Performance Major: Organ Concentration

Secondary Study

Although it is not a requirement, first-year organ concentrators are encouraged to study piano or harpsichord as a secondary applied study.

Private Study Committee Examinations

First Major Committee

The first committee examination will consist of approximately 8-10 minutes of solo music prepared with the principal private study teacher to be performed on the Warner Concert Hall Flentrop organ for the organ faculty at the end of the first year. Memorization is optional.

The skills committee consists of a prepared hymn (chosen by the student in consultation with the principal private study teacher) with both a modulation and transposition. A 4-part open score will be provided to the student one week in advance of the examination to be condensed and read at the keyboard. A short piece of organ music will be provided at the committee to be read at sight. Evaluation is Pass/No Pass with comments provided by the faculty.

Second Major Committee

The second committee examination will consist of approximately 8-12 minutes of solo music prepared with the principal private study teacher to be performed on the Warner Concert Hall Flentrop organ for the organ faculty at the end of the second year. Memorization is optional.

The skills committee consists of melodic harmonization prepared in advance of the committee, a hymn to be read at sight and transposed with a modulation to the new key, an improvisation that will demonstrate the tonal resources of the pre-selected organ, and a self-learned composition (chosen by the student) of 6-10 minutes. Evaluation is Pass/No Pass with comments provided by the faculty.

Third Major Committee

The third committee examination will consist of self-learned composition chosen by the faculty and assigned to the student approximately two weeks prior to the committee. In addition, the student must sightread a trio and improvise in a style or genre chosen by the student upon the designated organ (5-10 minutes). Evaluation is graded with comments provided by the faculty.

Performance Requirements

Departmental Recitals

While not required, each student is expected to complete two performances of a work from memory (6-10 minutes) in two departmental recitals on the Finney Chapel organ, typically during the first two years of study.

Junior Recital

Two performances on a divisional, studio recital, or honors recital are expected before the junior recital.

The junior recital must consist of a performance on two of Oberlin’s major concert instruments for a minimum of 25 minutes. Memorization is optional.

Senior Recital

The senior recital must consist of a performance on two of Oberlin’s major concert instruments (contrasting from the junior recital) for a minimum of 50 minutes. Students with a focus in sacred music will present a musical project to be determined in consultation with the principal private study teacher (e.g., ensemble performance, hymn arranging, choral works, etc.) in place of half of the senior recital. Memorization is optional.