Three Transcriptios for Solo Organ: Sonata da chiesa Op. 3, No. 3, by Arcangelo Corelli, Overture to La forza del destino by Giuseppe Verdi, Festive Overture Op. 96, by Dmitry Shostakovich

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation was to provide three transcriptions for solo organ along with a performance guide and commentaries for each of them. The original orchestral pieces, Sonata da chiesa Op. 3, No. 3 by Corelli, Overture to La forza del destino by Verdi, and Festive Overture Op. 96 by Shostakovich, were selected according to technical accessibility as well as artistic possibilities for the new performing medium.

Each chapter, devoted to one transcription, is divided into three sections: (1) an introduction, containing a brief overview of the piece and the process of transcription with musical examples; (2) a performer's guide, including basic analysis, registration and manual suggestions, and tempo suggestions for each movement or section; and (3) the organ transcription score, providing suggested registration and manual changes, tempo and dynamics, and an indication of the composer's original orchestration and instrumentation.

Four appendices are given. Appendix 1 presents the stop list of the Gheens Memorial Organ at Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, on which all three transcriptions have been performed. Appendices 2, 3, and 4 are the registration lists used for the performance of these organ transcriptions.