The Solo

Range--Solo in the Pedal Part

If the solo is written in a pedal part, of course, it will be played by the feet. But this pedal solo can sound in any range, depending on the pitch on which the combination is built.

A 4' foundation in the Pedal division will sound in the soprano or alto range, an 8' foundation in tenor or bass, and a 16' foundation will sound in the bass range.

In addition, a skilled organist can play a solo line that appears in any part or range of a two-staff score with the feet. For example, a soprano-range solo written in the treble clef can be played by the feet on a 4' stop, freeing up the hands to play all of the other parts. Such versatility is a valuable skill in an organist.