https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/categories/instruments-and-church-music/feed.rss Wed, 20 May 26 16:49:44 +0000 Organ, Other Instruments and Repertoire - MusicaSacra Church Music Forum en-CA https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23415/historic-tracker-organ-restoration-quotes-help-a-small-church Fri, 15 May 2026 16:34:47 +0000 deo27 23415@/forum/discussions ]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23393/piston-action Thu, 07 May 2026 14:40:27 +0000 johnbrombaugh 23393@/forum/discussions https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23387/marianpentecost-themed-organ-music Tue, 05 May 2026 17:11:04 +0000 deo27 23387@/forum/discussions
Marian
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/aqfihmsipan6220a4w0a3/AMx5Ilta8yCSsEX6MT-etVU?rlkey=diti4774iovlatpo7i1x71jwe&st=xs3bu9jh&dl=0

Pentecost
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/a6y3p6d0o26k2qwtyqrfb/AApKDRqR1Ona5Q51KaY02oQ?rlkey=boptkk43n8sv8lnwi4v7bcmjp&st=z142q27i&dl=0

Full Database (Organ/Liturgical/Choir Anthems)
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/20gn9uarh4dnmyyg4ap7z/AMiYi5CkuI8C5ufPMTBTeEc?rlkey=hoov6rlgiqz5ith356hzyo532&st=fn17lun1&dl=0
]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22971/i-have-a-dumb-question-about-playing-the-organ Sat, 06 Dec 2025 05:43:23 +0000 Abbysmum 22971@/forum/discussions
How does one know when to stop playing?

(I told you it was a dumb question lol)

In piano, I was taught to listen to the sound decay - it creates plateaus as the sympathetic frequencies meet and interact. You try to catch those plateaus to make the sound "complete". This is especially relevant when you have a bit of rubato, or a fermata, or something else that makes the time count less relevant.

But I never seem to know when to make the sound stop on an organ. I know it needs to be clean i.e. pick up all my limbs at the same time, and sometimes it seems desirable to lift at the same time as the choir, but other times I feel like I want to go a bit longer. But how long is too long??

Can someone(s) give me a few pointers in this regard? ]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23363/pentecost-brass-quintet-pipe-organ-choir-and-timpani-arrangements Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:01:07 +0000 iamjohnmorgan 23363@/forum/discussions
We have the budget this year to bring in a strong brass quintet for Pentecost, and I’m looking for recommendations for great arrangements.

Instrumentation will be trumpet 1, trumpet 2, horn, trombone, and tuba, with pipe organ and timpani also available. Ideally, I’m looking for arrangements that:
allow space for the choir to have some moments,
support strong congregational singing throughout,
and go beyond simply doubling the hymn parts.

If you have links to favourite arrangements in this style, I’d really appreciate you sharing them. They don’t need to be Pentecost-specific—excellent communion hymn settings or other versatile options would be just as useful.

For context, I already have the mass parts covered.

Thanks in advance!]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23361/avoiding-monotonous-psalm-accompaniment Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:08:44 +0000 OMagnumMysterium 23361@/forum/discussions https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23278/organ-preludespostludes-for-easter Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:42:58 +0000 jporenchuk 23278@/forum/discussions https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23264/missa-facilis-salve-regina-easy-mass-salve-regina-by-carlo-rossini Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:49:42 +0000 fatherdims 23264@/forum/discussions
I recently purchased Canticum Novum from a seller on Ebay, and was a bit surprised that the PDFs for the "Missa Facilis 'Salve Regina'" by Carlo Rossini were not easily available online. Hence, I have attached the vocal score and the organ score (which I sourced from CCWatershed), specifically for this Mass.

This Mass setting is an easy one for your choir to learn, and I think would fit in well for a high Mass in either form of the Roman Rite. Enjoy!]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23178/any-recommendation-for-organ-prelude-based-on-marian-chant-hymn Sun, 22 Feb 2026 05:40:05 +0000 doglover1000 23178@/forum/discussions Any good recommendations for organ prelude based on Marian chant/ hymn?

Thank you in advance!]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23090/organ-registration-cheat-sheets Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:57:12 +0000 OMagnumMysterium 23090@/forum/discussions
Does anyone know of good quick reference sheets for organ registration guidelines that could easily be printed out and put in a three ring binder? Particularly I think a summery of historical registrations would be a nifty reference to keep with my music. I had starting doing research and putting one together myself, but thought I should also check in case someone much more knowledgeable than me has already done this. I know that long-term this sort of info should just be memorized, but I find charts and such to be handy.

Maybe something like this could be useful for us amateurs? I know Noel Jones offers a system where you send him your organ's stop info and he'll advise on presets, or something like that, but I'm thinking of references for those who want to be a little more autonomous, but are lacking in education.]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23103/identify-organ-piece Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:56:30 +0000 lichtenstek 23103@/forum/discussions
Can you help identify the organ piece at offertory played at Le Barroux Abbey today?

