• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“If we do not love those whom we see, how can we love God, Whom we do not see?” Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

  • Our Team
    • Views from the Choir Loft • “Our Team”
    • Our Editorial Policy
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Guillaume Couture Gregorian Chant
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Organ Improviser in the Spotlight: Wayne Warren

Keven Smith · October 25, 2023

HEN IT COMES TO ORGAN IMPROVISATION, where’s a beginner to begin? I wrote last summer about how to get better at improvising. To recap: we can’t play what’s not already in our audiation. And we can only build up our audiational “library” by listening to lots of music.

But as I noted in July, not all music is equally helpful for a beginning improviser. Some of it is far too complex for the beginner to understand, much less emulate. We organ students need accessible masters from whom to learn.

I then shared a valuable resource: OrganImprovisation.com. There, you’ll find links to improvisations by dozens of organists from around the world.

After writing that article, I realized with some alarm that one of my favorite improvisers doesn’t appear on the site.

His name is Wayne Warren. He’s the music director at St. Anne Catholic Church in Ruskin, Florida—a post he has held for nearly 30 years. He records and generously shares many of his improvisations on his YouTube channel. I’ve learned a great deal from Mr. Warren, and I think you can, too.

Six Reasons to Listen to Wayne Warren

What do I love about Mr. Warren’s playing?

1. He uses lots of traditional hymn tunes.

These are bread and butter for any church organist. They’re easy to find for free on the internet, and there’s no shortage of ways to dress up a hymn tune when one must repeat it several times during a long Communion.

2. He modulates effortlessly.

Although one might describe Mr. Warren’s style as conservative, there’s no such thing as a boring rendition on his YouTube channel. Listen to how he plays around with different keys, often head-faking a modulation before quickly returning home:

I often have fun tracking where Mr. Warren started and finished an improvisation and how the keys related to each other along the way.

3. He can move seamlessly from playing a composed piece to improvising.

Let’s face it: this is an essential skill for any church organist.

4. He plays on a Rodgers Masterpiece Opus 1909.

This custom-built instrument provides a vast array of stops and can emulate the sound of a symphony orchestra. Mr. Warren uses his Rodgers to his full advantage as he explores a wide range of colors during each improvisation.

5. He loves the oboe.

If my Hautbois stop sounded as good as Mr. Warren’s, I’d probably never cancel it. It seems to be his go-to solo stop.

6. He’s there to serve.

One need only listen to Mr. Warren for a few seconds to recognize that he plays to make the liturgy more beautiful, not to show off his organ chops.

I hope you’ll enjoy Wayne Warren’s playing as much as I do. More importantly, I hope he’ll inspire you to explore new possibilities for your improvisation—or embolden you to get started if you’ve been hesitant to take the plunge.
Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Improvisation, organ, organ improvisation Last Updated: October 25, 2023

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Keven Smith

Keven Smith, music director at St. Stephen the First Martyr, lives in Sacramento with his wife and five musical children.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
    As I explained in my article posted earlier today, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland is actually a Catholic tune (in spite of what some have claimed). The volunteer choir I direct sang that beautiful ADVENT melody last Sunday, and I invite you to listen to the live recording. It will get better the more we sing it.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Nothing should be allowed that is unworthy of divine worship, nothing that is obviously profane or unfit to express the inner, sacred power of prayer. Nothing odd or unusual is allowable, since such things, far from fostering devotion in the praying community, rather shock and upset it—and impede the proper and rightful cultivation of a devotion faithful to tradition.

— Pope Paul VI • 10/13/1966

Recent Posts

  • What Ever Happened to Advent?
  • An Important Anniversary
  • (Advent, 2nd Sunday) • Introit “Pópulus Sion” Sung According to the Official Rhythm
  • Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
  • PDF Download • “Lo! He comes with clouds descending” (Advent Hymn) — A Catholic Version!

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.