Welcome to The Latter-day Saint Organist's Resource Blog

The purpose of this blog is to help pianists learn to become true organists. Many individuals believe that if you play the piano you can play the organ, but the instruments differ greatly. While this blog is specifically geared towards members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, much of the information shared can be utilized by all. I hope that the information I share here will help you become an effective organist in your ward, stake, or other congregation.

Feel free to browse and search this blog. It was started in January 2010 and while new posts aren't added very often, this blog contains a wealth of information and is a wonderful resource for all organists. If you're a new reader, you can find the first lesson here: Before We Begin: Acquiring the Essentials. Also, please "like" the corresponding facebook page, which is updated more often. A link is provided on the right sidebar, or you can click here.

Thanks for visiting!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Sunday Song: Toccata on Joy to the World

Merry Christmas!

Concert organist Martin Setchell plays the Toccata on Joy to the World from his 3-Piece Suite, on the Rieger organ in the Christchurch Town Hall, New Zealand. The score is available from www.fagus-music.com



Looking for more Christmas organ videos? Check out my posts from December 2010.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Sunday Song: Come, O Come Emmanuel

Recorded 5th of December 2009 at the Nathanael church in Berlin-Schöneberg. Organ improvisation by Maria Scharwieß over the hymn: Come, o come Emmanuel.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Sunday Song: Adeste Fideles Improvisation

Pierre Cochereau, Notre Dame's organist for 29 years until his death in 1984, improvised this series of variations on the old hymn tune for the cathedral's Christmas Eve Mass in 1970.

It was recorded at its single performance. Jeremy Filsell, Washington National Cathedral's Artist in Residence, transcribed it, & performs it here in a recording made in Liverpool in March 2000.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Sunday Song: Deck Them Halls

Richard Elliott performs his arrangement of "Deck the Halls" on the LDS Conference Center Organ. Elliott performed and wrote the music for the annual Christmas concert in 2010 that featured singing sensation David Archuleta.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sunday Song: Christmas Fantasy

Christmas Fantasy, performed by Mark Andrews in 1925.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Sunday Song: Variations on Thanksgiving Hymns

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is a special installment of a Sunday Song, to celebrate Thanksgiving. Variations on Thanksgiving Hymns by Daniel R. Boyle, played by Daniel on the Rodgers 698 Allegiant Organ at Grace Lutheran Church in Elmore, Ohio.



In case you missed it, here is last year's Thanksgiving video:

For the Beauty of the Earth, played at St Matthias Church, Berlin.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sunday Song: Thanksgiving from Three Meditations on New Hope

Thanksgiving from Three Meditations on New Hope by Thomas Åberg. Here Thomas is playing his own work at the organ in St. Jacob's church, Stockholm.