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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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 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 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 The Water Is Wide, Op. 145 | Vidas Pinkevicius | Holy Cross Minster, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany8/5/2022 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 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
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. Vidas: Let’s start episode 685 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Odubiyi, and he writes: “My dreams for the Organ is to be a master on the Organ. Things holding me back: light, faulty pedal notes, spending too much time without getting much progress. Art of performance” Vidas: That’s a tricky question. Right Ausra? Ausra: Yes, it is. Vidas: Let’s decipher it a little bit. Unpack it, so to say. The dream. Master on the organ. Right? Odubiyi needs to master the organ, which kind of sounds like a general dream. Ausra: Yes, very general. Vidas: Not very specific. We need more information. What kind of music does he like to play? What kind of organs does he have to play? Right? Ausra: What is his background as a musician? What kind of experience does he have? But from his note, it seems that he doesn’t have much experience and probably doesn’t practice a lot. Vidas: Or doesn’t know what and how to practice. Ausra: Could be, too. Vidas: So there are some variables. Right? If Odubiyi, let’s say, wants to practice music on the, let’s say, general organ, general style organs, eclectic style organs, that might be with pistons, electro-pneumatic action. Right? It’s one thing. Unless people want to practice on the Baroque organs. Right? Ausra: Yes. From what I understand, he doesn’t get much progress, and he cannot get the right pedal notes. That’s what I see from his question. Vidas: That’s good! That’s good! You deciphered well, I think… Ausra: Well, and that I draw a conclusion that he doesn’t practice enough, or maybe he practices in the wrong way. Vidas: Okay, so Odubiyi probably needs to spend quality time with pedal playing. Correct, Ausra? Ausra: Yes. Vidas: And how would you improve your pedal playing if you were him? Ausra: I don’t know... if I would be him… Vidas: Would you play exercises, or would you play hymns, or would you play organ music? Ausra: Probably I would do a combination of all of these three. If I would have an hour, let’s say, I would maybe do 10 minutes of exercises and then 15 minutes of hymn playing, and the rest of the time would practice the repertoire. Vidas: Would you add some improvisation to that? Ausra: Well yes, of course, especially if he is a church musician. Of course, he didn’t mention that, but I assumed that he probably is. Vidas: What does it mean in his sentence, “light faulty pedal notes.”? “Light.” What does “light” mean? How do you understand it? Ausra: That’s a very interesting description. Vidas: Faulty pedal note… Ausra: Faulty… no, that’s the wrong notes, probably. Yes. Vidas: Right. Ausra: ...but light… Vidas: Light… maybe short? Pedal notes too staccato… Ausra: Well, could be. Vidas: Could be. Or in general, passages that are written for pedals that he plays are not difficult to play—they’re light. Easy. Right? Could be that way, too. Ausra: But if they are easy, then why make mistakes in playing them? Vidas: Maybe they are not easy to him! Ausra: Well, could be. Vidas: So, you suggest he would do some combination of practice of hymns, exercises, repertoire, and improvisation. Correct? Ausra: Yes. Do you think there is a magic way how to improve your organ performance without significant practice? Vidas: No. No, no. Probably not. You have to be very decisive about what and when and how to practice, and for how long, and stick to it. Right? I think a good measure of progress is picking the same piece that you haven’t been able to play three months before and checking. So Odubiyi could make a test like this; take a very difficult organ piece with pedals and try to play it now, and start practicing the right way, and in three months, he could check that same pedal passage again, and see if it’s easier. Ausra: Yes, that’s a good suggestion. Well everything in organ actually takes time. You know? And in all the other areas of your life, if you want to improve and you want to be really good at something, you need to spend quality time and to put some effort into it. Vidas: Yes! Let’s say I was Odubiyi and wanted to play hymns. Right? So I would do combinations of practice the way people like to play organ pieces as well. Treat hymns like organ pieces, and would start practicing separate lines—Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass. Then two part combinations—Soprano/Alto, Soprano/Tenor, Soprano/Bass, all those combinations, and then three part combinations, and then 4 part texture. After I can do each step three times in a row without mistakes in a slow tempo, then I can go on to the next step. That’s very specific, and Ausra is smiling. Why are you smiling? Ausra: While you were mentioning all these steps, I could have already learned a new hymn! Vidas: Well, yes and no! But