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INTO PRACTICE
Kevin Bowyer was interviewed in the first issue of MusicTeachers.co.uk's
Online Journal. He is internationally recognised as a leading recitalist and
teacher; he currently divides his time between performing and teaching for the
St. Giles Organ School and the Royal Northern
College of Music. Kevin offers notes on the performance and interpretation
of three intermediate organ works. The first two are on the syllabus of the Royal College of Organists' Associate diploma.
With each, he offers practical advice on interpretation and suggests
appropriate registrations for the RCO instrument at Holborn.
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SIGFRID KARG-ELERT: CHORALE IMPROVISATION ON VOM HIMMEL HOCH, OP. 65 NO. 10
Edition: Breitkopf
ARCO List C
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General Comments
In many respects, the music seems to follow the text of verse 1 of the
hymn:
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her,
Ich bring euch gute neue Mär,
Der guten Mär bring ich so viel,
Davon ich sing'n und sagen will.
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From Heaven above to earth I
come
To bear good news to every home,
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing.
(Tr. Catherine Winkworth) |
JS Bach's harmonisation of the chorale melody, from The Christmas Oratorio.
Click here to listen to this example.
Notice the relative altitude and serenity of the opening right-hand solo
compared with the earthly and thunderous growl of the final line. You might
also find other musical references to the text: notice, for example, how 'Glad
tidings' are brought forth from the Swell box and then presented as a huge
crescendo on the Great.
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