The Cambridge Companion to the Organ

by Nicholas Thistlethwaite, Geoffrey Webber

Overview

This Companion is an essential guide to all aspects of the organ and its music. The early chapters examine the instrument's history and construction, and consider the scientific basis of its sounds, pitch and tuning. Central chapters investigate the practical art of learning and playing, and introduce the complex area of performance practice, while the final section explores the vast repertoire of organ music, by country, focusing on a selection of the most important traditions. The contributors are all experts in their field, making this the most authoritative reference book currently available.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521575843
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/04/1999
Series:	Cambridge Companions to Music
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	356
Product dimensions:	6.81(w) x 9.61(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

1. Origins and development of the organ Nicholas Thistlethwaite; 2. Organ construction Stephen Bicknell; 3. The physics of the organ John Mainstone; 4. Temperament and pitch Christopher Kent; 5. The organ case Stephen Bicknell; 6. Organ-building today Stephen Bicknell; 7. The fundamentals of organ playing Kimberly Marshall; 8. A survey of historical performance practices Kimberly Marshall; 9. Organ music and the liturgy Edward Higginbottom; 10. Italian organ music to Frescobaldi Christopher Stembridge; 11. Iberian organ music before 1800 James Dalton; 12. The French classical organ school Edward Higginbottom; 13. English organ music to c.1700 Geoffrey Cox; 14. Catholic Germany and Austria before 1800 Patrick Russill; 15. The north German organ school before 1800 Geoffrey Webber; 16. The organ music of J. S. Bach David Yearsley; 17. German organ music after 1800 Graham Barber; 18. French and Belgian organ music after 1800 Gerard Brooks; 19. British organ music after 1800 Andrew McCrea; 20. North American organ music after 1800 Douglas Reed; Appendix The church modes Christopher Stembridge.

Editorial Reviews

"...The Cambridge Companion to the Organ...offers the reader an excellent summary of organbuilding, organ performance, and the major schools of organ music. For scholarly, yet accessible surveys of the major schools of organ music, the Companion stands alone." The American Organist

"The Cambridge Companions to Music series offers a concise and useful overview of several musical instruments and a selection of composers. The volume is well laid out and thorough in its coverage, although intentionally limited because of the instrument's long and expansive history." Choice

"...this volume...is to be recommended to the accomplished organist or organ enthusiast. The essays provide much interesting and accurate information and should provoke much stimulating conversation." Peter V. Picerno, Notes

From the Publisher