I often take to the internet to look for examples of good improvisation to emulate and practice. If you are unfamiliar with Balint Karosi, I would highly recommend listening to some of his videos. Just listen to this beautifully conceived set of variations on NEUMARK / Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten.
I have been an admirer (and absentee student) of Karosi's for some years. One will hardly hear better. To hear his playing must surely be almost to hear what most any baroque organist worth his salt could sit down and invent off the top his mind at the drop of a hat. It's astounding to us to realise that Bach didn't have to 'compose' the likes of 'The Wedge' - he could sit down and improvise it out of thin air. And numerous others of his and previous generations could do almost-but-not-quite as well. And we XXIst century mortals? We take weeks, months, and sometimes years to learn what they bothered to write down. Is it any wonder, then, the quality and quantity of music that flowed from the pens of these men every week, month, or year?
To participate in the discussions on Catholic church music, sign in or register as a forum member, The forum is a project of the Church Music Association of America.