Resources for Organists
"I wonder sometimes if we realize the importance of music. I wonder if we know that the Lord himself is concerned about it.
He has given us the information that the song of praise is a prayer unto him... It [is] our privilege, yea, our blessing, to sing and ...
our songs should be sung in righteousness."
President George Albert Smith (February 1946 Church News)
Organists have a responsibility of encouraging worshipful singing in our meetings. Most of our congregation members don't look up enough to be following the chorister as they sing the hymns of Zion - it is the sound of the organ they most often follow. As such, this page is designed to provide training and repertoire resources for the organists in the Fresno East Stake. We hope these resources will increase your confidence as you provide this valuable service to our congregations and to the Lord.
Training
Training Resources for new and developing organists.
BYU Organ Study - The New Ward Organist
Dr. Don Cook, professor of Organ Performance at BYU has organized a compressed training program for new organists - particularly
pianists who are lending their talents to playing the organ. Included is a handbook and a book of simplified hymns for organ.
The Latter-day Saint Organist by Jennifer Morgan
Presented in a blog-style site, Jennifer Morgan presents training and recommendations for organists in training and organists seeking to
improve their contribution to music in our worship services.
Free Organ Repertoire
Here are a few resources for free organ music.
Manual-Only Hymns for Organ
This collection, published by the Church, is a helpful compilation of simplified arrangements written in 3 parts for play
on the manuals only - no pedals. Adding the Bass Coupler to the Great manual will help add breadth and bass tones to the pieces.
These are helpful as prelude and accompanying singing with simplified accompaniments.
Easy Hymn Preludes for Organ
Published by the Church in 1981, this book in no longer in print. It features a nice collection of easy preludes, written in 2-staff
format of mostly-manual parts with simple pedal foundations. A great place to start when trying to begin incorporating the pedals in your playing.
Laurel Hunt Pedersen Music
Laurel has arranged a vast library of organ music, including prelude compilations, hymn arrangements, and solos for organ. The
arrangements are of varying levels of difficulty. Worth exploring!
SacredSheetMusic.org
Free Sacred Sheet Music - The website boasts that it has an index of over 4500 arrangements of cost-free sacred arrangements - including several
for organ.
Mike Carson Hymns - Hymnbellishments for Organ
Mike has arranged organ embellishments for almost every hymn in the 1985 version of the Hymn Book. Looking for that
"hymn sweetner"? This is a good place to start.