LCMS Worship Institute: S1Ep3. Practical Organ Improvisation – Christopher Evatt

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Improvisation can be scary for the organist who hasn’t done it before, but it doesn’t have to be! This session will present techniques you can use to incorporate organ improvisation into your service playing, whether you’re a natural improvisor or not. We’ll look at hymn playing, hymn introductions and liturgical accompaniment.

Bio:

Christopher Evatt has over 20 years of church music experience and is currently serving as director of parish music at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond, Okla., where he oversees the traditional music program. He is principal organist and pianist, directs the choral and handbell ensembles and spearheaded the installation of a new 4-manual Walker organ in 2023. He regularly composes and improvises for services and has led Reformation Day chorale sings and music reading instructional sessions for the congregation. Dr. Evatt received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music and studied organ with John Ferguson, Judith Hancock and Malcolm Matthews.

This session recording is from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music held July 9–12, 2024 in Seward, Neb. For more information on the Institute, please visit https://resources.lcms.org/worship-planning/2024-institute-on-liturgy-preaching-and-church-music-resources .

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes ; lcms.org/worship

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission