The Pipe Organ

A Composer's Guide

James Mitchell (Sub-Organist, Sub-Organist, Gloucester Cathedral)

$264

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Oxford University Press Inc
23 October 2023

Music reviews & criticism; Western "classical" music; Individual composers & musicians, bands & groups; Orchestras

The organ is one of the oldest instruments in Western music, and its sound has inspired many of the greatest composers from the past half a millennium from Bach through to Messiaen. The full possibilities of the instrument, however, have often been overlooked. Orchestration textbooks tend to mention the organ only in passing, with little practical advice for the composer to latch onto. Many organ books will explain technical jargon and how the organ is designed, but do not discuss what should actually be written in the score. This book, on the other hand, offers a practical guide for composers on how to write idiomatically for the instrument with the aim of helping them exploit the instrument's full timbral and technical potential. It provides in depth advice not only on notation but also the full resources of the modern organ, including dedicated chapters on registration, writing for manuals and pedals, and using the organ in ensembles, among others. Multiple musical examples are quoted from across the history of organ repertoire, with a particular focus on contemporary composers and music. There is advice tailored to non-classical musicians, such as guidance on virtual instruments. The online companion website to this book provides video demonstrations, chapter summaries, sample organ stop-lists and other useful further resources. In summary, the goal of this book is to show not just what organ music was, or what it is, but what it can be.

By: James Mitchell (Sub-Organist Sub-Organist Gloucester Cathedral)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 279mm, Spine: 17mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780197645284
ISBN 10: 0197645283
Pages: 198
Publication Date: 23 October 2023
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction Chapter 1: Introduction to the organ Overview Organ Building Trends Historic Organs Common Mistakes Extended Techniques Chapter 2: Registration Overview Main Stop Categories Principals Flutes Strings Reeds Other Categories Foundations Mixtures Mutations Miscellaneous Stops Couplers Registration Aids General Pistons Divisional Pistons Crescendo Pedal Chapter 3: The Manuals Overview Idiomatic Writing Non-Chordal Techniques Chordal Techniques Playing on Multiple Manuals Chapter 4: The Pedals Overview Idiomatic Writing Double/Multi-Pedalling The Pedals in Context Chapter 5: Other Types of Organ Overview Chamber Organ Harmonium Theatre Organ Hammond Organ Chapter 6: The Organ in Ensemble Overview Organ and Choir Organ and Orchestra Concertos Organ and Chamber Ensembles Organ and Electronics

James Mitchell is the current Sub-Organist at Gloucester Cathedral. He graduated from Girton College, Cambridge with a Double First, subsequently completing an MPhil in Musicology at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He is also an award-winning composer; his music has been published by the RSCM and has been performed at various UK cathedrals and churches, including at the 2021 London Festival of Contemporary Church Music.

Reviews for The Pipe Organ: A Composer's Guide

This concise but remarkably comprehensive book is essential reading for music creators. It fills a significant gap. The organ, despite its great history and exciting contemporary presence, has hitherto hardly figured at all in orchestration guides. Composers will find ideas, encouragement and inspiration within these pages. * Judith Weir CBE, Master of the King's Music * This is essential reading for any lover of the organ as a reminder of how historical and important the instrument is. For anyone unfamiliar with the organ, it will be a fascinating journey of discovery, wonderfully written and informative. It could have been so easily dry and predictable, but it is the antithesis of that. What a superb piece of work. * David Hill MBE, President, Royal College of Organists *