I need suggestion of works for manuals to be played during Mass. Do you happen to know Dr Callahan's Preludes and Postludes for Manuals? If so, how they sound? Do you know any collection of Recessionals/Processionals for manuals?

Stevekk

Greetings -

I've used Callahan's Weddings for Manuals and it works quite well. I've also had the pleasure of hearing him in recital and meeting him in person as well.

I would also suggest the 80 Chorale Preludes (Peeters) as there are some pieces in there you can play manuals only. Same with Church Organist Golden Treasury (3 volumes).

Hope this helps.

Oxford Univ. Press, edited by C.H. Trevor, publishes "Old English Organ Music for Manuals" in at least 6 books. They contain voluntaries, an In nomine, and Interludes and are very high quality pieces. Look on most publishers web pages( Concordia, Morningstar, Oxford, Hinshaw, etc.) and they should include a sections for manuals only.

Thanks for the suggestions.

stevekk

Just had another thought as far as the sheet music was concerned.

Have you tried looking at the Organ Historical Society's catalogue? They have one on-line ... I believe it's http://www.ohscatalog.com

Was doing some clearing of old catalogues, and noticed the 2003 OHS catalogue, and noticed they had some music for manuals only listed.

You may want to give them a go.

I buy Catholic stuff at GIA PUblications - here is the organ link. http://www.giamusic.com/scstore/P-Instrumental-organ.html

One book (not from GIA) I like is Twelve Chorale Preludes on Gregorian Chant Themes for Organ by Jeanne Demessieux . It seems like so many of the pieces from the Church Organist Golden Treasury are not that great. So many pieces, so few good ones. You know what I do most for interludes? is take the pieces written for Psalms (to be sung before the Gospel) and just play the main note of the chords with my feet and mix up the hands.

I have also found many transcribed Gregorian chant pieces among the church music (Chant Mode III or IV for instance) and those are very nice when split onto different manuals.

I have become comfortable playing piano music on the different manuals. I plan ahead of time what the bass will be and underline it in red.

If you can find music by de Grigny (a french composer from way back)... that sounds excellente. Very complex and ancient but easy enough.

ChemicalGrl and apple,

Thanks a lot for taking the time to write and help. I know Organ Historical Society, where I buy a lot from. The reason why I asked for help is that, here in Brazil, once organ literature is not very much familiar, I wanted to know how the pieces suggested worked. By the way, I just bought
Organ Music for Manuals, edited by C. H. Trevor, which sounds great. Your advice, apple, has been jotted down (I just needed suggestion concerning a liturgical repertoire. I hope Jeanne Demessieux's Twelve Chorale Preludes will really help). Best wishes,
stevekk

Franck wrote some pieces for harmonium, as did Klarg-Elert and Max Reger. Many Italian organs have no pedals, so Italian composers might be a good source.

I second the "Old English Organ Music for Manuals."

Most pre-Beethoven keyboard music will work equally well on piano, harpsichord, or organ.