Good sounding easy organ music

[quantum]

I'd like your suggestions on organ music that does not take too long to learn, not too technical to play, yet sounds good to the ear. Preferably things that don't sound too much like student pieces. Music that would be good to play as preludes on Sundays or for music that needs to be learned in a short amount of time.

[Stefanussen]

Joel Martinson's "Aria on a Chaconne"

C.S. Lang Tuba Tune D Major

[Menschenstimme]

J.S. Bach's Fugue on Vom Himmel Hoch in C Major. Sorry, I do not know the BWV number.

[tumult_in_the_praetorium]

Here's a few off the top of my head:

• Flor Peeters - Aria


• Theodore Dubois - Petite Pastorale Champenoise, as well as many others of his shorter works.


• Louis Lefebure-Wely - many of the quieter pieces from L'Organiste Moderne


• Max Reger - Nine Pieces, Op.129


• Andrew Carter - Trumpet Tune


• Gabriel Pierne - Prelude from Trois Pieces


• Marcel Dupre - Le Tombeau de Titelouze (some of them are easier and sound great)


• Charles Camilleri - Wine of Peace (very easy and peaceful by Malta's foremostcomposer who passed away just last week)
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[Clarion]

[quote user="Stefanussen"] C.S. Lang Tuba Tune D Major
[/quote]

I tend to have fond regard for theC.S. Lang Tuba Tune! Perhapsamongst the top ten!

Not all that difficult to play . . . . but certainly amongst the top ten of organ werks we enjoy hearing/playing!

[soubasse32]

C.S. Lang also wrote a nice Fanfare, short, easy, and effective.

Gordon Young wrote tons of easy music, some of which is rather useful. I particularly like his Prelude in Classic Style.

David N. Johnson is another composer of well-written service music, as is Charles Callahan. Callahan'sadagio movements canhave rather lush harmonies which take some study.

For a bit more edgy (modern) music I like William Mathias.

The shorter chorale preludes of Healey Willan are quite wonderful. Elgar's Vesper Voluntaries should be in every church organist's library.

Fromthe neo-baroque era I rather like Ernst Pepping's chorale preludes. Flor Peeters should be making a comeback right about now - lots and lots of effective church music there.

Guilmant wrote some easier service music, but some of itcan be a bit 'dated' sounding, depending on the traditions of your church.

[Clarion]

[quote user="soubasse32"] C.S. Lang also wrote a nice Fanfare, short, easy, and effective. [/quote]

Sounds interesting. Can you reference that? i.e.: like an online score to play with?

So often . .. Some of the most beautifulpieces of music ever written, tend to be amongst thevery simplest to play!

[Don Furr]

One piece that comes to mind if you want something a little "flashy" is German's "Festive Trumpet"...not that hard and a lot of fun to play if you have a BIG reed on your organ. The last page jumps to 6 sharps but it's totally doable.

[Jason E]

[quote user="soubasse32"]

Guilmant wrote some easier service music, but some of itcan be a bit 'dated' sounding, depending on the traditions of your church.

[/quote]

A bit dated? When was the last time you played the Adagio from the 1st Sonata? ... or any of it for that matter.

Mathias can be on the difficult side, but it's terrifically written stuff. (BTW, Priory just released a 2 CD set of the complete organ works at Liverpool Metropolitan. For anyone familiar with that instrument, the CD should be self-recommending.)

Lastly, don't forget Franck's L'Organiste. Not everything in the collection is 'primo' Franck (especially from the first group of pieces), but otherwise there are some real gems to be found.

[soubasse32]

[quote user="Clarion"][quote user="soubasse32"] C.S. Lang also wrote a nice Fanfare, short, easy, and effective. [/quote]Sounds interesting. Can you reference that? i.e.: like an online score to play with?[/quote]Nothing online, buttry a book called"Fanfares and Processionals", published by Novello.