Faber Early Organ Series, Volume 5: Organ Book

The music ranges from intricate polyphonic structures to intimate dance-like pieces and ceremonial works, each reflecting its regional and temporal context. Moving through these volumes feels like tracing the evolution of keyboard music across Europe, discovering both familiar forms reinvented and entirely unfamiliar genres.

This collection serves organists at intermediate level and beyond who want to move beyond standard Baroque repertoire into the broader European tradition spanning two centuries. It's essential for anyone preparing a historical survey program or building depth in early keyboard literature.

• Study the ornamentation and registration sections before beginning; early organ music depends on understanding period conventions for embellishment and stop choices that differ markedly from later practice
• Use the critical commentary to understand each piece's source and editorial decisions, which will inform your interpretation of notational ambiguities
• Experiment with different manual combinations and coupling options; the pieces were written for specific organ layouts, and finding the right registration transforms how the music speaks

Volume 5 works well as a source for thematic concert programming around a specific region or period represented within the Early Organ Series. You can draw individual pieces for recitals or services, or use multiple volumes to construct a comprehensive historical survey spanning your season.

• Reading editorial conventions and understanding source notation
• Applying period-appropriate ornamentation and articulation
• Selecting and combining organ stops according to historical registration practice
• Interpreting music from multiple European regions and centuries
• Understanding the historical context of early organ forms and styles