Is notation for the Hammond organ a help or a constraint?

Boyle, Alex

Is notation for the Hammond organ a help or a constraint?

Publication Date

March 15, 2023

Creator

Boyle, Alex

Abstract

This commentary explores the notational demands of composing for the Hammond organ. The aims of this research have been to develop existing notation for the Hammond, find new performance techniques for the instrument with notation for these, and to develop a notation system to suit the specific needs of the Hammond organ in contemporary classical music. Also, to explore the relationship between composer and performer when writing for the Hammond organ, a relationship that needs to balance the composer’s desire for structure with the performer’s freedom of artistic expression. My compositions for this project are Philly ‘63 for Hammond organ and jazz orchestra and Seven Last Words from the Cross for solo Hammond organ. The notation of these pieces contrast greatly. Philly ‘63 uses an adaptation of conventional left to right music notation and allows artistic freedom for the organist to improvise within guidelines. Seven Last Words from the Cross uses a hybrid notation system of flowchart systems with established music notation conventions and allows the organist freedom in interpretation only.

Item Type

ethesis

Thesis Type

MRes

Supervisors

MacLeod, Duncan

Kelly, Elizabeth

Keywords

hammond organ

musical notation

organ music

Subjects (LC)

M Music

Associated Schools / Departments

School of Humanities

eprints ID

71910

UoN Repository URI

https://repository.nottingham.ac.uk/handle/123456789/58790

Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Name

MUSI4016UNUK(21-22) critical commentary 20383257.pdf

Type

Full-text

Description

Examined. First submission 1 of 6

Size

1.92 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

8d3ec28b32bd1927297790d0332d64a6

Name

20383257_MUSI4016UNUKSUM(21-22) composition Philly 63 Hammond part.pdf