My Dad (a church organist) had to learn this after Princess Margaret's wedding because all the local brides wanted it. He could only dream of playing it this well but I loved to sit with him at the organ while he played. It made me so proud of him.
I am sitting here marvelling at the skill of the composer, the brilliance of the playing and the craftmanship of the organ builder. What an absolute treat this is.
this song makes me cry everytime i hear it and as an 18year old boy thats not normally a good think but my grandparents loved it and it was played at thier funerals and it gets me everytime, beautiful
This is abolutely wonderful! Memories of my wedding day in a small English church, a fantastic pipe organist playing this piece as I walked out with my new husband. Thing was, I remember wanting to stay to sit and listen!
Oh Thank GOD! FInally someone who doesn't treat this piece as a Formula 1 race! The full majesty of that pedal line needs time. There are some serious demands made on the wind reserves of an organ for this piece, and those 32ft reeds need time to speak sometimes. Bravo!
This performance is so amazing!!! I heard a recording of it played by the late Jeanne Demessieux 30 years ago, and it truly reminded me of her. His lithe, airy, and fluid playing of it would make Widor very proud!!! Well Done!!!
Truly a masterpiece of technical prowess, musicality and artistry. It is a rare pleasure to hear this so well played on such a great instrument. A huge compliment to the organist, the composer and the organ builder. The 32 foot pipes are very demanding on the organ's wind reserves, so big up to the organ builder -- this beautiful instrument kept up flawlessly. The 32 foot pipes also take time to sound given the amount of air required. The timing and clarity of the notes and in particular the pedals are testament to the organist’s and the organ builder’s skills. This is the first time I've heard this piece played at the correct tempo. Diane Bish plays it way too fast! This rendition brought a tear to my eye -- sheer majesty. The pedals need time for their sheer majesty.
This is the best I have ever heard of this popular organ work. The pedal is very clear and you can actually distinguish the notes on the swell organ. It also is not rushed which allows for the greater enjoyment of the music.
Not only does Frederick Hohman play brilliantly,he produces and engineers recordings that I should think are the envy of many.Favorite moment in this one is at 3:48 when both feet start playing octaves- if you ever get the chance to see Fred live,do it!
This is truly an amazing performance. Wonderfully played...and all from memory! Bravo good sir! I first heard this piece when I was about 11 yrs old played by Simon Preston for the Royal wedding of one of the Princesses way back in 1960. It has been my favourite piece since then and I'm now 66! All I can play of this is a few of the opening chords....lol
I have to agree with organist12345, this is a beautiful recital. The registration of the pedal stops at 03:34 is absolutely perfect for the piece and the instrument. With the greatest respect, sometimes American organists overcook the pedal part and spoil this and other pieces, but this was wonderful from start to finish. 5 stars!
This is the best version I've found here on RUclips. It's just the right speed and you can actually hear the music. Other versions are either too fast or the tones get drowned in one loud mess.
One of my very FAVORITE pieces of organ work. My GrandDad played this quite often for postludes at my church I grew up in. He played this the best, imo. Love it!
Wow! This fine musician has the control and the passion for this composition. I admire his reserve in not rushing the notes but keeps his tempi intact. Congratulations for a wonderful performance.
I wonder what it was like to be Hohman when he played this... Being able to masterfully play a piece as hard as the widor toccata. Gives me goosebumps just listening to it, so I can only imagine how one feels actually playing this.
Absolutely stunning! I agree with Thomas (below)... best version of this I've ever heard, not just on RUclips, but anywhere. Your playing is brilliant. To finally hear this piece played at a tempo that makes sense considering the acoustics and articulation (and honoring the composer's wish) is SO musical and SO refreshing. I would love to hear you play a full recital someday, Mr. Hohman. You are a magnificent musician. Thank you.
so beautiful and so amazing. the talent that organists have is so uplifting. i have nothing but respect for those who play the organ so effortlessly. bravo!
Marvellous. This has always been one of my favourite pieces of music of any genre and the posting is particularly welcome because we get to see this talented player in action, as well as the venue in which it was played and some context too. A small point, but thanks too for not cutting off the video at the end as so many do. the way the final two chords die away into the interior of the Cathedral is just magical and finishes the piece off beautifully.
Les Allemands ont la "Toccata in d-minor" et les Français ont leur "Toccata in F-Major"! Oui, sans doute l'une des plus belles versions de cette toccata, toujours avec votre immense talent Mr. Hohman, talent dont je suis grand admirateur. Je joue régulièrement vos transcriptions du Nutkracker en concert (en Belgique et en France) et croyez bien qu'elles rencontrent un très très grand succès. Si vous me lisez, soyez-en remercié, et pour tout ce que vous apportez de beau dans le monde de l'orgue!
