Review

Reviewed Work(s): Pipe Organ Registration by Jack C. Goode

Review by: Luther Noss
Source: Notes, Second Series, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Autumn, 1965), pp. 735-736
Published by: Music Library Association
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/894426
Accessed: 07-02-2019 11:26 UTC

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31-32," as stated on page 2118. (A wanger
wanger but
but
apparently
apparently
has not
hasearned
not earned
a a
concerto for two trumpet choirs withseparate
separate entry.)
entry.)
timpani, woodwinds, divided string or-The
TheCyclopedia
Cyclopediawould
would
be more
be more
useful useful
if
if the
chestra and two harpsichords is contained theeditorial
editorial
staff,
staff,
by means
by means
of cross-
of cross-
in D.D.T., Bd. 29-30.) references,
references, hadhadcoordinated
coordinated
information
information
scattered under various entries. Many
Lack of thorough revision is the prin-
cipal weakness of this edition. Accord-inconsistencies might also have been elim-
ing to the preface, the editorial staffinated in the process. For example, The
American Music Lover "was founded
"worked over, article by article, the en-
tire text of the book" in order to issue in May, 1935" (page 64), but The
a "really new, up-to-date version." In American Record Guide, "originally
many instances, revision of old material called The American Music Lover" was
is slight, consisting either of the addition "founded in 1934" (page 65). No men-
of a few sentences or the deletion of tion is made of an opera, Jezabel, in the
several paragraphs. Hindemith's career, article on Ernest Bloch, and his death
for example, from 1938 to 1954 (not to noted on pages 234 and 237. But
is duly
his death in 1963) is summarized in nine on page 1078, one waits for that time
sentences. In the list of his works, "when Ernest Bloch finishes his Biblical
Des Todes Tod and the Quintet, for opera, Jezabel." A cross-reference from
clarinet and strings, opus 30, are still television and music to the material on
described as "unpublished," although that subject found on pages 212, 425,
Schott published them respectively in 1336, 1443, and perhaps elsewhere
1953 and 1955. Other major works are would have been helpful. Chance music
omitted, for example, the Pittsburgh is discussed in the article on Stockhausen
Symphony (published in 1959 and per- but no cross-reference from chance or
formed not only in Pittsburgh but in aleatoric music leads to it. The Ondes
New York and London) and Concerto Musicales or Ondium Martenot is entered
for organ and orchestra, composed inunder "Martenot, Les Ondes" with no
1962 for the new organ in Philharmonic cross-reference.
Hall, Lincoln Center. Despite the manyNevertheless, the Cyclopedia has proved
developments in music libraries sinceits usefulness during a quarter of a
1939, the original article on Libraries of
century-to librarians, to young students,
Music-unsatisfactory even in 1939 in television
its and radio commentators, writ-
coverage of American libraries-was re- ers of program notes, clubwomen, lay and
tained unchanged. Consequently, on musically trained readers in search of
page 1200, the ghost of "Miss Dorothy quick, easy to assimilate information.
Lawton . . . remains in charge of the Large music libraries with ample re-
Circulation Department" of the New York sources for information on developments
Public Library. On page 45, "revision" of the past twenty-five years may not
of the article on the American Guild offind this edition an essential purchase.
Organists was accomplished by retainingSmall libraries with a meager stock of
music books may find it a profitable
the first two paragraphs of the original
investment, even though use must be
1939 article and deleting the final four
paragraphs concerning the status, size,tempered with caution for reasons al-
chapters, and officers as of 1938. (In-ready enumerated. The International
Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians con-
cidentally, the Music Library Association
rates three and one-eighth lines. Notestinues to be the most comprehensive one-
volume encyclopedia of music.
is mentioned in the biographical sketches
of Richard Hill and William Lichten- IRENE MILLEN

Pipe Organ Registration. By Jack C. Goode. New York, Nashville:

Abingdon Press [c1964] [208 p., music, illus., 8vo; $5.50]
This is the type of book that every efforts to provide his students with every-
conscientious teacher of the pipe organ thing he feels they should know about
swears that he will write one day. His this complex instrument and its music in
735

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all of their many guises, to say nothing technical principles of registration are
of how to play it, have led him to considered, but greater emphasis is
assemble a vast array of miscellaneous placed on the actual musical problems
supplementary material drawn from involved in their application. The book
many sources. He is convinced that itis, in fact, an all-purpose textbook for
would be a marvelous idea to put it all the beginner, with virtually every aspect
together in a single volume which couldof the organ-playing art receiving some
be used as a textbook by his pupils (and attention. There are 25 chapters. The
hopefully those of other teachers also.) first 14, occupying only one-third of the
It would indeed. There are, however, book (62 out of 187 pages of text), deal
some formidable problems. One is ob- primarily with basic principles and
viously the fact that there is too, much mechanical matters. The seven chapters
to cover adequately in such limited which follow (100 pages) are given to
space. The materials must be drastically the various national traditions, as noted
abridged and tightly condcnsed, proce- above. In the final 20 pages there are
dures which can easily detract from the brief discussions of necessarily limited
value of such a work. Another difficulty, value concerning hymn accompaniments,
and a real one, is to maintain an ap- vocal and choral accompaniments, articu-
propriate degree of objectivity. This islation in organ playing, and the early
not easily done when the pipe organ andhistory of the instrument. A bibliography
its music are under discussion, as any of books and music, and an abridged dic-
organist will quickly attest. tionary of organ stops complete the
Mr. Goode, an experienced teacher and volume.
player who is a member of the music It is doubtful if any organ teacher
faculty at Wheaton College in Illinois, reading the book will be completely
has made a fine try and his book has satisfied with what he finds. He might
several interesting features. Perhaps the honestly disagree with Mr. Goode on
most worthwhile of these are the chap- many points, ranging from his ques-
ters on the organ and the organ-music tionable use of certain terms to his
traditions of the seven leading national rather curious assessments of particular
schools: Italian, French, Spanish, Ger- composers and their music. There are
man, Dutch, English, and American. some who will also object to his minimal
Characteristic tonal designs are dis- treatment of registration problems relat-
cussed, with typical specifications given, ing to the contemporary organ of classic
and brief notes on the musical forms tonal design. Although it was not in-
most frequently used are added. Repre- tended as a scholarly book in the usual
sentative composers are named, and cer-sense of the term, a large part of it is
necessarily concerned with historical
tain of their works are used as examples
materials. Here there are some real
for registration. Although these brief ac-
weaknesses, and anyone wishing to use
counts can be faulted on several points,
particularly in their treatment of the the book for other purposes should keep
music itself and of the composers, theythis in mind. It cannot be recommended
nevertheless provide a useful and con- as a reference book for library use.
venient means of presenting this essen-Mr. Goode deserves credit, neverthe-
tial material to the beginning student.less, for having undertaken this project.
The title of the book is somewhat mis- If he has not been entirely successful in
leading. The word "registration" suggests meeting all of the problems which such
that the contents are chiefly concerned an assignment poses he has at least
with descriptions of stops and suggestions made a good start. Perhaps it may also
for their use. Actually, the term is used encourage someone else to try.
here in a much broader sense. The LUTHER Noss

736

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