Organ Improvisation

Improvisation in the nineteenth century served mostly as a means of demonstrating virtuosity. A new trend in our time returns to loftier aimed, especially in Protestant liturgical music. Until now there has been no published guide to improvisation. This book, though scholarly and well organized, is not a text book. There are no rigid rules; rather, there are suggestions supported by a wealth of examples, and in later chapters there are even complete compositions in a highly personal idiom. No theories are offered. Practical orientation prevails. This book is designed to provide a systematic approach to the study and teaching of organ improvisation. It is aimed specifically at the needs of service playing, and thus it stresses the practical aspects of chorale and hymn improvisation, and produces good results in the classroom. The chorale and hymn preludes given in the text as musical examples will be of practical value for service playing