The 'Reluctant' Organist's Guide to Improvisation

Nearly all organists have to improvise at some stage, even if it is only a question of rounding off a piece sooner than expected, prolonging a final cadence or elaborating a hymn tune as the procession or event it accompanies draws to a close. Although brilliant spontaneous improvisation can seem quite magical, with a few pointers and technical 'tricks' 'background' improvisation is a skill that can be learned by any musician. The goal of this guide - explained through over one-hundred musical examples - is to be able to improvise confidently for a couple of minutes, in a a broadly accessible style (some would say a quaint Victoriana idiom) which will neither challenge nor distract the congregation. Each short section concludes with a carefully explained supportive exercise; the steps between the exercises are deliberately kept narrow, for the beginning organist. Starting with a straightforward pedal line, pieces can be built up which incorporate imitative sections, chromatic chordal progressions, changes of key and a variety of textures - including some inspired by historical precedent (such as what the author calls the 'Vivaldi Gambit') to produce a short piece which will usefully serve as background music, while also intriguing the more aware listener.