Hi, a novice organ player question, if you will. Brief background - been subbing almost every week for 3 months, just got an AGO-spec Allen 3100 from 1985 to practice on a home, am gradually learning to use my feet. I've had a couple of organ lessons, I've been reading, I've purchased a method book and a lot of easy organ music.
My approach to hymn playing has been pretty simple - use the bass coupler when available.
So far, I usually set up different sounds on each of two manuals and vary the playing by alternating verses between the manuals, opting for the introduction on the stronger sounding of the two as well as the last verse. Sometimes, I've been pulling out additional stops for later verses. I'm also just starting to use the memory pistons and that's helpful.
For hymn playing, most are notated in 4 parts, so:
1. How do you decide when to play the bass part on the pedals? Is it primarily a musical decision, e.g., you can make a better sound for the piece at hand this way? I realize that technical considerations may also enter in, e.g., if the bass part is particularly busy, it may not be suitable to feet - is that a consideration?
2. If playing the bass part on the pedals, do you _not_ play the bass part where you would if playing without pedals, namely the lowest part on the manual? Does one ever do both, never do both?
Thanks in advance.
-S-
My approach to hymn playing has been pretty simple - use the bass coupler when available.

For hymn playing, most are notated in 4 parts, so:
1. How do you decide when to play the bass part on the pedals? Is it primarily a musical decision, e.g., you can make a better sound for the piece at hand this way? I realize that technical considerations may also enter in, e.g., if the bass part is particularly busy, it may not be suitable to feet - is that a consideration?
2. If playing the bass part on the pedals, do you _not_ play the bass part where you would if playing without pedals, namely the lowest part on the manual? Does one ever do both, never do both?
Thanks in advance.
-S-
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