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Subject:
From:
"Emmons, Paul" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Emmons, Paul
Date:
Mon, 26 Jan 2004 17:53:04 -0500
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> 4.    George Thalben-Ball: 113 Variations on hymns tunes. But many of these
are not suitable for accompanying singing -- many are miniatures that use
fragments of the hymn-tune.

Isn't this the slightly small-format book with his picture on the cover inside an orange border?  I think so, and if so I have it and play from it often.  But he intended them as introductions (preludes, literally), not as harmonizations.  They are nice, but tricky.  Few are easy enough to be sight-reading material.

The free harmonizations that I use most often continue to be those of T. Tertius Noble (in two hard-bound volumes, blue and red, as once published by H.W. Gray.  It always seems as though the hymn-tunes in the blue volume are more familiar to American congregations today, but otherwise they are similar.)

Edward Bairstow's harmonizations are among the most inventive and sumptuous while eminently euphonious.  Although not a prolific composer for the church, some of his anthems especially are really marvelous, and I wish they were better known. Perhaps we could think of him, in several respects, as the English Widor. In his harmonization of "Hyfrydol", the melody appears in imitation at several points, in either soprano or pedal.  Sometimes the tuba solos the melody out in the tenor range.  It's glorious, but probably conceived for cathedral more than congregational use. At least, the choir should provide strong leadership so as not to confuse the congregation.









> -----Original Message-----
> From: Copeman Hart [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 5:58 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:           Re: Free harmonizations of hymns
>
> Joe and all listers,
>
> When the congregation knows a hymn well enough that they won't lose
> confidence if the accompaniment changes, then I'll sometimes play an
> alternative accompaniment. The word "sometimes" is important: I think it
> undesirable to get into a rut of always doing something or other.
>
> I do not have the gift of spontaneous improvisation for these, and rely on
> others' written out variations. Most frequently I choose from these four
> collections:
> 1.    Eric Thiman's Varied Accompaniments to 34 hymns (Oxford Univ Press).
> These are all nicely crafted variations.
> 2.    Gerald Knight compiled and edited Accompaniments for Unison hymn
> singing (RSCM). Another quality collection, although some of these are in
> different keys to our hymnal -- how about a little transposition practice?
> 3.    Colin Mawby's Hymns for Occasions: 100 arrangements. (Kevin Mayhew)
> and a second set of 100 "More Hymns for Occasions". Not as inspired or
> well-crafted as the first two collections, and perhaps a bit formulaic.
> 4.    George Thalben-Ball: 113 Variations on hymns tunes. But many of these
> are not suitable for accompanying singing -- many are miniatures that use
> fragments of the hymn-tune.
>
> Sometimes I will insert a few bars interlude before that final verse:
> something I've worked out in my head beforehand -- not relying on
> spontaneous inspiration!
>
> Joe asks about "swelling". I think the registration should be selected, as
> always, according to the size of the congregation, the acoustics of the
> church, and the words of that verse. Some final verses cry out for a bigger
> registration, but I can think of a few hymns of a more contemplative,
> prayerful type (e.g. Dear Lord and Father of us all) for which I play the
> final verse as quietly as I dare. (Not that Parry's "Repton" is a candidate
> for alternate harmonisation for the final verse: Parry's setting is
> exquisite IMO.)
>
> Joe also asks about changing the tempo. I think the tempo of a hymn should
> not change. Changing it suggests the tempo will be wrong either for that
> final verse, or was wrong for all previous verses. And the congregation will>
> find any change unsettling -- which means they sing less confidently, or
> stop singing altogether.
>
> Best wishes
> Peter Hamilton
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joe Routon" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 12:34 AM
> Subject: Free harmonizations of hymns
>
>
> > Over the years I've heard all manners and sorts of free harmonizations on
> > final stanzas of hymns. I'm curious to learn how many of our listers play
> them
> > regularly.
> >
> > Almost all organists swell the instruments on the free accompaniments, but
> > some slow the tempo and some don't. Which is more common?
> >
> > Joe Routon
> >
> > ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> > Note:  opinions  expressed on PIPORG-L are those of the  individual con-
> > tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
> > versity at Albany.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
> > [log in to unmask]  saying  GET LSVCMMDS.TXT  or see  the  web
> > page at http://www.albany.edu/piporg-l/lsvcmmds.html .
> > ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
>
> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> Note:  opinions  expressed on PIPORG-L are those of the  individual con-
> tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
> versity at Albany.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
> [log in to unmask]  saying  GET LSVCMMDS.TXT  or see  the  web
> page at http://www.albany.edu/piporg-l/lsvcmmds.html .
> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Note:  opinions  expressed on PIPORG-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity at Albany.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  GET LSVCMMDS.TXT  or see  the  web
page at http://www.albany.edu/piporg-l/lsvcmmds.html .
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