I met this guy a couple years back when he did a recital in nearby Lyons NY...small upstate NY village, ironically, about 5 miles from NEWARK, NY, lol! Just a great organist and really nice guy. Of course, I had to buy the CD they mention in this vid and he was happy to autograph it!
I chose this piece as the one I would have played at my funeral because it is absolutely wonderful. Frederick thank you so much for your rendition. HAL
I love this magnificent instrument! The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a wonderfully complimentary acoustical environment for the organ. Listen to those awesome pedal pipes speaking from their towers at the back of the nave. WOW! It reminds me quite a bit of some of those churches in Paris.
Saw him many years back when he performed on a decent organ we have nearby in a little podunk town. Really nice guy I remember. I bought that CD that they plug in this video (French 5ths) and had him sign it for me.
Excellent, this could not have been played any better. Perfect timing, skill and registration. Thank You for a truly emotional and enjoyable experience!
This is fantastic! Registration, tempo and clarity are all excellent. Another big difference compared to other recordings is his smooth transition from one major section to another and when changing stops. In some recordings the organist either slows down or takes a momentary break between sections.
je découvre cette oeuvre magistrale et sans égal !!! c'est un déferlement sonore d'une rare intensité avec ce thème obsédant !!! sans fuite possible, on est appréhendé par cette émotion que seul l'orgue peut donner !!! c'était un grand compositeur , ayant connu St Saens et bien d'autres grands de la musique !!! merci pour cet espoir que procure cet univers sonore complet !!! et infini !!! il y a de la conception de l'univers !!! ce pourrait ètre un sublime support sonore pour un chef d'oeuvre cinématographique !!!
Splendid performance of this piece. Right tempo, crisp technique--heavenly! Used this for my wedding recessional 28 years ago; it was perfect although my mom hated it!
WOW - Simply amazing! I really have no other words to describe this performance. The only bad thing about this recording; I was not there to hear it in person.
I agree. This is one of the best I've heard. Some people play this so fast just to be flashy. Widor could never have played it as fast as some do today. Bravo!
Mr. Hohman plays the new 4 manual console near the front altar. The organ is the masterpiece of the Schantz Organ company. It has 50 ranks, or sets of pipes near the altar and 100 ranks near the back of the cathedral. Two organs really. Both playable from consoles in the front and back of the building. The building itself has some of the most impressive carved marble inside, and stained glass of any church in America.
Wonderful performance Mr. Hohman! Your rendition of this magnificent Toccata has taught me the tempo at which I will play this piece for my cousin's wedding recessional in September. Bravo!
This makes me want to visit Newark even more! I've always wanted to see this cathedral, but now I want to go hear its organ too. Watching this is the next best thing. Thanks for posting it.
One of the most imaginatively registered recordings of the Widor I've come across. Nice to hear the slightly more strident swell reeds raising their heads above the chorus. I liked this a lot. Thanks.
The pedalboard is 32 notes, spanning two and one-half octaves. Low C to High G. This range appears to be a modern standard compass, at least in America. Many pedalboards, especially those in Europe and UK have 30 notes... low C to high F. The lens on the pedal camera does make it look big, I will admit! Thanks for writing. - FH
One of the best performances I have heard. Right tempo, right dynamics, right phrasing, right touch. I have actually played this piece on a pipe organ but not as well. Playing on a pipe organ can be confusing because of the delayed action, delayed hearing of pipes at a distance, and dealing with echoes.
Bravo! Flawless work. Thank you for doing such a superb job with my all-time favorite organ piece ... and for sharing it with the rest of us. This is so very inspirational. What a fabulous instrument and stunning surroundings! I can imagine the great music that is being made there.
My wife and I had this music for walking down the aisle after our marriage in 1980. It was played by Tommy Mahon, who, as well as being a great organist, was a great lecturer at Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
Diane Bish should listen to this and she might learn how to play this piece. Bravo Mr. Hohman! Tempo, articulation, registration, a little "rubato"... everything spot on.
I just started working on the widor toccata and let me tell you, it ain't easy!! LOL!!!! I'm about to bang my head on the wall !! BUT a true organist never gives up..I would like to play this at a recital sometime once I master it! I do a lot of Bach and buxteheude but Widor? WOW!!! I like the way you played it...nice, easy, and very smooth! BRAVO!!!
A brilliant interpretation! The tempo was right, the phrasing was right, all in all pretty much faultless. I'm sure Widor would've been proud of that! (Somewhere up there he's smiling!)
