Student:Yao Hongyu

Student number: 3209229

Early music Department (Organ)

Supervisor: Bert Mooiman

Title: 

              Adapting symphony orchestra music to the organ 

Subtitle: 

              An investigation of transcriptional methods

              Symphony orchestra pieces in organ through  “The Butterfly Lovers” Violin Concerto  

                                                                                                           ——  He ZhanHao,           Chen Gang

Abstract:

This research is about adapting orchestral music to the organ. By studying orchestral transcriptions of different organists, and my experience of adapting The Butterfly Lovers” Violin Concerto, I will summarize some methods of adaption orchestral work to the organ.

From the Baroque period, many composers adapted various works to the organ. In the first, I will start by discussing the works of Bach, Edwin Lemare, Calvin Hampton, and Ekaterina Melnikova, looking for their adaptation methods and finding how they deal with the color and characteristics of music. Later, I will discuss the background of this Chinese orchestral “The Butterfly Lovers” Violin Concerto and the transcription method which I use. At the same time, through this research, I will solve some problems which I meet in the process, such as How to solve problems with the modern technology of the organ and How can I ensure that the original style for the music is not destroyed?

Research Questions:

- How should orchestral music transcription and interpretation be done in an organ?

- Why is the organ a good choice for expressing orchestral music?

- How did other organists transcribe music?

- What is the effect of playing the adaptation of orchestral music? Positive or Negative?

- Are there other instruments that are transcriptions for symphonic music?