Go to https://barrouxchant.com/#2026-01-25
Click on "Terce" and the piece begins at 1:08:38

It's in C minor if that helps!

Thanks in advance!]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/19126/organ-method-for-adult-beginner Thu, 24 Jun 2021 22:05:23 +0000 CorUnumAnimaUna 19126@/forum/discussions https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/15938/how-wild-can-one-go-with-organ-improvisation Sat, 07 Apr 2018 10:58:01 +0000 RJames2000 15938@/forum/discussions https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mE-dZuiSxWc
Is it acceptable to improvise in this style in a parish church or is it a privilege that comes with the size and surrounding acoustic of a cathedral? Or perhaps it just comes with being a renounced organist whom people daren’t criticise for fear of sounding uncultured? Do YOU think this is appropriate at any level?

I would love to try something like this on Sunday but I’m scared that it will not be received well.... thoughts?]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/23002/i-saw-three-ships Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:19:31 +0000 jporenchuk 23002@/forum/discussions
On a different note, I’m also interested in people’s thoughts on using I Saw Three Ships as a piece of music during Mass or prelude/postlude settings on Christmas. Is this an appropriate piece?

]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22912/organ-accompaniment-for-angularis-fundamentum Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:36:13 +0000 Michael_Osborne 22912@/forum/discussions
It's this hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tbly-BbOIVU]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/3528/rene-quignard Sat, 22 May 2010 17:37:28 +0000 j13rice 3528@/forum/discussions https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22779/in-the-news-crusader-era-organ-breathes-again-in-jerusalem Tue, 09 Sep 2025 22:33:02 +0000 Liam 22779@/forum/discussions https://apnews.com/video/oldest-pipe-organ-in-christian-world-sounds-once-more-in-jerusalem-ap-explains-7dadf6a8b7af4db1a20b224cb36e5523]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22692/looking-for-latin-entrance-chants Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:38:04 +0000 Verbum_Gloriae 22692@/forum/discussions
I am looking for expanding my entrance latin chants' repertory which is quite small for the legth of Post Pentecosten's time (or Ordinary Time). I search for simple chants in latin (for a TLM church in Spain) with an easy refrain (either SATB or monophonic -for I sing mostly alone or with 2 or 3 more people maximum-) that the people can sing interspersed with psalms and things of the like for Sunday Masses (before the Asperges me). Some examples that I am attaching here (so you get better what I mean) are Theodore Decker's Lauda Jerusalem, Paul Berthier's Laudate omnes gentes or the gregorian Cantemus Domino and Laetamini unanimi.

Thank you in advance!

P.S.: Best if the music sheets come with organ accompaniment -for that would save me a lot of time- but will be ok too if it does not, or if it is just titles. Any help will be much welcome!]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22647/simple-organ-music-for-wedding Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:52:38 +0000 CharlesSA 22647@/forum/discussions
Any suggestions would be very appreciated. I have played a little bit of the more common pieces for these occasions, and would have called my "level" between intermediate and advanced, but don't want to overwork or stress myself.

Thank you!]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/20874/question-about-improvising-on-chant-themes Sat, 06 May 2023 19:29:17 +0000 DavidOLGC 20874@/forum/discussions
I have a question about the way any of you may improvise on themes from Gregorian chants.

My pastor appreciates it when instead of playing hymns, I use an appropriate chant theme as the basis of an improvisation.

So, since many of you are better trained organists than I am, and are more knowledgeable than I am, I have a few questions.

First, do you use modern notation or do you use the original square note versions?

Next, do you simply play the chant with a basic improvised accompaniment or do you use the theme itself for variations?

Finally, what styles do you use for such improvisation?

My pastor appreciates using chant in all forms, but really is fond of the French style of the last 100-odd years or so.

Any thought and suggestions would be very welcome.

David]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22640/overlap-in-flor-peeters-books Fri, 18 Jul 2025 23:14:31 +0000 Diapason84 22640@/forum/discussions https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22496/the-best-of-the-best-of-the-most-beautiful Fri, 16 May 2025 20:32:09 +0000 francis 22496@/forum/discussions
:)



https://youtu.be/4HU51dFET8I?si=jTFnaJMSzUgbX72h

https://youtu.be/NU5mGcRJZzg?si=QC-p7UEnmo_eL_y9

more...

https://youtu.be/E4zgkOW53_0?si=-UUgtvkjBPldMGS9
]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22462/where-to-find-good-sanctus-bells Mon, 05 May 2025 19:45:12 +0000 MusicMan514 22462@/forum/discussions
Where can I find a good set of sanctus bells? I've bought two and they were both horribly out of tune The first one was from Sadbury Brass that came from Autom- I was hoping I could get away with a a $100 set, and I quickly learned my lesson and sent those back. The second set was a $500 set from Excelsis that I bought from FC Zeigler. I had high hopes for this set, as I had found a YouTube video from Zeigler of them ringing the bells. But the set we received sounds much lower than the video and sounds horribly out of tune. Here's the video from Zeigler vs what we got:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1szx3qv84E
https://youtu.be/jspskt_vM3Y

All this leaves me with a few questions: 1) Is there a way I can tune the set I already have? 2) Is the quality control from these casts just THAT bad? and 3) Where can I find a good-sounding set of sanctus bells?

