Page 27 - Organ etudes book one

THE COMPLETE CHURCH ORGANIST: ORGAN ÉTUDES BOOK ONE WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET DER MORGENSTERN
With humble apologies to Vierne, the starlight theme glints in the oscillating semiquavers. However, the text speaks not of the star of Bethlehem, but of Christ as the Morning Star. There is a suffused, very gentle, radiance to that – hence warm string sound.
The exercise teaches the use of crossed hands, manual changes, and location switching. Occasionally, the best sound for a task is unavailable at the pitch required. This piece prepares you for the task of using a stop in the “wrong” octave to obviate that.
The left hand (legato) is partially unfingered, for you to apply the lessons from previous examples. When they just won’t fit (bars 9–10) yes, you compromise according to the span of your own hand. Bars 20 to the end are fingered because there are new tricks here.
The left hand is played an octave higher than written until bar 23. Don’t practice at written pitch, because your forearm will be in the wrong position and will affect your fingering choices. Lean back very slightly if necessary to make space for your hand to be in best placing.
Judge your staccato lengths by ear, but vary them for emphasis as you see fit.
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CCO Organ Etudes 1.indd 27
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