Gethsemane - Organ Transcription

Hymn 1009, “Gethsemane,” tells an incredible story whose intensity ebbs and flows as the journey progresses. The standard accompaniment provided in the hymnbook is well suited for the piano, but it’s not well suited for the organ, and it doesn’t capitalize on this “journey song” potential.

This organ transcription uses suspensions, movement, and registration changes to drive the story along and allow the congregation to feel the emotion of the text.

Sheet Music

Recordings

Below are two (imperfect) recordings: one made with the GrandOrgue sampleset for Kassel-Niederzwehren, and another made on a Rodgers 790C.

The reverb of a cathedral-style sampleset is helpful especially for the mysterious atmosphere of the second verse, but it’s not strictly necessary if your organ doesn’t have MIDI or you don’t have a GrandOrgue/Hauptwerk setup.

🎵 Gethsemane (Kassel-Niederzwehren)
🎵 Gethsemane (Rodgers 790C)

Registration Suggestions

The dynamic markings throughout the piece map well to four registration changes. You could do this with general pistons or a crescendo pedal.

Rodgers 790C

Dynamic Measure # Swell Great Pedal
mp 1 8’ Bourdon
4’ Flauto Traverso
2 2/3’ Nazard
2’ Flûte à Bec		 8’ Diapason
4’ Spitzflöte		 8’ Octave
8’ Gedackt
mf 19, 46 Add:
8’ Oboe		 Add:
8’ Harmonic Flute
8’ Gemshorn
f 35 Add:
16’ Bourdon doux
8’ Geigen Principal
 Add:
4’ Octave		 Add:
16’ Bourdon Doux
ff 54 Remove 8’ Oboe
Add 8’ Trompette		 Add:
16’ Principal

Kassel-Niederzwehren

Dynamic Measure # Swell Great Pedal
mp 1 8’ Gedackt
4’ Principal
4’ Rohrflöte
2’ Octave
Sesquialtera
1 1/3’ Nasat		 8’ Principal
2’ Octave		 8’ Principal-bass
8’ Gemshorn
4’ Octavbass
mf 19, 46 8’ Gedackt
4’ Principal
4’ Rohrflöte
8’ Cromorne		 8’ Principal
4’ Octave		 (no change)
f 35 8’ Gedackt
4’ Principal
2’ Octave
Sesquialtera
1 1/3’ Nasat
Scharff 3-4f
8’ Cromorne		 8’ Principal
8’ Hohlflöte
4’ Octave
4’ Blockflöte
2’ Octave		 Add:
16’ Subbass
8’ Trompete
ff 54 Tutti Add:
8’ Trompete		 (no change)