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The Scottish Churches Organist Training Scheme |
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Organist Training Scheme Syllabus |
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The Royal School of
Church Music SCOTS General
Notes relating to all three Stages Examination
Music Service Music – Any
liturgical publication pertaining to any tradition of worship may be
used. The list in Appendix A, which
gives volumes in common use in three major churches, is a guide only. Candidates need not restrict themselves to
their own liturgy or order. SCOTS
encourages its candidates to widen their experience of different liturgies
and practices as much as possible. Anthems and Solos – Any
edition may be used. All the anthems
in the syllabus can be found in The New Church Anthem Book
(RSCM). Accompaniments to solos may
be set for any pitch of voice. Voluntaries – Any
edition may be used, provided it is not simplified or abbreviated. Improvisation The SCOTS improvisation tests are designed
to introduce the idea of playing the organ without written music, organising
the music mentally as one goes along.
The improvisation should be planned in advance, and it is acceptable
that it be memorised. The candidate
may have the musical idea and a simple plan of the improvisation on the music
desk for the duration of the assessment. Because this is a new concept for SCOTS
candidates, until January 2006 the improvisation element of each Stage will
be optional. Candidates who choose
this option and are successful will receive an endorsement on their
certificates. Material relating to
SCOTS training days is currently in preparation. Syllabus Stage 1 Candidates with some keyboard skills but no
organ experience should first work through a tutor such as Percy Buck’s The
First Year at the Organ (Stainer & Bell). Other tutors may be used in consultation with advisers. Section A – Hymns and Songs Play three hymns / songs from
List 1 and three from List 2, and include an introduction to
each. The pedals need not be
used. Alternatively, candidates
may opt to do Section E which includes service music. List 1 Capetown List 2 Come to me Section
B – Voluntaries Play
two contrasting voluntaries chosen from the volumes listed
below. They must each be at least one
page in length. Organ
Music for Manuals Books 1-6 (any book) ed. C. H. Trevor (OUP) It
is recognised that from time to time some of the above titles may not be
available. Try RSCM Music Direct (see
the bottom of this page )in case of difficulty. Section
C – Improvisation
(optional until January 2006) The
improvisation will be prepared in advance.
It will use an idea or material suggested by one of the hymns or
service music offered for the assessment. It should be approximately 30
seconds long, and should display elements of phrasing and structure. An accompaniment is not required at this
stage. Section
D – Viva Voce Answer
questions on: 1. The layout and use of the organ 2. Musical signs and terms found in the
items prepared 3. Appropriate use of the items prepared
in worship Section
E – Hymns and Songs with Service Playing **This
section is an alternative to Section A Play
a total of five hymns / songs selected from BOTH the lists in
Section A plus any one of the following: A
Gospel or Memorial acclamation Section
F – Pedals This
applies only to those who have a pedal board on the instrument on which they
practice. 1. Play the theme (bars 1-8) of J. S.
Bach’s Passacaglia in C minor – BWV 582 2. Play the bass part only on the pedals
of one of the hymns chosen in Section A. Stage 2 Section A – Hymns and Songs Play three hymns / songs from
List 1 and three from List 2, and include an introduction to
each. One item to be played
with manuals and pedals if a pedalboard is available. List 1 Crimond List 2 Noel Nouvele Section
B – Voluntaries Play
two contrasting voluntaries.
They must be at least one page in length, make use of the pedals if
these are available, and be chosen from two different books taken from the
selection below: J.
S. Bach, An Album for manuals only ed. Lethbridge (OUP) It
is recognised that from time to time some of the above titles may not be available. Try RSCM Music Direct (see the bottom of
this page )in case of difficulty. Section
C – Improvisation
(optional until January 2006) The
improvisation will be prepared in advance.
It will use an idea or material suggested by one of the hymns or service
music offered for the assessment. It should be 30-45 seconds long, display
elements of phrasing and structure and have a simple accompaniment. Section
D – Viva Voce Answer
questions on: 1. Organ management 2. Registration of the pieces prepared 3. The choice of simple, appropriate
music for worship Section
E – Service Playing Play
an accompaniment to a non-metrical setting of a psalm (see Service Music in
Appendix A below for psalm types), OR, any part of a Mass / Eucharist /
Communion setting. Section
F – Anthem or Solo accompaniment Play
the accompaniment of any three of the following. The candidate is not required to use the
pedals in this section. Anthems Ave
Verum Corpus Edward
Elgar Solos Ave
Maria Bach / Gounod Stage 3 Stylistic use and confident management of
the organ will be expected. Use of
the pedal board is obligatory, and candidates are requires to show sensitive
use of registration and of the expression pedal. Section A – Hymns and Songs Prepare the complete musical setting,
including an introduction, of a total of six of the hymns /
songs below, chosen from both lists.
The assessor will select three of these hymns / songs for playing at
the assessment. List 1 Crucifer List
2 Jubilate,
everybody Section
B – Voluntaries Play
a balance programme of three contrasting pieces, taking not
less than fifteen minutes playing in all.
One of these must be by J. S. Bach, chosen from one of the
following volumes: Eight
Short Preludes and Fugues attrib. Bach (Novello Book 1; Bärenreiter 6497; Peters 8)
(Prelude and Fugue must be played) (The contents of the Bärenreiter vols 3 and 5 are given in
Appendix B for those using other editions of Bach.) The other two pieces to be chosen from the
following: Eleven Choral Preludes Johannes
Brahms (Any edition, provided not simplified) It
is recognised that from time to time some of the above titles may not be
available. Try RSCM Music Direct (see
the bottom of this page) in case of difficulty. Section
C – Improvisation
(optional until January 2006) The improvisation will use EITHER an
original theme OR free treatment of any idea contained in the music offered
for the assessment. It will last at
least 45 seconds. The accompaniment
will be complete and the structure clearly developed. Section D – Viva Voce Answer questions about: 1.
The performance of the music chosen 2.
The chosen music’s place in worship Section E – Psalm / Canticle accompaniment To play the accompaniments for two
psalms or canticles chosen from the following categories. Both pieces must be chosen from different
categories, and must not have been offered at Stage 2. Four- or five-note chants Section F – Anthem accompaniment Choose and play the accompaniment of any two
of the following anthems: A Gaelic Blessing John Rutter APPENDIX A Publications
containing service music Service music pertaining to any tradition of
worship may be used. The
denominational headings below are merely a guide to the main sources in use
in three of the churches, and are not a comprehensive list. Denominations often share musical
resources and SCOTS candidates are encourages to explore traditions other
than their own. General Common Ground Church of Scotland Church Hymnary: Third Edition (CH3) includes
metrical psalms, various chants, Communion settings and some Gelineau psalms
(as will CH4, due for publication in 2005 with the addition of Taizé chants
and other responsorial psalms.) Scottish Episcopal Church The New English Hymnal Roman Catholic Church Hymns Old and New, Liturgical Hymns Old and
New (both Mayhew) include Mass settings, Taizé chants and
responsorial psalms. APPENDIX B Contents of
Volumes 3 and 5 of Bärenreiter Urtext Edition of Bach’s Organ Works Volume 3
Volume 5
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