Thanks for writing. The funny answer is that you need 4 in case the other 3 break! By tradition, each division of a pipe organ has had its own keyboard. You play all divisions at once (as on this video) by coupling the divisions together. On a mechanical action organ, often the keys of all keyboards move when coupled together. Here, the action is electro-pneumatic, hence no phantom key movement. By placing various sounds on each keyboard (division) one can easily make tonal contrasts. -FH
Good tempo. Crisp phrasing. elegant & smooth fingering. All this in Newark NJ?!!!. what a surprise! Un-self-conscious and relaxed ease of performance. Organistas frequently resemble malicious little dogs nipping at superb organists' ankles.
My Dad (a church organist) had to learn this after Princess Margaret's wedding because all the local brides wanted it. He could only dream of playing it this well but I loved to sit with him at the organ while he played. It made me so proud of him.
I am sitting here marvelling at the skill of the composer, the brilliance of the playing and the craftmanship of the organ builder. What an absolute treat this is.
I was at the Cathedral where this was played on Easter Sunday and the organist played this song right after the mass...it was just magnanimous!
this song makes me cry everytime i hear it and as an 18year old boy thats not normally a good think but my grandparents loved it and it was played at thier funerals and it gets me everytime, beautiful
This is abolutely wonderful! Memories of my wedding day in a small English church, a fantastic pipe organist playing this piece as I walked out with my new husband. Thing was, I remember wanting to stay to sit and listen!
Something about this piece makes me cry. It's haunting, but awe-inspiring too. One of my very favorite organ pieces of all time.
Oh Thank GOD! FInally someone who doesn't treat this piece as a Formula 1 race! The full majesty of that pedal line needs time. There are some serious demands made on the wind reserves of an organ for this piece, and those 32ft reeds need time to speak sometimes. Bravo!
I never ceased to be amazed at this work - how it captures the imagination in the immensity and intensity of its power.
This performance is so amazing!!! I heard a recording of it played by the late Jeanne Demessieux 30 years ago, and it truly reminded me of her. His lithe, airy, and fluid playing of it would make Widor very proud!!! Well Done!!!
It is nice to know that one organist can give so much pleasure to so many people.I enjoy listening to this piece very often
I love the Widor 5th! And this organist is playing it from memory! Cool!
Truly a masterpiece of technical prowess, musicality and artistry. It is a rare pleasure to hear this so well played on such a great instrument. A huge compliment to the organist, the composer and the organ builder. The 32 foot pipes are very demanding on the organ's wind reserves, so big up to the organ builder -- this beautiful instrument kept up flawlessly. The 32 foot pipes also take time to sound given the amount of air required. The timing and clarity of the notes and in particular the pedals are testament to the organist’s and the organ builder’s skills. This is the first time I've heard this piece played at the correct tempo. Diane Bish plays it way too fast! This rendition brought a tear to my eye -- sheer majesty. The pedals need time for their sheer majesty.
I think Widor himself would be pleased with this version. Bravo!
My favorite rendition of this spectacular piece. Thank you, Frederick Hohman.
You're talking pure genius here ...would love to hear this man play it live .. to die for
This is the best I have ever heard of this popular organ work. The pedal is very clear and you can actually distinguish the notes on the swell organ. It also is not rushed which allows for the greater enjoyment of the music.
Merci
Not only does Frederick Hohman play brilliantly,he produces and engineers recordings that I should think are the envy of many.Favorite moment in this one is at 3:48 when both feet start playing octaves- if you ever get the chance to see Fred live,do it!
by far one of the best performances of this piece I believe I have heard in some time.articulate and smooth with that little touch of needed staccato.
This is truly an amazing performance. Wonderfully played...and all from memory! Bravo good sir! I first heard this piece when I was about 11 yrs old played by Simon Preston for the Royal wedding of one of the Princesses way back in 1960. It has been my favourite piece since then and I'm now 66! All I can play of this is a few of the opening chords....lol
I have to agree with organist12345, this is a beautiful recital. The registration of the pedal stops at 03:34 is absolutely perfect for the piece and the instrument. With the greatest respect, sometimes American organists overcook the pedal part and spoil this and other pieces, but this was wonderful from start to finish. 5 stars!
The organist at our wedding couldn't manage this but I have now planned this wonderful music for my funeral.
This is the best version I've found here on RUclips. It's just the right speed and you can actually hear the music. Other versions are either too fast or the tones get drowned in one loud mess.
Had this to go out to at our wedding 12 years ago, such an epic version. Super talented playing - thanks for posting!
So beautiful, and so beautifully done! Hats off to Mr. Hohman for making my heart leap with his uncanny performance.
One of the most musical performances of this piece I think I've ever heard! Simply spectacular!
I`m no expert .Just love this piece. It makes the hairs at the back of my neck stand up and a shiver down the spine every time.
One of my very FAVORITE pieces of organ work. My GrandDad played this quite often for postludes at my church I grew up in. He played this the best, imo. Love it!
Magnificent. You gotta love an organist who adapts his touch to the acoustic of the room - which he does beautifully here!
Wow! This fine musician has the control and the passion for this composition. I admire his reserve in not rushing the notes but keeps his tempi intact. Congratulations for a wonderful performance.
A brilliant performance of the Master work at just the right tempo.
I wonder what it was like to be Hohman when he played this... Being able to masterfully play a piece as hard as the widor toccata. Gives me goosebumps just listening to it, so I can only imagine how one feels actually playing this.
Solid. This chap makes it alive. Without taking it too fast.
Absolutely stunning! I agree with Thomas (below)... best version of this I've ever heard, not just on RUclips, but anywhere. Your playing is brilliant. To finally hear this piece played at a tempo that makes sense considering the acoustics and articulation (and honoring the composer's wish) is SO musical and SO refreshing. I would love to hear you play a full recital someday, Mr. Hohman. You are a magnificent musician. Thank you.
WOW... this IS just about the best tempo! It IS, simply put, fantastic playing of the old warhorse we love 'till death!
so beautiful and so amazing. the talent that organists have is so uplifting. i have nothing but respect for those who play the organ so effortlessly. bravo!
Marvellous. This has always been one of my favourite pieces of music of any genre and the posting is particularly welcome because we get to see this talented player in action, as well as the venue in which it was played and some context too.
A small point, but thanks too for not cutting off the video at the end as so many do. the way the final two chords die away into the interior of the Cathedral is just magical and finishes the piece off beautifully.
This is the one recital, I keep coming back to. A truly great rendition!
Les Allemands ont la "Toccata in d-minor" et les Français ont leur "Toccata in F-Major"! Oui, sans doute l'une des plus belles versions de cette toccata, toujours avec votre immense talent Mr. Hohman, talent dont je suis grand admirateur. Je joue régulièrement vos transcriptions du Nutkracker en concert (en Belgique et en France) et croyez bien qu'elles rencontrent un très très grand succès. Si vous me lisez, soyez-en remercié, et pour tout ce que vous apportez de beau dans le monde de l'orgue!
I met this guy a couple years back when he did a recital in nearby Lyons NY...small upstate NY village, ironically, about 5 miles from NEWARK, NY, lol! Just a great organist and really nice guy. Of course, I had to buy the CD they mention in this vid and he was happy to autograph it!
I chose this piece as the one I would have played at my funeral because it is absolutely wonderful. Frederick thank you so much for your rendition. HAL
I have to agree with Gregory Awarski..."it blows my mind every time I hear it". Such an awesome piece. so dynamic...!!
THANK YOU, Mr. Hohman! To God be the glory!!!
I love this magnificent instrument! The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a wonderfully complimentary acoustical environment for the organ. Listen to those awesome pedal pipes speaking from their towers at the back of the nave. WOW!
It reminds me quite a bit of some of those churches in Paris.
For the first time heard the Toccata at a good pace! And to play this exquisitely from memory - wow! Simply wow! This made my day today! :-)
This is still the best recording of this piece on RUclips, even though Gert Van Hoef does a nice one too, this is still the best.
Toute la magnificence, la puissance, et le respect pour cette œuvre magistrale.
Hats off to Schantz and the young man. The 32 foot stops had time to speak clearly.
This is the very best performance of the Widor.
Power, passion and precision. Now I have to go somewhere to have a good cry.
Saw him many years back when he performed on a decent organ we have nearby in a little podunk town. Really nice guy I remember. I bought that CD that they plug in this video (French 5ths) and had him sign it for me.
This piece is amazingly well done - one of my favorites organ pieces. I agree - it's not rushed and the distinction with the notes is awesome.
Stunning. No other words for it.
Excellent, this could not have been played any better. Perfect timing, skill and registration. Thank You for a truly emotional and enjoyable experience!
At last, a performance of the Toccata that isn't a race to the end!
still can't get over this guy, leaves me in awe
Such a treat to hear this played so well.
This is my favorite performance of the Toccata.
This is fantastic! Registration, tempo and clarity are all excellent. Another big difference compared to other recordings is his smooth transition from one major section to another and when changing stops. In some recordings the organist either slows down or takes a momentary break between sections.
