The Influence of the Organ in History: Inaugural Lecture of the Department of the Organ in the College of Music of Boston UniversityBuck, Dudley
History
The Influence of the Organ in History: Inaugural Lecture of the Department of the Organ in the College of Music of Boston University
Buck, Dudley
Organ (Musical instrument) -- History
First: It does not make a sufficient employ of registration within the
limits of one and the same composition. Beauties of contrast, to be
obtained by this means, are too frequently regarded as a matter of less
than secondary importance. This, I am aware, arises from the fact that
the majority of German organs are incapable of producing such variety,
being built with a single eye to accompanying the congregation. In the
direction of the grand and sublime, this school is unequalled; but
surely there are many effects possible to-day which lay no claim to
profundity, and yet are pleasing and worthy of employment by a true
artist.
Second: Ignoring the emotional element in organ music to a great extent,
and substituting the purely intellectual and technical. In their
melodies we recognize the true inspiration of the great composers. The
scientific setting they may give them, the technical dress in which they
may clothe them, thus often greatly enhancing their beauty, is, after
all, a matter of pure science acquired through schooling and dignified
by talent. This appeals to the intellect, and is a most desirable object
of study; but the melodic inspiration itself appeals to the heart, and,
as the God-given quality, is the higher of the two. Now the German
writers for the organ, from Bach to this day, have, as a rule (to which
I am aware there are some marked exceptions), apparently avoiding giving
to the organ that _melodious_ element which their great composers have
so beautifully done, not only in their symphonic writings, but also in
their smallest works for the piano or other instruments. The mere lack
of means for expression (by means of the swell or other mechanical
appliances) is hardly a sufficient explanation of this, nor do I see
anything in the character of the organ to account for it. That the great
German writers following Bach (Mendelssohn excepted), but more
especially the masters of the more recent so-called Romantic School,
have contributed little or nothing towards the literature of the organ,
is really explained by the following remark of Berlioz, in his treatise
on "Modern Instrumentation." Speaking of writing properly for the organ,
he says: "The special resources are here so vast and numerous, that the
composer will never be well acquainted with them, as it appears to me,
unless he be himself an accomplished organist."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account