Organ Transcriptions

Isabelle Demers

Thursday, June 23, 10 AM
Grand Ballroom B

This workshop will explore some techniques related to transcribing works, such as evaluating potential works for transcriptions; piano vs. orchestral scores; strategies for quickly reading and understanding orchestral scores; identifying key elements of a work; and adapting non-idiomatic passages to the organ. We will look at the approach adopted by previous transcribers, including Edwin Lemare, Jean Guillou, and Max Reger. After a look at some techniques – double-pedaling, thumbing down (or up!) – and registration strategies essential to transcriptions, we will end the workshop by realizing our own short transcription: Berlioz’s Marche au Supplice from his Symphonie Fantastique.

A native of Quebec, Isabelle Demers has established herself as one of the most sought-after musicians of her generation. She has toured extensively in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and in Europe. Dr. Demers holds the BM in piano and organ from Le Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, as well as MM and DMA from the Juilliard School, where she studied with Paul Jacobs. She is Assistant-Professor of Organ and Head of the Organ Department at Baylor University, where she teaches applied organ and other courses in the organ curriculum.