Richard Elliott

Synopsis

American organist and composer

• 1957 born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
• 1966-1975 studied in the preparatory division at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore.
• As a teenager, Elliott was organist for his local Lutheran church and performed in a rock band.
• 1978-1981 assistant organist to Keith Chapman at the John Wanamaker Department Store (now Macy’s) in Philadelphia, home to the world’s largest functioning pipe organ.
• 1980 received his BMus from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
• 1985; 1990 received his MM and DMA respectively from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Elliott's organ teachers have included David Craighead, Dale Krider, William Watkins, and John Weaver.
• 1988-1991 instructor, then assistant professor of organ at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
• 1991 became assistant organist, then principal organist for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Elliott's musical language is influenced by his exposure to gospel and rock music as a teenager, and also by his impressive improvisational and pedal skills. His more lively pieces tend to be virtuosic and improvisational in style. Many of his pieces are great hits with audiences, and show a distinctive sense of humor. He has also written a number of useful teaching pieces for beginning organists.

For details, see the Wikipedia article on Richard Elliott. There is also an article about Elliott's organ career here.

List of Organ Works

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Title	Published?	Publisher
How Firm a Foundation (Hymn harmonization)	Y	WardOrganist.com
We're Not Ashamed (Longhurst; Hymn harmonization)	N
Angels We Have Heard on High (Organ solo)	N
Battle Cry of Freedom (Rally 'Round the Flag; Organ solo)	N
Come, Come Ye Saints (Organ solo)	N
Every Time I Feel the Spirit (Organ solo)	Y	Lorenz A
Go Tell it on the Mountain (Organ solo)	Y	OrganMusicDownloads.com
God of Abraham Praise (Yigdal; Organ solo)	Y	Lorenz A
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Organ solo)	N
Good King Wenceslas (Organ solo)	Y	OrganMusicDownloads.com
Holiday Hoedown (Organ solo)	N
How Firm a Foundation (Organ solo)	Y	WardOrganist.com
Hymn to Joy (Organ solo)	Y	Jackman Music Corp.
I Got Rhythm (Organ solo)	N
I Need Thee Every Hour (Organ solo)	Y	Lorenz A
I Saw Three Ships (Organ solo)	Y	OrganMusicDownloads.com
Ich bin ein Utah Mann (Organ solo)	N
Israel, Israel, God Is Calling ( Organ solo)	Y	Jackman
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (Organ solo)	N
Kuguargesang ("Cougar Song:" Organ solo)	N
Nearer, My God, to Thee (Organ solo)	Y	Lorenz A
Pastorale on a Theme by Mendelssohn (Organ solo)	Y	Lorenz A
Prelude on Deliverance (Organ solo)	Y	Ard Publications (OrganTutor)
Shall We Gather at the River (Organ solo)	N
Shepherds' Dance (Organ solo)	N
Simple Gifts (Organ solo)	Y	Jackman
Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above (Organ solo)	Y	Lorenz A
Slane (Organ solo)	Y	Jackman
Teach Me to Walk (Organ solo)	Y	Jackman
We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet (Organ solo)	N
When Johnny Comes Marching Home (Organ solo)	N
Title	Published?	Publisher

Background and General Perspectives on Performing These Organ Works

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Registration and Organs

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Fingering and Pedaling

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Articulation and Phrasing

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Ornamentation

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Tempo and Meter

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Scores and Editions

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Recordings

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Free Online

Improvisation on Hymn to Joy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szwm-WfvVSc

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Other Resources

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Notes

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