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Toccata on Shout to the Lord

a composition for organ by Robert Train Adams
masterlist : organ

Duration

4 minutes

Description

This work was written to serve as the postlude for a service featuring the Praise Team. I wanted some organ presence, but in a way that complemented and supported the guitar-based instrumentation of the team. Shout to the Lord (words and music by Darlene Zschech) was our closing song.

With the exception of one section where the right hand has the melody, the right hand arpeggiates chords, always between E4 and E5, while the left hand acts as continuo, with a simple repetition of the chord (somewhat reminiscent of the Widor 5th--but only slightly). This adds an interesting, if somewhat subtle, pedal tone, as an E always happens on beats 1 and 3 (the piece is in 4/4 and in the key of A Major; the E fits the I and V chords perfectly, and adds a 7th, 6th or 2nd to most of the rest of the chords).

The melody, in augmentation, occurs almost completely in the pedal. It's a fun romp, with enough tricky coordination issues (mainly rhythmic) to provide some spice. It was well received by the congregation.

Score Excerpt

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Sound File

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