Christopher Tambling

The Church Organist Vol. 2

Here is a method that will train organists properly for the traditional role of accompanying hymns and providing suitable service music. It is a comprehensive approach that introduces the techniques of organ playing step-by-step. Aimed at pianists of grade 5 standard plus, The Church Organist begins by introducing the organ - its console, manuals and stops - before exploring the pedals, good manuals and pedals technique, coordinating hands with feet, proper use of stops, the basics of improvisation and many other skills important to today's church organist. Volume 3: Improvisation will be published in May 2010. Christopher Tambling is Organist and Master of the Schola Cantorum of Downside Abbey. He was an organ scholar at Canterbury Cathedral and St Peter's College, Oxford, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.

Many musical examples to illustrate:
Using 1 manual and 2 pedal notes
Using 2 manuals and 2 pedal notes
Involving easy manual and coupler changes
Involving slightly more manual and coupler dexterity
Requiring easy volume changes
Using the 2 hands on different manuals
Using the swell pedal
Pieces introducing 3 and 4 pedal notes
Two manuals and three pedals
i) Solo and accompaniment
ii) Changing manuals
Four pedals
i) Solo and accompaniment
ii) Manual and registration changes
Four pedals - more advanced
Five pedals in two groups
Six pedals in two groups
Hymn tunes using two to four pedals