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
>
> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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 .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::