Organ shoes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Organ shoes are special shoes worn by organists, designed to facilitate playing of an organ pedalboard and reduce the risk of receiving a marching fracture. Also, organ shoes are worn only at the organ, to avoid picking up grit or grime that could scar or stain the pedals.
The typical qualities of an organ shoe are:
- Being as small as possible, so as to prevent accidental hitting of more than one pedal at a time.
- Having a flexible, lightweight leather upper held snugly to the foot. The material should allow the organist’s feet to glide against each other without sticking together or making noise.
- Having a soft, flexible leather sole which allows the organist to slide his/her feet easily both along and across the pedals. The sole should be thin enough to feel the pedals easily.
- Having a slight heel, of about an inch and a quarter in height and wide enough that it cannot become wedged between two pedals, covered with a soft material such as suede leather to dampen noise.
Few shoes are designed specifically for organ playing. However, many types of footwear have characteristics that make them suitable for use as organ shoes, depending on the needs and preferences of the individual organist.
A lace up ballet slipper, or capezio shoe can also double for an organ shoe for those organists whom are on a budget. Like that of an organ shoe, the ballet slipper, or capezio shoe also allows the organist to "feel" the pedals, and play them with out hitches because they are generally made of the same materials that make up an organ shoe which is a leather upper, and sole for flexibility which is crucial in perfect organ playing, especially on the pedals. Well known organists and beginners alike will strongly agree to this, and it is highly encouraged by organ teachers that "proper" shoes be worn so that pedalling techniques can be executed correctly with out flaws. It was once stated that Alexandre Guilmant got up and left before playing an organ recital in Paris, France in the early 1900's, because the pedals were musty and stained, and instuted the fact that the pedals should be kept clean at all times, hence that is why organ shoes are to be only worn at the organ and no where else. Organ students should also keep their organ shoes in the box, and kept in a separate place from their everyday shoes so that they will not get dirty, and the risk of marring the pedals will be greatly reduced.
Organ shoes are available from specialty stores such as www.organmastershoes.com and www.tictactoes.com
