Presented by: Wilma Jensen, MM, DMus (Hon.)
Location: Hyatt Regency – Hanover C
The ability to perform music of different historical periods with "verve, passion, and authority," as George Houle said, requires an understanding of musical techniques and styles across different musical periods. Key components for each period from Medieval/Renaissance chants through Baroque, Classical and Romantic music will be presented with short organ demonstrations and quotations from musicologists such as Jon Laukvik, George Houle, Richard Hudson, and Hugo Riemann, while exploring the impact of influential composers including Couperin, Rameau, Bach, Franck, Widor, Vierne, Chopin, Liszt, and Messiaen on musical freedom for today’s organists.
Physical gestures and touches critical to the development of a controlled natural keyboard technique and their roles in authentic musical freedom will be reviewed. For example, changing styles from Baroque articulation, transitioning to the Romantic legato touch, and additional freedom and accent will all be covered.