Creative Hymn Playing Techniques

Last week I happened upon the Music 116–Organ Techniques and Literature podcast.  I'd downloaded the Overcast app for iPhone and I love it.  This podcast is reading/listening material for BYU's Music course of the same name.  Each episode was easy listening IF you're familiar with your organ stops.  I've been working on this recently and am finding success thanks to two resources:

Common Stop Names Listed by Pipe Category and Family of Organ Tone (page 11 in the New LDS Organist's free packet of supporting materials)

Classifications of Organ Stops (page 14 in "Organ Registration: A Comprehensive Treatise on the Distinctive Quality of Tone of Organ Stops" by Everett E. Truette; available from Google Books)

Here's what I did:

1. I read chapters one and two of Organ Registration.
2. I took a cursory glance at Common Stop Names.
3. I took a print out of Common Stop Names to my organ and noted which stops are available on my organ (and on which rank).
4. I then listened to the podcast episodes.

There are only six episodes.  Listen to them in order of publishing date.  The longest episode is half an hour but the others average just under 10 minutes.  Take notes.  Thank you Don Cook.

Being familiar with my stop options, referencing my notes on guidance for stop selection, and gaining a broader understanding of stop classifications is making all the difference.  I am more confident now in preparing registrations in advance of a practice session (meaning away from the organ) and then taking my plan to the organ and hearing something that is actually pleasing to the ear.  It's exciting!