-by-phil-lehenbauer-21860216.html?aff_id=454957

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

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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-

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 723 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Filippa, and she writes:

​Hi Vidas,

1. My dream would be for the idea of improvisation not to make me very nervous and to be something I can do with some degree of confidence!

2. The 3 things holding me back are: chord progressions and harmonizations while improvising, not practicing improvisation like I practice my repertoire, and needing lots more SUPER simple videos like you share to help me learn.

I would love to see more videos about simple improvisations- I am a great organist, but improvisation is (and has always been!) a major “black hole” for me- and I am getting a lot out of your videos about harmonization, chord progressions, and simple improvisation. More of these simple videos, or ones that build on the video would be most helpful.

For example, I used the techniques in the “Auld Lang Syne” video to make an improvisation on St. Brendan’s (They’ll know we are Christians”) as it is also pentatonic -in an ABA format (I’m going to use a bicinium for the B part I think).  But it was something you mentioned could be done to expand in the Auld Lang Syne video, and I’m working on it as something for communion for a job interview.

I think you do a really excellent job of explaining things very simply- I have made it a goal for 2025 to work on the techniques you are sharing for improvisation, rather than just “being stuck to the page”. I need it so simply and clearly explained.

Thank you!
Filippa Duke

V: And I wrote to her: Filippa: Thank you! I'm glad you are finding my tutorials helpful. More to come every Sunday. For the best use, re-watch the ones that resonate with you the most to internalize these techniques and apply them in your practice with different hymn tunes in order to become more confident in improvising.  If you find my teachings helpful, you can always say thanks by buying me some coffee or becoming a subscriber here: buymeacoffee.com/organduo.  So that was a long question, but basically, Filippa needs advice on improvisation, right, Ausra?

A:  Yes, and I think my answer would be you just need to practice more, doing improvisation, because she wrote that she is a great organist, so if she can play, let’s say, difficult repertoire, then what stops her from being an excellent improvisator? And I can answer that as well, because she does not spend enough time improvising, that’s it.  If she would spend equally as much time on repertoire and on improvisation, she will be as good improviser as she is…of course now she’s probably too late to be as good improviser as she is performer.  But it only means she would need to spend more hours learning how to improvise, rather than playing from page.

V:  Definitely. I think she wrote one of the things holding her back was not spending, not practicing improvisation like she practices her repertoire. So, that’s obvious.

A:  That’s some of the problem…solution.

V:  But the reason she’s not spending enough time on improvisation probably is because it is frustrating to start at the beginning, because she started probably as a repertoire player or a hymn player on the organ, not an improviser, and when you start to improvise, one thing is you don’t know where to start, and two is, even if you know where to start, your skills are so simple at the beginning, maybe you want, you know how to do it, what to do it, but your practical abilities are so limited at this point, only to theoretical things are easy in your head to understand, but that’s the problem with everyone starting.

A:  Well, I would not so be sure about, that it’s easy for you to understand the theory, because what she talked about learning chord progression, all that kind of stuff, I’m always wondering that most of organists, and in general most of musicians can play really technically challenging repertoire without understanding what they are playing.  Not being able to analyze what they are playing not looking at the score, how the piece is put together, what chord progression different composer uses, and what the form is, and so on and so forth.  Because when you are just a little child, you already can play, say Minuet from Anna Magdalena’s book, but I really doubt that most of the kids could say in which key they are playing and what is the form of the piece, and in general what the Minuet is for, and so on and so forth.  And if you would ask about cadences, I doubt that any of the kids would even know what the word ‘cadence’ means.  So it seems like our head is always way behind of what we are playing.

V:  I see the notes on the sheet, music on the score, right, and we simply play those notes on the keyboard or the pedals without understanding why those notes are on the score.

A:  Yes.

