A website devoted to teaching/playing/composing for/ the King of Instruments
Apr. 4, 2021
(con't from Part II)
Ask any group of church organists active in the music ministry who perform regularly for worship on an important instrument to describe in three words what the toughest part of Easter is for them, and they're very likely to say, unhesitatingly, "The Widor Toccata." [Symphony Five]
This work is difficult, demanding music, but the standard organ repertoire is actually full of even tougher pieces to perform than this one.
All it takes to master this piece is having the right tools, believe in one's self, give fear the heave-ho, give it a go, give it some diligent practice, and stick with it [See blog, Widor 5 Toccata, Parts I, II, Balance In Organ Playing, Parts I-III].
Many find that progress in learning a work like this which occupies several pages seems quicker by first learning the last two pages, then gradually working backwards through the piece in the direction of the opening a page at a time.
The pages already mastered seem to connect well in performance this way as the newly learned portions grow and are spliced together in practice.