In the November 2008 The American Organist, there is a nice piece by Alan Hommerding (of World Library) on accompanying a contemporary hymn and how best to alter the piano accompaniment. This article is designed to help those preparing for the AGO Service Playing exam. However, it's useful for all who have to deal with piano arrangements, especially those sprung on the organist with little notice. I particularly dislike arrangements that wander all over the place, assuming that everyone already knows the melody. Yeah, right.

Read the article for handy tips - or to reinforce your own solutions.

I used to find this magazine totally useless except for recycling purposes. Now I often find 2 or 3 articles that inform and/or entertain. Of course, there was more on Messiaen. All about recordings he made with the stoplists and registrations that organists love to curl up with. Too hard-core for me. But "chacun a son gout."