if you don’t have any skills, you have to start somewhere, you know? And the best way to start is to be very, very precise. And my way of teaching, and I believe yours, too, is not playing any way you want, but very specific at the beginning. Maybe for a few months, even for a few years until you are satisfied with your progress. Right Ausra? The same is if Odubiyi wants to practice organ music. Pick one, two, or three pieces, but not too difficult pedal lines, and again play separate lines. If this music is polyphonic, then play four-part texture or three-part texture separately. One, two, three. Right? But if it’s homophonic—if it’s a melody and accompaniment, you can do hands separately, pedal line separately, both hands together, right hand and pedals, left hand and pedals and then all parts together. But again, be very very slow with your practice and aim for three correct repetitions in a row. Ausra: Yes, that’s a very good suggestion. Vidas: Same thing if you do exercises. Pick one exercise and do it three times in a row without mistakes before going to the next one. Right? Ausra: Yes. Vidas: Same thing with improvisation. Pick one texture that you want to master, then don’t go on to the next one until you can do it three times in a row without mistakes! Ausra: Yes, and it takes patience, you know, and commitment. Vidas: And record yourself. That’s very good. Not only audio, but video, so that you would see your body movements or positions if your body is moving too much, for example. If your hands are moving incorrectly, if your feet are banging the pedal board. Right? Your movements have to be very economical. Right? Ausra: Yes, that will help you in the future to master harder pieces. Vidas: Can we recommend some course to Odubiyi? Ausra: Well, Pedal course probably. Vidas: We have two. “10-Day Pedal Playing Challenge,” and then “Pedal Virtuoso Master Course.” This is a little longer course. So, for starters could be “10-Day Challenge…” Ausra: Yes, I think so, too! Vidas: ...and then if they like it, they can go on to the next one. Ausra: Sure! Vidas: “Pedal Virtuoso Master Course.” Alright guys! We hope this was useful to you, and please send us more of your questions; we love helping you grow. This was Vidas, Ausra: And Ausra! Vidas: 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 support us on Buy Me a Coffee platform: A: Find out more at https://buymeacoffee.com/organduo Yesterday I watched a fun Italian travel memoir by my friend Rien Schalkwijk which you might enjoy too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8tj-VLvd4o Afterwards I remembered that I also played a concert in Italy back on 2015 July 4. It was in Chiesa di San Nicola di Bari, Monteprandone, Ascoli Piceno, Marche. Surprisingly this concert was never published on YouTube so today I'd like to share it with you. Thanks to Gianluigi Spaziani for invitation and for my friend Paulius Grigonis for turning the pages! Let me know if you enjoyed it! PROGRAM JOHANN LUDWIG KREBS (1713-1780) CLAVIERÜBUNG (1752/1753) PART 1 00:00 Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr 06:18 Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten 10:13 Jesu, meine Freude 15:26 Christ lag in Todesbanden 20:49 Auf meinen lieben Gott 25:33 Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut 32:40 Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan 37:18 Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott 44:18 Von Gott will ich nicht lassen 48:52 Jesus, meine Zuversicht 54:56 Postlude in G Major, improvisation 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 When Ausra and I visited Palanga last month, we went to the famous bridge which leads to the Baltic Sea. I always wanted to make a video there playing my folding MIDI keyboard but this time the weather was quite windy. I was afraid my little keyboard would get blown away along with the iPad from which I used the score to play. That's why in this video you see me placing them on the ground instead at the handrails which I did last summer. So anyway, I think this little two part invention in D minor sounds great on the Hauptwerk Velesovo sample set and Ausra did a fine camera work. Let me know if you enjoyed it! Score with complete fingering: secrets-of-organ-playing.myshopify.com/products/two-part-invention-no-4-in-d-minor-bwv-775-by-j-s-bach?_pos=1&_sid=765a4f7e7&_ss=r My Hauptwerk setup: www.organduo.lt/tools.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/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 Today I decided to record these 6 beautiful pastorales from Op. 139 by Luigi Bottazzo (1845-1924), Italian Romantic composer and organist. Hope you will enjoy the sounds of Hauptwerk Alessandria sample set! 00:00 Preludio Pastorale, Op. 139a 02:50 Preghiera Pastorale, Op. 139b 06:26 Canzoncina Pastorale, Op. 139c 09:04 Melodia Pastorale, Op. 139d 12:48 Musetta, Op. 139e 16:12 Postludio Pastorale, Op. 139f 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 |
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Drs. Vidas Pinkevicius and Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene Organists of Vilnius University , creators of Secrets of Organ Playing. Our Hauptwerk Setup:
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