Noel Jones’ book “A Catholic Organist’s Guide to Playing Hymns” is an invaluable resource for organists looking to master the art of playing hymns. This comprehensive guide provides detailed instructions and practice drills that make it easy to understand and apply the concepts presented in the book. If you want to improve your game regarding organ hymn playing techniques, this book is worth a read.
In this review, I will summarize some key points from the book and give a few tips for making the most of it.
Azure Hills Music contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you when you purchase using one of these Amazon links. Read our disclaimer and privacy policy for more information.
Buy A Catholic Organist’s Guide to Playing Hymns
Organists Guide to Playing Hymns
Overview
In “A Catholic Organist’s Guide to Playing Hymns,” Noel Jones offers an in-depth look at many aspects of playing hymns on the organ, including:
- Proper posture, hand positioning, and fingering techniques;
- Chord structure and harmonic analysis;
- Sight reading, improvisation, and composition techniques;
- Understanding tempo, dynamics, and articulation.
The book encompasses hymn theory and hymn playing. The Theory elements provide an overview of the fundamentals of playing hymns on the organ, while the Performance elements include step-by-step instructions for mastering basic and advanced techniques.
The reader will learn about hymn structures ranging from 2-part hymns through 4-part hymns. A gradual approach through increasing hymn complexity helps gain a comfort level for playing hymns. You’ll also learn about effectively using the organ’s bass pedals for hymn accompaniment.
Key Points From the Book
Noel Jones provides clear guidance on many key areas of organ playing, such as:
- Understanding how to use voice registration to enhance the sound of a hymn;
- Utilizing musical phrasing to add artistic expression;
- Knowing which pedals can be used to add color and texture;
- Practicing drills and exercises that improve technical proficiency.
- Hymnals are typically written for singers, not for organists. Therefore, understanding proper hymn technique will greatly improve hymn accompaniment.
- Successful hymn playing requires knowing how to adapt the notes (written for singers) to the organ.
- Understanding the character and meaning of the text is an asset to the organist
Four-Part Hymn Framework – J.S. Bach
Long ago, the great organ master Johann Sebastian Bach composed 354 arrangements of choral hymn tunes. Fast forward to today, these four-part works are the bedrock of many a composition and music theory class.
As hymn writing evolved, the basic 4-part style introduced by Bach has remained a standard approach. However, most organists don’t receive training to learn about the four independent melodies that live within the hymn framework. While Bach created his hymn chorales to help singers, these works can also provide helpful study for the diligent organist.
Technical challenges for the organist include holding each of the four notes for the proper length as independent voices move along in the hymn tune. This requires some notes to remain depressed while others move about the keyboard.
Organists guide to playing hymns
My Reflections On This Book
I recently had an opportunity to review an early copy of “A Catholic Organist’s Guide to Playing Hymns” by Noel Jones.
Years ago, I needed more resources when transitioning from piano to organ. The first few years were spent stumbling through various books lacking applicability or beyond my reach. The transition took on a new trajectory once I finally found method and repertoire books that worked for me musically, technically, and liturgically. I was on my way to becoming an organist, versus a pianist who happened to find his way onto an organ bench.
That said, I have a special place for good resources that can be helpful to the student organist – especially in helping to transition to the church organ bench. Noel Jones provides just such a resource.
Hymnody Fundamentals
In playing hymns, it is fundamental to grasp hymnody, and it is on this topic that Noel Jones begins this exposition into the organ playing of hymns. Proclaiming that ‘As an organist, you need to look beyond the text, and study the music, to understand and easily play hymns,’ this may seem obvious to some church musicians. Still, we all likely know people who don’t care about the texts and musical background of the hymns they play. We even have a modern confusion in which ‘songs’ are often referred to as ‘hymns’ perhaps because they are found in the music books in the pews – but that’s another editorial.
The Value of Silence
The book provides helpful commentary on the value of silence (within music), creating a sense of breathing while playing, and finding synchronicity with the choir. Also covered are hymn introductions, registration, and getting comfortable with the organ’s pedal board.
Hymn Accompaniment Tutorial
The book presents a series of hymns, starting with their introductions as a simple melodic line. As additional concepts are shown in the book, these hymns reappear, with the new ideas grafted onto what we first saw as a simple melody.
A Great Resource for Pianists Transitioning to the Organ
I know of pianists, many who are pretty accomplished and too easily bypass elementary method books. However, while the keyboard looks the same, one can be a near concert artist on the piano and yet feel like a novice when shifting to the organ bench. All those knobs, multiple keyboards, and what are those pedals (the notes and expression varieties) under my feet? Even having accomplished a level of mastery on a primary instrument, it is ok, in fact necessary, to become a student again when approaching a new instrument.
I grew so much as an organist by accepting the role of the novice student some 30 years after first beginning to learn the piano. This book by Neil Jones fits the bill for a solid introduction to hymn playing for the Catholic organist – including the pianist who is asked to transition to the organ, as well as Sunday organists who have bypassed thinking through and studying hymnody.
Organists guide to playing hymns
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll want to consider this book if you are an organist without proper instruction in playing hymns. Effective hymn playing requires more than just opening a hymnal and touching the keyboard.
Just as there are techniques for approaching the works of J.S. Bach and masters of the organ, you’ll learn about techniques that improve hymn playing.
Organists who are not yet comfortable with complex multi-part hymns can learn to slowly gain a comfort level by moving from two-part hymns (melody with simple one-voice accompaniment), through thin-textured three-part hymns, before ultimately moving towards proficiency with four-part hymns.
This book is not solely for beginning organists. Even seasoned organists who may have missed hymn accompaniment instruction completely or have gone many years since revisiting the fundamentals will benefit from the book.
Why Should You Buy This Book
- Large type promotes easy reading in dimly lit spaces
- Playable from a tablet or paper
- Three-part hymns build confidence for beginning and intermediate organists
- Chorale Prelude introductions provide a way to introduce hymn tunes to congregations
- Learn effective stop registrations for hymns
- Music is notated with the organist in mind versus singers
- Pianists who are looking to transition to the organ will benefit from the instruction
- Common hymns are included from popular hymnals
- You’ll appreciate hymn playing more than ever
- Congregations will have improved support as you improve your hymn accompaniments
My Tips for Making the Most of this Book
- Read through the theory section first, as it provides essential foundational knowledge for mastering hymn playing.
- Take your time with each exercise in the practice section, and don’t feel rushed.
- Use a metronome to keep a consistent tempo and practice regularly for the best results.
- Make sure to take breaks in between practicing for mental and physical health.
- Listen to recordings of great organists playing hymns to get inspiration and ideas.
- Experimenting with different techniques will help you become a more creative organist.
Overall, “A Catholic Organist’s Guide to Playing Hymns” is an excellent resource for aspiring or professional organists who want to take their hymn playing to the next level. With clear instructions and helpful exercises, this book provides many tools needed to master the art of hymn playing. If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to improving your organ playing skills, this book is for you.
Happy hymn playing!
Buy A Catholic Organist’s Guide to Playing Hymns
Book Details
Weight: 12.6 oz.
Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches
The more we know, the better we play.
Arthur Dobrucki
Azure Hills Music