
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
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International concert organists, authors, and bloggers Dr. Vidas Pinkevicius and Dr. Ausra Motuzaite-Pinkeviciene are the creators of Secrets of Organ Playing, a blog, podcast, and training site for thousands of organists from 89 countries. They create a daily blogs and podcasts with organ-playing advice and inspiration
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
1d ago
Today I'd like to share with you my organ video of Open the Kingdom from Songs from Liquid Days by Philip Glass (1986). This was a project we did with Vilnius University Culture Centre on December 4, 2025 for the 30th anniversary of Vilnius University choir "Pro Musica". It was performed at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Concert Hall. Conductor - Gediminas Gelgotas, VU choirs - "Pro Musica", "Virgo" and "Gaudeamus" (artistic director Rasa Gelgotienė), soloists - soprano ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
1d ago
Today I'd like to share with you my rendition of Estonian Folk Tune No . 1: Moderato by Edgar Arro (1911-1978), a famous 20th century Estonian composer and organist. This time this is a recording from the live recital with Vidas "Baltic Reverie" from the tiny town in the Northern Iceland - Blönduós. The church there has a unique design which was a matter of quite an extensive debate when it was first built. Inside of the church there's a lovely medium size two manual and pedal ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
1d ago
Yesterday I had a pleasure of observing Janis Kalnins and his colleague Aleksandrs work on the pipework of the elegant Baroque style organ at Oginski chapel of VU St. John's church. Five out of eight stops were already operational so it was nice to try them out. Hope you will enjoy the video! Organ specification: http://vargonai.lt/vargonai_vilnius_oginskiu.htm You can support this channel by becoming a member here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO4K3_6QVJI_HlI5PCFQqtg/joinIf you ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
4d ago
Welcome to episode 717 of Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast. This question was sent by Pamela and she writes:"I would be interested in tips on how to accompany plainsong chant. I know that many people do not like or approve of chant accompaniments but many USA churches use them. The organist often has to invent on the spot ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
6d ago
Today I'd like to share with you Communion in G Major by French 19th century composer and organist Louis James Alfred Lefebure-Wely (1817-1869). Hope you will enjoy the sounds of Physharmonica ca. 1865 by Trayser which stands at St. Joseph church in Haarlem. Ausra and I would like to thank for this amazing opportunity Erik Jan Eradus who is the titular organist of this church.You can support this channel by becoming a member here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO4K3_6QVJI_HlI5PCFQqtg/j ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
6d ago
I hope you will enjoy my rendition of Dieterich Buxtehude's famous Toccata in d, BuxWV 155. I recorded at Vilnius University St. John's church which was renovated last year by Janis Kalnins and his team from Latvia.We support Ukraine: https://www.blue-yellow.lt/enIf you like what I do, you can buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduoPayPal: https://PayPal.Me/ausramotuzaiteMy Hauptwerk setup: https://www.organduo.lt/tools.htmlTotal Organist - the most comprehensive organ t ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
1w ago
Welcome to Learn with Vidas series! Today I'm going to teach you how to improvise a simple meditation on the famous Gregorian chant tune SALVE REGINA. This process will help you not only to improvise but also to compose a piece of music if you want to. I'm trying to get my friend James Flores to compose a meditation on this beautiful tune so this tutorial is for him. Don't forget to send me your requests of what you would like to learn next. Hope you will enjoy it!Today's sample set - Swe ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
1w ago
Today I'd like to share with you my rendition of these delightful 6 Miniatures for Manuals (Set 4) by Tim Knight, contemporary composer from the UK which I recorded on Hauptwerk Alessandria sample set. Hope you will enjoy it!00:00 Intrada01:46 Contemplation03:49 Old English Tune05:51 Flute Frolic07:06 Pavane09:20 FinaleScore: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/six-miniatures-for-manuals-set-4-22896932.html?aff_id=454957You can support this channel by becoming a member here: https ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
1w ago
Today I'd like to share with you my rendition of Andante festivo, JS 34 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). This solemn, hymn-like piece was written in 1922 originally for string quartet. In 1938 the composer arranged it for string orchestra with timpani and in 1939 he conducted it for a radio broadcast by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra on the occasion of the World Fair in New York City, making it the last appearance of Sibelius as the conductor and the only instance ..read more
Secrets of Organ Playing Blog
1w ago
Today I'd like to share with you my Meditation on "Slane", Op. 89. I recorded it using Sweelinq Goch sample set. Hope you will enjoy it!Score: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/meditation-on-slane-op-89-organ-solo-by-vidas-pinkevicius-2022-22259362.html?aff_id=454957You can support this channel by becoming a member here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO4K3_6QVJI_HlI5PCFQqtg/joinIf you like what I do, you can buy me some coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/organduoPayPal: https ..read more