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A Practical Approach to Improvisation for the Church Organist

Most organists are reluctant to attempt improvisation because they seem convinced that it must be elaborate and complex. In the hands of masters of the art this may be true; simple improvisation, however, can be within the grasp of most organists. When learned, this skill can be of great use, and it is especially effective as a tool to enhance worship. These lessons make this material as practical as possible, allowing the organist to make direct and immediate application of the art of improvisation to the playing of the church service itself.

Lessons include:
*Improvising a hymn introduction
*Adding non-harmonic material to a hymn
*Solo with accompaniment
*Embellishing the melody
*Additional improvising of the hymn-tune melody
*Improvising an introduction
*Improvising a complete prelude based on a hymn tune

Product Reviews for A Practical Approach to Improvisation for the Church Organist

Nonmusicians might think that their church organist simply sits down and follows the music. But church organists know that they are often called on to play "ex tempore" - at certain times during Mass they must improvise to make sure that the liturgical action and the music are a tight fit. Improvising also provides the organist with ways to "set the tone" and thus enrich the celebration.

Church organists and students looking for practice in the elements that make for successful improvisation can turn to A Practical Approach to Improvisation for the Church Organist, written by composer, teacher and organist Robert C. Lau, who received his Ph.D. in musicology from Catholic University's Benjamin T. Rome School of Music.

Lau became interest in improvising as a teenage church organist. During Communion, he says, he began to improvise. "It soon became obvious from the comments I received that many members of the congregation preferred my improvising on familiar hymn tunes." His interest in improvisation led him to compose, teach and to write this book. He offers the lessons in practical improvisation, he writes, as a way for organists who might be "reluctant to attempt" to improvise.

The spiral-bound, 50-page book comprises seven lessons, the latter of which build upon skills developed by practicing and mastering techniques explained in earlier ones. Each lesson follows the same basic structure: an introduction, the score of a hymn, then explanations and musical examples for practicing certain improvisation techniques.

Now a professor at Penn State, Lau continues to compose, teach and improvise, "inspired by the reactions of members of my congregation who express their pleasure in my aiding their worship through music." The practice and the practical advice contained in his book offer all organists the same opportunity.

CUA Magazine

Fall 2010

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