Then acquire a knowledge of
harmony, specially useful in accompanying church music with dignity, and
enabling the player to fill in chords which the vocal score (or voice
parts) have left thin and ineffective. Volumes might be written on
accompaniments; but on this subject we would advise amateurs to consult
heart, head, and common sense, and we would recommend them to read Dr.
Bridge's "Organ Accompaniment," one of Novello's music primers, which
will open out to them many possibilities, on the use of which they must
decide for themselves according to their technical ability and the
effect they aim at. It may be they can only try to pull a few weak
voices through the singing allotted to them--in which case a strong,
steady accompaniment of the simplest description is the best.
One word on voluntaries. These should be chosen with great care and the
deepest respect for the church and the instrument, and kept well within
the powers of the player. Amateurs do not as a rule obtain much control
of their nerves, and the greatest help in the world is given by the
knowledge that there is not a "difficult bit" coming.
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