Practical Collections for Any Organist’s Library Monday, June 17, 2024
recommended by Christopher B., Organ Music Specialist
The Ultimate Organ Book for Weddings, Funerals, and the Church Year arr. Hal Hopson
This collection is a comprehensive compilation of organ music including a total of 151 titles. It is perhaps the most exhaustive volume of its type to have ever been published. The compiler has given careful attention to the needs of the church organist for interesting and practical organ literature of varying levels of difficulty for weddings, funerals, ordinary times in the church year, and for special seasons and days.
God of Grace (A Compilation of Favorites for Organ) arr. Paul Manz
Paul Manz’s hymn improvisations have long been essential repertoire for church organists. This collection of previously published works combines favorite improvisations on hymns that have wide ecumenical appeal. The collection contains complete indexes of all Manz publications and recordings. This will be used week after week by organists in all denominations. It is also appropriate for students.
Hymn Tunes A to Z arr. Douglas E. Wagner
In the spirit of our great tradition of hymns as vehicles for praise, prayer, and introspection, Douglas E. Wagner has assembled an eclectic mix of creative hymn-tune settings by twenty-one writers, with at least one tune corresponding to every letter of the alphabet! This wire-bound, budget-stretching worship resource provides countless choices for service use and contains a detailed table of contents and a handy tune index.
50 Hymn Trios for Organ arr. Wolfgang Rübsam
These short trios were designed to be performed as hymn introductions, short preludes or brief hymn meditations. They are highly accessible (almost sight-readable) and extremely flexible, and will prove a welcome addition to the library of organists with limited practice time. This amazing collection is presented in church year order and contains trios based on 50 familiar hymn tunes. From Advent through Pentecost, Rübsam’s trios are scored for a two-manual instrument, making them accessible to the majority of organists. In short, this collection of “50 Hymn Trios for Organ” is easily accessible, extremely versatile, and will be a welcome addition to any organist’s library!
The Creative Use of Organ in Worship by Hal Hopson
An extensive resource of 250+ hymn reharmonizations, plus 21 ways to improvise hymntunes for use as service music, along with a complete listing of modulations and 5 harmonizations for The Doxology.
Sunday Morning Organist, Volume 5: The Best of the St. Cecilia Series
The original Saint Cecilia Series was aptly named for the patron saint of musicians who has often been represented in art as playing the organ. This special edition of the Sunday Morning Organist includes many of the most famous pieces from the original H.W. Gray Series compiled into one convenient resource for professional organists. Many musical genres are represented including traditional hymn tunes, gospel songs, American folk melodies, classical favorites, as well as Christmas and wedding selections. “Best of the Saint Cecilia Series” provides a valuable collection of performance pieces for the church organist.
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About the Author:
Christopher B. grew up in eastern Kentucky in a musically diverse family, and began playing organ at the age of 12. He majored in vocal performance with minors in keyboards and conducting at Marshall University and later received a Master of Theological Studies in congregational ministry from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Christopher has served as a church music director and organist for more than 20 years, presently serving as Director of Music and Worship Arts/Organist at Church of the Master United Methodist in Westerville, OH.