Decision Making

Accent

QUESTION: How does the desired strength of the accent influence the amount of time (silence) to be taken between repeated notes or between the various notes of an articulate line?

ANSWER: In general, the more accent that we desire, the MORE time (silence) we should take out of the preceding note. This is only the first of at least three ways to create or enhance an accent at the organ. They may be used separately or in combination:

• DETACH the preceding note by releasing it earlier than normal (that is, by increasing the amount of time [silence] taken between notes).
• DELAY the attack of the note to be accented.
• PROLONG the note to be accented.