R.E.M.: Accelerate

This School of Organ Playing presupposes a certain technical facility on the piano. The pedal exercises at the beginning are rudimentary and should be practiced in all keys, gradually accelerating the tempo. The studies are graded according to their polyphony, beginning with simple two part exercises, followed by those in three and more parts. This acquaintance with the strict principles of polyphonic music, and the introduction to effective part writing, with a knowledge of harmonic form and architectonic values, provide the essential background for the correct performance of polyphonic music, especialle the fugue. The most important musical forms have been used to illustrate the various possibilites of registration and its relationship to style (colourful, individualistic and smooth playing). The studies are so arranged that earlier technical points, etc. are constantly reviewed, through comparison of style and form, in order to fix, or refreshen, the ideas in the student's mind. It is very important that the evolution of organ music from vocal music should be made clear to the student the very beginning, both musically and intellectually. He will be shown the technical evolution of organ music during the centuries and thus prepared for an artistic execution and interpretation of old and new words, especially for the incomparable art of our great Johann Sebastian Bach.