Improvisation Workshops - Organ

 

A flexible and pragmatic 'mix and match' of materials is applied to all workshops.  

Below are a few samples, which in themselves have the scope for considerable adaptation.

 

Preliminary

 

• 'From Distant Times and Places'  - Creating simple melodies from ancient modes.

• 'Picture this' - Creating moods and images through different types of rhythm, tempi, melodic shapes etc.

• ‘Blues and Jazz Echoes’ – Single line call and response melodies round a fixed bass.

• 'Sound the Trumpet!'  - Fanfares based on the triad.

• 'Spice up the hymn' - Simple embellishments of hymn tunes and songs.

•  'Independent Hands' - Two part ostinati.

• 'Go Baroque' - Short two-part voluntaries in Baroque styles built on I & V chords.

• 'Contemporary Freestyle - I'  - Accessible contemporary style improvisations on simple motifs or melodic phrases.

• 'Renaissance Rhythms' - Renaissance style dances using modal melodies and one or two chords.

 

Intermediate

 

• 'Prelude to Evensong' - Modally based preludes in an 'English' style, using fuller textures and elements of counterpoint.

• 'Extend the Hymn' - Short hymn extensions through such techniques as motivic development and elaborated cadences.

• 'The Glories of Plainsong' - Simple harmonisations and short preludes based on plainchant.

• 'Sequence the Jazz and Blues' -  Jazz and Blues style sequences using I IV and V chords.

• 'Build from the Bass' - Baroque style two-part chaconnes.

• 'Romantic Interludes' - Short Romantic style preludes based on I, IV, V chords and simple modulations.

• 'Final Flourish' - Two-part toccatas with simple modulations.

• 'Go Fugal - I' - Simple two or three part Fughettas in either diatonic and modally based styles.

 

Advanced

 

• 'Embellish the Theme' - Variations in the styles of the late Renaissance/Early Baroque.

• 'Melodies can go anywhere' - Baroque style chorale trios with emphasis on placing the theme in inner and bass parts.

• 'Go French' - 20th Century French style preludes based on modal harmony.

• 'Romantic Sonata' - Sonata form movements in late Romantic style.

• 'Go Contrapuntal'  - Early imitative forms such as Renaissance and early Baroque Ricecare and Fantasia.

• 'Go Fugal - II' -  Complete fugues in Baroque, Romantic and 20th Century modal styles.

• 'Grand Finale' - Toccatas in Romantic and 20th Century styles.

• 'Contemporary Freestyle - III' - 'Contemporary' style improvisations using a full range of textures and thematic development.