Organ and Choir Tutorial - The Shepherds' farewell

As Christmas comes round once more, church choirs will be turning their attention to the annual carol service. A perennial favourite for inclusion is The Shepherds’ Farewell by Hector Berlioz.
In our tutorial you’ll find some good advice from Ralph Allwood about the performance of this lovely piece, ably demonstrated by the choir and organist.
Explaining how to perform it, Ralph Allwood emphasises the importance of the words, phrasing and dynamics, stressing to the choir the need to enunciate the consonants clearly. He uses various special gestures to remind them of these. “Read ahead and you’ll sing it more musically!” he suggests. One of the most beautiful things, Ralph proposes, is the sequence of harmonic modulations that arise, moving from E major at the start, through B minor, C major, G major and back to E major.
Ralph and Mark discuss the organ orchestration at the opening, which indicates clarinets simulating a shepherd’s pipe call. Most organists attempt to use a plaintive reed at this point, often in both hands, but it could equally be something else suitable, they agree, as one is dealing with an organ rather than an orchestra.
Find out more here: viscountorgans.net/the-shephe...
About this Organ Tutorial Series:
One of an organist’s most subtle and sensitive roles is in the accompaniment of psalms and church anthems. In such an accompanying role, one’s job is rarely to stand out as a performer but to create an underlying musical foundation on which the choir’s singing can build.
For this year’s offering, then, we present a series in which the renowned choir director Ralph Allwood teaches the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir about psalm singing, with three lovely anthems thrown in to the bargain.
They’re accompanied ably by Mark Shepherd on the Viscount Regent 356 organ. You’ll hear Mark exercising all his artistic powers in support of the choir.
Crucially we don’t just show you a performance, but take you through the rehearsal process, during which Ralph explains the pieces, discusses word painting with the choir and organist, and leads everyone towards a good final performance.
For more information about this Organ Tutorial Series and more videos visit our website: viscountorgans.net/organ-tuto...

[@frankjones9024]

Hello Dan, from UK. I,m a 72 Yr old accordionist, for 60 yrs. Always more to learn. Particularly from the bass notes and pedals of the organ in this piece. This is a lovely choir. Berlioz and Bach- two of the best. Rgds Frank in Bristol.

[@ViscountOrgans]

Thank you for watching 🙏

[@danielodhiambo1065]

I am Dan Odhiambo, a choral director in Nairobi Kenya. I have really learned a lot from this choral tutorial. Thank you so much.

[@ViscountOrgans]

Thank you for the nice feedback. Glad it was helpful!