Technique is not really an optional extra on any instrument. It can be acquired by doing plain technical exercises, or it can be learnt circumstantially as elements of it are needed – or both. These pieces take at least one element of playing and engage with it, offering multiple opportunities to practice that skill. These are blatant pastiches, borrowing heavily from the styles and mannerisms, and sometimes even the devices, of real composers. Each is based on a hymn or plainsong theme, and each explores the underlying meaning or concept in expressive, or representational, ways. There is work to do in presenting these aspects, as well as in technique. The level of difficulty should be within the skillset of someone of about Grade 4–6 piano standard.

Listen to Rosemary Field performing all the pieces on an organ loaned to the RSCM by Viscount Organs, Wales.

CREATOR ALME SIDERUM

AVE MARIA

SOUTHWELL

O JESULEIN SÜβ

IN DULCI JUBILO

WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET DER MORGENSTERN

AUF DER TIEFE (HEINLEIN)