Introduction

Playing an organ manual is usually a surprise to the pianist on his first attempt at playing the organ. While the arrangement of the sharps and naturals is familiar, that is where the similarity between the piano and organ stops.

Even the fingers of highly-trained pianists feel awkward at first. The most apparent differences between the two instruments become immediately apparent: the feel of the keystroke, the need for registration, the sustained nature of organ tone, and the absence of the sustaining pedal.