Organ Music Tutorial: Festival Voluntary - Flor Peeters

The Festival Voluntary is essentially a piece that demands bright registrations, relying strongly on the mixtures and possibly some mutation stops for a touch of spice. While 8′ and/or 4′ reeds are specified in places, if these are to be used it’s probably best if they are of a lighter/brighter continental quality, as opposed to the fuller tromba tone of say a Willis or a Harrison. That’s what you’ll hear when Jonathan uses occasional instances of reeds in the chorus on this Regent Classic organ.

As Jonathan points out in his introduction, Peeters marks his phrasing and registration intentions clearly on the score, and the player would be well advised to stick closely to them. The dynamic of the piece doesn’t drop below mezzo-forte, and there’s not much opportunity here to introduce quieter or more mellow registrations, but Jonathan suggests that there’s the opportunity to introduce a degree of tonal variety.

Find out more about this piece here: regentclassicorgans.com/festival-voluntary-op-8…