David Coram Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 May I highly recommend the two "Masterclass" discs by Nigel Allcoat on improvisation. For those of us who stick to "safe" formulas, here are step by step guides to unlocking the doors. Very impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 The John Riley series from Organists' Review a few years back is also very accessible and user friendly - he also produced a book + CD at about the same time which goes into rather more detail. I am not sure whether this is still available though. AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Bennett Posted December 4, 2005 Share Posted December 4, 2005 I had some tuition from Nigel Allcoat on a course in Cambridge last year. He really is quite extraordinary - inspirational, hilariously funny, outrageously forthright. Did he really tell the dean of a cathedral that has recently had their organ rebuilt that its best feature was the off switch? He says so, and I wouldn't put it past him. He was particularly scathing about what he called "creepy-crawly improvisation," encouraged us to play all over the range of the instrument, and tried to stop us thinking in terms of harmony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Coram Posted December 5, 2005 Author Share Posted December 5, 2005 Oh! Truly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nigel ALLCOAT Posted December 8, 2005 Share Posted December 8, 2005 I had some tuition from Nigel Allcoat on a course in Cambridge last year. He really is quite extraordinary - inspirational, hilariously funny, outrageously forthright. Did he really tell the dean of a cathedral that has recently had their organ rebuilt that its best feature was the off switch? He says so, and I wouldn't put it past him. He was particularly scathing about what he called "creepy-crawly improvisation," encouraged us to play all over the range of the instrument, and tried to stop us thinking in terms of harmony. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh! I thought that I am always most serious when teaching in Cambridge! (Just been drawn here by a search!) Fascinating reading in all these pages and I see many familiar names too. Best wishes, Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Also - if you want something else different from the Cochereau/Briggs style of improvisation try Gerre Hancock on his JAV CD from Washington National Cathedral (see another recent thread on this site relating to that instrument). His improvised symphony is stunning and just about uses everything the organ there has to offer - and all in the best possible taste too! AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heva Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 ... the Cochereau/Briggs style ... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Don't like that denomination - there is 'Cochereau' and many who try to imitate him, but one always heres when the great Pierre is playing ... You might also try this and/or this. Very interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Thorne Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 They look like interesting CD's, have played Bavo myself - very nice. Some other improvisers - Pierre Pincemaille, A Mason and J Pryer from B/ham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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