Thanks,
Mark]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22475/chant-accompaniment Fri, 09 May 2025 17:50:23 +0000 DOAdvocate 22475@/forum/discussions
Are there any books in print for accompanying the traditional psalm tones from the organ? If not, what is the best pdf resource in your opinion? I find having to deal with technology whilst playing or praying a pest so I would send a pdf off to print.

Would I be right in guessing there is no resource out there for antiphons etc for the office? (I have accompaniment for Mass propers and some ordinaries). In which case, what do you recommend for learning how to accompany the office?

Don’t get me wrong I love singing unaccompanied, but I just think a good way for me to learn how to accompany chant properly would be to accompany myself for one or two hours of the office.

I’m totally new to the organ but am a (hopefully) decent pianist, so this is a lot of learning for me.]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/19818/upgrading-to-better-organ-shoes Sun, 13 Mar 2022 17:18:07 +0000 francis 19818@/forum/discussions
I have done worn out my shoes... (too much Bach? Nah... I'd buy 100 pair to keep playing his works)

They are an old pair of Organmasters... was never really impressed with them, although mine have to be 20 years old or more. Perhaps they are better made these days.

Now thinking of getting some higher heel narrow tip dance shoes... anyone have any recommendations on the subject?]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/18306/the-choir-organ-midi-module Fri, 24 Jul 2020 23:46:06 +0000 noel jones, aago 18306@/forum/discussions
www.thechoirorgan.com

]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22174/question-about-pay Sat, 11 Jan 2025 20:34:40 +0000 ElizabethS 22174@/forum/discussions
My parish employs me and one other organist. My understanding is that the pay hasn't been raised in 30ish years (I'm newer to the parish than the other organist). We are hoping to negotiate a pay raise. So, I have two questions for those of you who are paid per Mass, as that's how it would be set up, rather than a salary.

1) How much do you make per Mass, and what type of area do you live in, if you don't mind sharing (rural, urban, east or west coast, etc.)?
2) Is your per-Mass rate for every Mass of the year, or do you have a higher rate for Masses such as Holy Week or Christmas, where the Masses are longer and more involved, and require more preparation?

Any information you can share with me would be very much appreciated. God bless you all, and happy new year!]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/18557/bwv-729-in-dulci-jubilo-3-stave-organ-score. Fri, 04 Dec 2020 14:32:57 +0000 Lars 18557@/forum/discussions Merry Christmas. ]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22337/perfect-instrument-for-novel-liturgies Tue, 18 Mar 2025 01:51:52 +0000 francis 22337@/forum/discussions
https://youtu.be/wAJ66ZSQ4b4?si=PTJNZPgKhYKhqAtN

Starts at 2:30

Postlude for High Holy Daze.

https://youtu.be/2lzIC9ru5V0?si=nraigv6bnqKbM5oa

toward the end you will see that one of the pipes is about ready to get launched into the congregation!

for those who stay and clap for the postlude, they get this encore! ALL the bells and whistles! (I suspect THIS is the instrument where that very phrase comes from!!!)

https://youtu.be/6NCDsDYLls8?si=dhiyQ4me6XWyPu0s

of course, this one is good for the preludes:

https://youtu.be/aYAsVvmU6gk?si=0qIbGfrySEL6_6K-]]> https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22325/new-organ-resources-page Fri, 14 Mar 2025 09:52:26 +0000 Verbum_Gloriae 22325@/forum/discussions
I want to share with you all the news that two days ago I published a new page of organ resources in my apostolate website of gregorian chant (verbumgloriae.es) in which you will find accompaniment scores for:
(a) Vespers of all year round -1962's rubrics- (with the propers of Spain and the diocesis where I reside, which I know will not be of much use to you, but the rest of Vespers sure could!),
(b) all year round's Compline -1962's rubrics-,
(c) a bunch of other hours of the Divine Office (some in recto tono) which I have eventually accompanied,
(d) the ordinary of the Mass and its sung responses, all in a book compiled by me (also separately), and other books gathered from internet sites such as CCWatershed or Archive.org.
(e) the propers of the Mass (basically the Nova Organi Harmonia and Potiron's Graduel Parossiel) and
(f) a repertory of gregorian chants (aproximately 365, some of them composed by me -the accompaniment, I mean- and most of them extracted from books).

It is, basically, the full gregorian chant organ accompaniment repertory I have gathered and compiled for my own work as organist and cantor in this past four years, more or less, and I intend to, God willing, update it with new repertory as I implement it.

I know the site is in Spanish (any web explorer nowadays may have options to translate it) and so are the files (since my aim is to reach Spanish speaking countries) but its gregorian chant remains in the universal and perennial latin -of course!-, so I thought it could also serve some of you.

And wishing you find it useful, may you all have a holy Lent!]]>