Making music: improvisation for organists

"Making Music: Improvisation for Organists shows that the expression of one's musical thoughts spontaneously and coherently presumes neither a virtuosic command of the instrument nor a magisterial command of music theory. Jan Overduin shows that the great impediment to effective improvisation is simply a lack of confidence and an unwillingness to "let go." The simple but satisfying exercises, therefore, are aimed at bolstering self-confidence and let the student improvise from the start."--BOOK JACKET. "Written in an engaging style and featuring numerous accessible musical exercises, Making Music: Improvisation for Organists is the ideal first introduction to this essential skill."--Jacket.

1. Improvising Melodies -- 2. Improvising on One or Two Chords: Registration and Imagery -- 3. Thirds and Sixths -- 4. The Pentatonic Mode -- 5. Bicinium -- 6. I, IV, and V -- 7. Harmonizing Melodies -- 8. Improvising Hymns/Songs -- 9. Binary Form -- 10. Other Progressions -- 11. Suspensions and More Effective Hymn-Playing -- 12. Ostinato -- 13. Harmonizing Scales and Melodies (I) -- 14. Sequences -- 15. Chaconne -- 16. Passacaglia -- 17. Ornamenting Melodies (I) -- 18. Ornamenting Melodies (II) -- 19. Modulation -- 20. Harmonizing Scales and Melodies (II) -- 21. Reharmonizing Hymns -- 22. Ornamenting Inner Voices -- 23. Cadences -- 24. Descants -- 25. Interludes -- 26. Modulating Interludes -- 27. Canon -- 28. Rondo -- 29. Toccata -- 30. Partita -- 31. Three-Voice Fugue -- 32. Hymn-Anthems -- Appendix A. Jean Langlais as Teacher -- Appendix B. Cadenza for Mozart's Epistle Sonata K. 336.