V:  That’s how most of the teachers teach.  It’s easier this way.  Put a score in front of a kid and say, “Play this, play this note for that long, and move on to the next note.”  But if we’re talking about improvisation, obviously my video is probably helpful for this matter, and that’s why I set out to do those weekly tutorials, “Learn with Vidas” sessions, not only to teach what I find it helpful to teach, but also to teach what people request me to teach.  Sometimes they have requests, so really I try to adapt to people’s tastes and abilities and requirements, and people can take away things like techniques that I use and apply in their own hymn tunes, not necessarily the same thing that I’m teaching, copying what I do, but just technique taken from the video could be applied to many other tunes.

A:  Yeah, that’s a very useful tool.  I hope people appreciate what you are doing, because you are really spending a lot of time, it would be nice to get more appreciation from people who really watch your videos.

V:  Yes. So obviously, I love seeing people succeed, I love seeing people use those techniques, not only in theory but also in practice.  So if you are using my advice from those videos, Filippa or any other listener, or from Ausra’s tutorials in the past, she has done quite a few, so let us know.  Of course we would be delighted to know what are you doing with this advice.  So let us know.  We would be delighted to share with you too.

A:  Yes.

V:  OK.  And obviously, I will keep producing those tutorials, and for example, last tutorial on Sunday was about expanding a piece, because my friend James Flores with whom I was in Australia noticed one situation - I was being asked to improvise for a mass on Vigil Sunday, so it was Saturday evening, and James would play hymns, and I would play sort preludes to those hymns, like prelude before the mass, before the entrance hymn, and then I think it was communion, meditation before the communion hymn, and then I think it was the postlude.  Three pieces I improvised during that mass.  And James noticed that I kind of expand improvisation in any way I want - I can make it as short or as long as it is needed.  And this is a beautiful tool to have in the liturgy because you don’t know how soon you have to end, right, Ausra?

A:  Yes.  That’s a very useful skill.  Not only playing at the mass, but also, as we often play at the ceremonies, official ceremonies, graduations and other…

V:  Yes, obviously you can take a piece of music and repeat a section, that would be one of the things you can do to expand it, but another is to simply keep improvising in the same style, using similar chord progressions, similar key relationships, and also similar melodies.  But then finish with a cadence which is meaningful and sort of complements the original piece.  So it’s useful for many situations.  Even in recital playing, I have done it in the past, improvising a part of the music - let’s say my page turn was wrong, somebody turned the page to the wrong direction, I would have to supply a few measures of unknown music to me. Or I forgot how it sounds, I wouldn’t want to freeze or panic, so I just kept going in the same direction, but it was different than it was written in the score, and when the real correct page turn happened, I quickly found the place and then gradually connected my playing with the original piece and seamlessly went on.  I even have one video playing from memory Bach’s C Major prelude from Well Tempered Clavier, it started like original Bach, but then I forgot how it sounds, and I had to keep going, using my own harmonies, but the same techniques that Bach uses.  So that was like a hybrid.  It wasn’t difficult to do at all, actually.  You just have to keep producing new harmonies, and applying the same texture that Bach uses.

A:  Amazing.

V:  It’s not amazing.  It’s ridiculously simple.

A:  Yes.

V:  As Sietze de Vries used to say…

A:  You need to be brave, and you need to be a little bit risk taker, and a little bit insane I would say.

V:  Insane.  No, not insane.  You don’t even need to take a big risk.  For example, big risk would be when lots of people are listening to you, right?  But smaller risk is when you are improvising during liturgy when people are just gathering.  Or going to communion.  And nobody is really paying attention to what you are playing, and the most important thing is not to stop, right, not to correct mistakes if there are any mistakes.  Just keep going and end confidently, right?  Beginning and ending has to be confident.  And middle could be whatever you want it to be.

A:  Well said.

V:  Just like in storytelling or telling jokes.  The beginning is very important and the punchline.  And the middle part is, you fill in the material basically.  All right.  So I hope this was helpful to you.  Please let us know more of your questions.  We love helping you grow.  And remember, when you practice,

A: Miracles happen.

