On another thread about playing solo violin in church, mcm suggested playing the violin and filling in a base line with the pedals on the organ. I wondered if anyone had attempted this and if so do they have any particular tips as to how to actually do it without tying yourself up in knots.

Even if you can manage this I wouldn't let anyone know or else you will be given a broom and asked to sweep the floor while you're about it!

I'll have to practise it in secret first and that is a problem - church open all the time, small village, locals + tourists in and out all the time whenever the organ plays...

OK - it wasn't really a serious suggestion, but Bruhns was quite famous for doing this. I find I can't balance on the stool and don't have room for the violin scroll and bow. This is the only reason I don't do it myself, of course .

Bruhns obviously didn't have a problem with coordination. I have a 6-part fugue by him: two parts in each hand and two on the pedals .

Edit: actually I find there is just room at the console provided I don't make any grand gestures.

A friend of mine plays the flute and accompanies herself in the pedals...

I can see it would be easier on the flute - it doesn't stick out so much.

What is the piece she plays? Or does she have an extensive repertoire?

Somewhere out there will be a clever- clogs, armpit -squelching the Dam-busters march while playing a pedal accompaniment. I suppose in theory, one could also manage a Bob Dylan mouth organ at the same time, if someone were to arrange it.

Don't give them any ideas. By the way, can you arrange flowers?

SB

Surely playing the flute (or violin) while pedaling along is easier than playing a keyboard part? I may just be demonstrating my ignorance of organ playing here, but I was under the impression that as with piano music, there would normally be a part for left and right hands, to which a pedalled part was added. If you were playing the flute (or violin) there would only be one part to read in addition to the pedalled part, rather than 2 (in indeed, more!)...

The problem is with balance rather than coordination. I have just had a go at a de Lalande chaconne with a slow-moving bass and found it perfectly possible in spite of thinking earlier that there wouldn't be room for the violin. However, later in the piece the bass line is decorated and covers much more of the pedal board, and I can't manage it without being able to brace myself on the keyboards as I normally do. Watch an organist play a virtuoso solo pedal cadenza and you will see them hold onto the bench.

At least I've proved to myself that I can play a simple accompaniment that doesn't stray too far from the middle octave. I won't be doing it in public just yet, though.

I had a go today. It worked - I thought it would do my head in and I would get in a tangle but I didn't. I stuck to simple pieces on the violin that I know inside out so that could go on automatically while I concentrated on the pedals. I found it was quite difficult to keep a lovely expressive legato going on on the violin when the accompaniment was more complicated because I basically wasn't sitting still. However the overall effect was lovely even with the most simple of accompaniments with very few chord changes. So, I will be continuing to practise and arrange pieces and if I ever feel brave enough I would do it in public.

Try playing Nellie the Elephant on say , well anything , with an oompah bass on a pedal reed stop ! Fun !