Performance Journal – Frescobaldi's organ music

Yesterday’s Bach Birthday concert was a memorable experience. I performed Recercar su Sancta Maria from Fiori Musicali by Girolamo Frescobaldi, and it revealed new layers of understanding that I simply couldn’t reach in practice alone.

The moment the singers entered, the music transformed. At home, I had been humming the fifth voice while practising. But in reality, my attention was often pulled back to the four keyboard voices, which are already quite demanding. Managing clarity, independence, and balance between those lines takes constant focus, and the fifth voice sometimes felt more imagined than fully realised.

Suddenly, the texture made more sense. It became richer and more distinct in sound. The Big School room allowed everything to resonate warmly. The organ’s tone was delicate and refined, while the human voices sounded pure and clear.

Sheet music for "Sancta Maria," displaying vocal melody and lyrics.

Another challenge was the instrument itself. The touch on the Fleig organ was totally different from practising on the piano. The lack of dynamic control through touch meant I had to think more carefully about articulation and timing to shape each phrase. It required a shift in mindset from “pressing into the keys” to “releasing and guiding the sound.”

Fleig organ front view

Fleig organ back view

Looking back, that difficulty was part of what made the performance meaningful. It forced me to listen more deeply and adjust in real time. And when it finally came together, even briefly, it created a sense of balance that felt magical.

In the end, it was an incredibly satisfying experience to perform this piece. What began as a technical challenge became something much more meaningful, and I’m grateful to have experienced it in this way.

Click here to access the recording of the performance.