Category: Christmas Music

Variations on Adeste fideles, Op. 21

12/20/2017

In the fall of 2013 my friend and colleague, Paulius Grigonis who is the organist at St Joseph church here in Vilnius was preparing to play a recital at Vilnius Cathedral around Christmas time. He approached me asking for advice about the pieces he could be playing.

I offered him to compose a set of 6 variations on the famous Christmas tune Adeste fideles and he agreed too much hesitation (too bad).

I started working on the composition but got stuck at the end of the 5th variation. I used major and minor chords only. My goal was to create something colorful and modern and yet understandable to the listener.

Because of these simple chords the harmonies are very clear and transparent. What makes it sound modern though is that I avoid traditional chordal progressions of the perfect fourth and perfect fifth. This would imply tonic-dominant, dominant-tonic, tonic-subdominant, subdominant-tonic relationship.

But I didn't want this. I wanted to surprise my audience and my friend Paulius. So I chose all kinds of progressions - minor and major seconds, minor and major thirds, even a tritone to keep it fresh.

However, the result was too difficult to play for Paulius on a short notice and I got side-tracked with other projects. Although the idea of completing the variations never left me.
So last weekend I sat down and added the last variation with a CODA.

I hope you'll enjoy this piece which is dedicated to Paulius.

8 pages, PDF score. Advanced level.

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Christmas organ music recital video

12/26/2016

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

Merry Christmas!

I hope you will enjoy the video of my latest Christmas organ music recital "In dulci jubilo":

Video Part I
Video Part II

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Playing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus

12/21/2016

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

One of my subscriber's recently asked me if I didn't have a practice score with fingering and pedaling of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus at which point I said I intend to do it soon (I was still working on my Daquin's Noel and .Buxtehude's Wie schon leuchtet der Morgernstern).

As many of my readers might be aware, I caught a virus the other day and even had to play a recital while being sick. But now things are better and I'm slowly regaining my strength.

And today I'm ready to share with you my newest PDF practice score of this famous piece.

As always with the Baroque music, the fingerings and pedalings are notated in the way which will help you achieve the desired articulation (Articulate Legato) almost without thinking.

You can check it out here (50% discount is valid until December 28).

Hope you enjoy practicing it but most importantly stay healthy this Christmas season!

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Playing Noel and Wie schon leuchtet

12/14/2016

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

It's this time of the year, when most of us play Christmas-related music (My recital "In dulci jubilo" is this Saturday).

Would you like to learn to play the famous D'Aquin's Noel and delightful Wie schon leuchtet by Buxtehude (both of them are manuals-only pieces).

If so, check out my new practice scores with complete fingering:

Daquin Noel and Buxtehude Wie schon leuchtet der Morgernstern (50 % discount is valid until December 21).

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In time for Christmas: In dulci jubilo

11/30/2016

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

What pieces will you play this Christmas?

I've been going through some of my pieces practicing for my December 17 Christmas organ music recital "In dulci jubilo" in my church.

For this event I plan to play some of the most famous pieces and arrangements suitable for this festive season. "In dulci jubilo" by D. Buxtehude, J.S. Bach and Johann Michael Bach, Sinfonia and aria "Schlafe, mein Liebster" from Christmas Oratorio, chorale preludes "Nun komm" and "Wachet auf" by J.S. Bach, chorale fantasia "Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern" by D. Buxtehude, "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" by J. Brahms, Pastorale from Christmas Concerto by Archangelo Corelli, Noel by Louis-Claude Daquin, Offertoire sur deux Noels by A.Guilmant and my own improvisations on "Silent Night" and perhaps some other music.

Would you like to learn to play the famous chorale prelude "In dulci jubilo" by Johann Michael Bach (formerly attributed to J.S. Bach)?

If so, check out my PDF practice score with complete fingering and pedaling written in. It's composed in a very easy trio texture.

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A Christmas Musical Surprise

12/25/2014

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Discover Your Christmas Greetings

This year I couldn't think of a better musical present to my readers than this:

Recital of Organ Improvisations on the Story of the Nativity

1. The Annunciation
2. Joseph and Mary Travels to Bethlehem
3. Jesus Is Born and Laid in a Manger
4. Shepherds Are Keeping Watch Over Their Flock at Night
5. The Appearance of an Angel
6. Heavenly Host Sings "Glory to God in the Highest"
7. Shepherds Run to Bethlehem
8. Shepherds Find Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
9. Shepherds Come Back Glorifying and Praising God
10. Jesus Is Visited by the Three Wise Men from the East

Merry Christmas!
PS A musical surprise from Pinkevicius Organ Duo

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Common Christmas organ music trap

12/6/2014

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Christmas is not far away and I hope you have thought about your organ music selections for this season. As you consider what pieces you will play for a church service or recital, I want you to be aware of this trap which is choosing popular Christmas music arrangements of lesser musical quality. Although this kind of music might appeal to some listeners right now, in the long run it might hurt your reputation, credibility, trust, and your position as an inspirational leader in your community.

Here are some signs that a piece on the popular Christmas carol is worth your (and your listeners') attention:

1. Melodies are not monotonous and have intentional direction.
2. Rhythms are unified but also augment each other in various parts.
3. Harmonies are stylistically appropriate and colorful.
4. Dynamics display the tune and other parts in a most comprehensible fashion.
5. Registration cleverly uses resources of the instrument and convey the meaning of the text.
6.Texture helps displaying the possibilities of the theme.
7. Form is clear yet not utterly predictable.

Keep in mind the above signs as you prepare for the upcoming Christmas season and you will not fall into a common trap of playing crowd-pleasing but artistically dull music which in turn will help your efforts to become a trusted go-to resource for high quality organ music in your community.

By the way, as I was preparing for my upcoming recital of organ improvisations on the Story of the Nativity of Jesus Christ on December 20 at Vilnius University St. John's church, a few days ago I wrote a piece "The Annunciation" for the organ on original themes. Here is the score, if you want to check it out.

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Variations on Adeste fideles, Op. 21

Christmas organ music recital video

Playing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus

Playing Noel and Wie schon leuchtet

In time for Christmas: In dulci jubilo

A Christmas Musical Surprise

Common Christmas organ music trap

DON'T MISS A THING! FREE UPDATES BY EMAIL.

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Archives

Variations on Adeste fideles, Op. 21

Christmas organ music recital video

Playing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus

Playing Noel and Wie schon leuchtet

In time for Christmas: In dulci jubilo

A Christmas Musical Surprise

Common Christmas organ music trap

DON'T MISS A THING! FREE UPDATES BY EMAIL.

Thank you!

Categories

Archives