49: Air - James Hook

Firstly I explain where I'm up to with a Bach Chorale Prelude, then I play another manuals only piece - another "Air" - this one is by James Hook.
Registration for Air: Swell Rohrflute (8) coupled to Great Stopped Flute (8) and Open Flute (4). Choir Bourdon (8) and Krummhorn (8)

[@derek5459]

That was lovely, thank you. Believe me, you are not alone, I also take weeks or even longer to learn some pieces. I know how frustrating it can be, you think you’ve mastered it and the next day it goes wrong again. It's what we do and enjoy. Keep going!

[@Dioscuri13]

Enjoyed the Air very much, a lovely piece to listen to. Loved how you kept that great rhythm going, perfectly smooth but with a bit of lift and bounce.

[@RienSchalkwijk]

Beautiful music. Thank you for sharing!

[@sverrearnebrandal8373]

Unfortunately age is not an advantage when it comes to learn quickly. I can say that from my own experience. But I think you are doing well.

[@benjamindaniel8467]

It's hard to answer why you think it's taking you a long time to learn the Bach piece ... you play both hymns and manuals-only pieces very well. Do you have a good pedal technique? It may be worth tackling the pedals alone before adding either then both hands. The ending sounds good and I like the tempo. A serious thought would be to have a few lessons with a helpful and sympathetic teacher.

[@theorganloft8421]

Thanks for your helpful comments. I'm still struggling a bit with the AGO pedalboard but I can play pedals reasonably well for hymns. I find with Bach the pedals often move independently of the manuals. I must go back to my organ primer and practice the left hand and pedal exercises again.

[@benjamindaniel8467]

@@theorganloft8421 the trendy ("authentic") approach to Bach is to play the pedals using just toes. Personally I wouldn't worry too much about that; Bach didn't have an AGO pedalboard for a start! The occasional heel could come in handy at the end (which you've already learnt) but, looking at the score, I notice that the pedal line lends itself almost entirely to the use of alternate toes. Try and find the right notes by feeling for the gaps rather than looking.
You won't need the swell pedal, which is convenient. I recently went to a organ concert where the player's left foot was dancing around all over the place whilst the right foot was glued to the swell pedal! I began to wonder whether they were going to play _any_ notes with the right foot... That's the sort of habit you want to avoid.