Geoffrey Burgon - Nunc Dimittis

[Martin Cooke]

I need to play this on the organ after a funeral soon. I have downloaded the score (from MusicNotes) and at first glance it all looks straightforward enough but there are places where the voice and trumpet parts meander around each other which could be tricky given that one might rather needs different timbres to represent the two 'voices,' and one's other hand and a foot are busy holding chords. Has anyone a undertaken or come across a 'proper' organ arrangement of this piece. I might be able to get away with it by playing the chords with my feet but I haven't attempted anything yet.

Many thanks, in case you can help.

[Dee E. Surtees]

2 hours ago, Martin Cooke said:

I need to play this on the organ after a funeral soon. I have downloaded the score (from MusicNotes) and at first glance it all looks straightforward enough but there are places where the voice and trumpet parts meander around each other which could be tricky given that one might rather needs different timbres to represent the two 'voices,' and one's other hand and a foot are busy holding chords. Has anyone a undertaken or come across a 'proper' organ arrangement of this piece. I might be able to get away with it by playing the chords with my feet but I haven't attempted anything yet.

Many thanks, in case you can help.

I don’t know the piece, but you could possibly try playing the trumpet part in the pedals?

[Martin Cooke]

Thanks David - no, I don't think that will work on this occasion - but is a trick I used in transcribing Howells' A spotless rose and Leighton's Lully, lulla for organ. They work very well like that though the Leighton needs a 2ft solo stop on the pedal - luckily I have swell and choir octave to pedal stops that help fulfil that function! 

[Dee E. Surtees]

There aren’t many 2′ pedal stops around. Dunblane cathedral has one: https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=N09204 (a reed of some kind, though not sure I’ve ever heard it used)

Octave couplers are very useful when you have them. 

[Tony Newnham]

Would thumbing down for one of the voices work?  Or changing the octave?  Just random thoughts - I've not seen the score.

[Martin Cooke]

Thank you, all. One of our number has kindly and helpfully provided a much clearer score and thumbing is one answer or, I can use my Organ Master shoes and play a triad with my right foot for a middle section. All under control!

[Davidb]

The choral score has the trumpet part written onto the organ stave - it is a simple two manual job. For example, bar 3-6 has the trumpet in the RH, and the chords in the LH only. It's published by Chester Music,