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This is my original meditation on the beloved Welsh hymn tune Rhosymedre in the key of F major for organ solo. It will be effective for liturgical and concert organ playing whenever contemplative music is desired. Dedicated to my friend James Flores. Recorded at St. Stephen's Uniting Church in Sydney, Australia.

Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/meditation-on-rhosymedre-op-285-by-vidas-pinkevicius-23040045.html?aff_id=454957

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-

Today I'd like to share with you our duet rendition of Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by G.F. Handel which Vidas and I performed during Doctor Honoris Causa ceremony at Vilnius University St. John's church. Hope you will enjoy it!

Score for organ solo: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/arrival-of-the-queen-of-sheba-arr-for-organ-solo-22482307.html?aff_id=454957

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

Just in time for Holy Week, today I'd like to share with you the reed organ view video of Via Crucis by Franz Liszt from the live concert at Vilnius University St. John's Church on April 12, 2025. The piece was performed by three Vilnius University choirs "Virgo," "Gaudeamus," and "Pro Musica," conducted by Rasa Gelgotienė. The solo parts were sung by soprano Aistė Pilibavičiūtė, mezzo-soprano Nora Petročenko, tenor Edgaras Davidovičius, and bass Nerijus Masevičius. The event was organized by VU Culture Center.

I played the organ part on the pedal reed organ and Ausra assisted me. I had a second camera positioned on the organ balcony for the general view but this video was deleted by accident. Hope you will still enjoy it!

The choirs prepared for this concert in a special way – before the performance, they had the opportunity to rehearse with world-renowned pianist Mūza Rubackytė. On Holy Saturday (April 19), this piece will be performed in the historic Compiègne Palace in France, where it will be presented by the joint Vilnius University choir together with Mūza Rubackytė.

VU Culture Centre: https://www.kultura.vu.lt/en

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

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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-

Today I'd like to share with you this powerful chorale fantasia Lobet den Herren by Nils Wilhelm Gade (1817-1890), Danish Romantic composer which I have performed at the recital last October, right after the organ at Vilnius University St. John's church has been newly renovated by Janis Kalnins and his team from Latvia. Hope you will 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/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

Welcome to Episode 39 of On the Bench with Vidas series! Join me for an engaging livestream of organ music, featuring a program of sacred and secular pieces. The selection will include both organ repertoire and improvisations, offering a friendly environment for a live chat. Feel free to send me your requests. Hope you will enjoy it!

Today's sample set - Sweelinq Peterskirche, Görlitz (DE), Mathis organ, (1997/2024, 4/Ped/94)

PROGRAM:

00:00 1. Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 549
Score with fingering and pedaling: https://secrets-of-organ-playing.myshopify.com/products/prelude-and-fugue-in-c-minor-bwv-549-by-bach?_pos=1&_sid=98c3316d1&_ss=r
11:55 2. Demonstration of Sweelinq Peterskirche, Görlitz sample set
37:40 3. Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis - Fuguette in G Minor, VL 91
39:39 4. M.K. Čiurlionis - Fuguette in A Minor, VL 92
41:13 5. M.K. Čiurlionis - Fuguette in C Minor, VL 93
46:26 6. Vidas Pinkevicius - Meditation on Rhosymedre, Op. 285
Score: coming soon on SMP
54:01 7. Vidas Pinkevicius - Processional on All Glory, Laud, and Honor, Op. 281
Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/processional-on-all-glory-laud-and-honor-op-281-organ-solo-by-vidas-pinkevicius-22945556.html?aff_id=454957
59:53 8. Tim Knight - A Little Suite: Fanfare-Intermezzo-Finale

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

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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-

Today I'd like to share with you this beautiful hymn prelude on "Melcombe" from the Set 1 of 10 Hymn Preludes by English/Canadian organist/composer Healey Willan (1880-1968). Hope you will enjoy the sounds of VU Aula Parva organ which was recently renovated by Janis Kalnins and his team from Latvia!

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-