{"product_id":"the-reluctant-organists-guide-to-richard-ellis-9798306105734","title":"The 'Reluctant' Organist's Guide to Improvisation","description":"Nearly all organists have to improvise at some stage, even if it is only a question of rounding off a piece sooner than expected, prolonging a final cadence or elaborating a hymn tune as the procession or event it accompanies draws to a close. Although brilliant spontaneous improvisation can seem quite magical, with a few pointers and technical 'tricks' 'background' improvisation is a skill that can be learned by any musician. The goal of this guide - explained through over one-hundred musical examples - is to be able to improvise confidently for a couple of minutes, in a a broadly accessible style (some would say a quaint Victoriana idiom) which will neither challenge nor distract the congregation. Each short section concludes with a carefully explained supportive exercise; the steps between the exercises are deliberately kept narrow, for the beginning organist. Starting with a straightforward pedal line, pieces can be built up which incorporate imitative sections, chromatic chordal progressions, changes of key and a variety of textures - including some inspired by historical precedent (such as what the author calls the 'Vivaldi Gambit') to produce a short piece which will usefully serve as background music, while also intriguing the more aware listener.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Richard Ellis\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798306105734\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/06\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 96\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.54lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 11.00h x 8.50w x 0.20d","brand":"Richard Ellis","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49000780169471,"sku":"9798306105734","price":14.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-reluctant-organists-guide-to-richard-ellis-9798306105734","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}