Best version of this I ever heard on youtube. Perfect tempo and wonderful clarity.
je découvre cette oeuvre magistrale et sans égal !!!
c'est un déferlement sonore d'une rare intensité avec ce thème obsédant !!! sans fuite possible, on est appréhendé par cette émotion que seul l'orgue peut donner !!!
c'était un grand compositeur , ayant connu St Saens et bien d'autres grands de la musique !!!
merci pour cet espoir que procure cet univers sonore complet !!! et infini !!!
il y a de la conception de l'univers !!!
ce pourrait ètre un sublime support sonore pour un chef d'oeuvre cinématographique !!!
Splendid performance of this piece. Right tempo, crisp technique--heavenly! Used this for my wedding recessional 28 years ago; it was perfect although my mom hated it!
WOW - Simply amazing! I really have no other words to describe this performance.
The only bad thing about this recording; I was not there to hear it in person.
I agree. This is one of the best I've heard. Some people play this so fast just to be flashy. Widor could never have played it as fast as some do today.
Bravo!
Mr. Hohman plays the new 4 manual console near the front altar. The organ is the masterpiece of the Schantz Organ company. It has 50 ranks, or sets of pipes near the altar and 100 ranks near the back of the cathedral. Two organs really. Both playable from consoles in the front and back of the building. The building itself has some of the most impressive carved marble inside, and stained glass of any church in America.
have to chime in and agree - a most satisfying aural experience in every aspect of a great work that often gets rushed or muddled up
Wonderful performance Mr. Hohman! Your rendition of this magnificent Toccata has taught me the tempo at which I will play this piece for my cousin's wedding recessional in September. Bravo!
This makes me want to visit Newark even more! I've always wanted to see this cathedral, but now I want to go hear its organ too. Watching this is the next best thing. Thanks for posting it.
amazing talent this gentleman has. wonderful music too.
One of the most imaginatively registered recordings of the Widor I've come across. Nice to hear the slightly more strident swell reeds raising their heads above the chorus. I liked this a lot. Thanks.
The pedalboard is 32 notes, spanning two and one-half octaves. Low C to High G. This range appears to be a modern standard compass, at least in America. Many pedalboards, especially those in Europe and UK have 30 notes... low C to high F. The lens on the pedal camera does make it look big, I will admit! Thanks for writing. - FH
Silver and gold turned to music. Magnificent.
One of the best performances I have heard. Right tempo, right dynamics, right phrasing, right touch.
I have actually played this piece on a pipe organ but not as well. Playing on a pipe organ can be confusing because of the delayed action, delayed hearing of pipes at a distance, and dealing with echoes.
I love the sound of every note being played...
this is how it is written to be played brilliant
Bravo! Flawless work.
Thank you for doing such a superb job with my all-time favorite organ piece ... and for sharing it with the rest of us.
This is so very inspirational. What a fabulous instrument and stunning surroundings! I can imagine the great music that is being made there.
Glorious!! I can't choose between this or the Simon Preston version. Both just wonderful!
I don't think it gets much better than this! (... and all those notes, from memory!) Thanks for the upload.
Wow! Just amazing. Thank you for this superb performance,
My wife and I had this music for walking down the aisle after our marriage in 1980. It was played by Tommy Mahon, who, as well as being a great organist, was a great lecturer at Glasgow College of Nautical Studies
The GREATEST organ toccata ever written.
excellent playing and the end cadence was spot on.....
a tear was swelling to my eye.
Outstanding!!! Excellent bass, tempo, any note in the right moment. Kudos for the organist!!
Diane Bish should listen to this and she might learn how to play this piece. Bravo Mr. Hohman! Tempo, articulation, registration, a little "rubato"... everything spot on.
Perfect speed. A masterpiece of French organ music. Thanks for posting this.
I just started working on the widor toccata and let me tell you, it ain't easy!! LOL!!!! I'm about to bang my head on the wall !! BUT a true organist never gives up..I would like to play this at a recital sometime once I master it! I do a lot of Bach and buxteheude but Widor? WOW!!! I like the way you played it...nice, easy, and very smooth! BRAVO!!!
this is the MOST beautiful ever!
love so much, thank you all!!
Beautiful - GREATest performance I have heard or should I say it was SWELL. Thanks for sharing. Lance
Very beautifully played on this magnificent instrument.
This is the very best rendition of this piece on youtube. I wish I was blessed with this gift.
Brilliant interpretation ! One of the best i've heard.
This is more ballsy than a LOT of electronic music out there right now, wonderful video and performance.
A brilliant interpretation! The tempo was right, the phrasing was right, all in all pretty much faultless. I'm sure Widor would've been proud of that! (Somewhere up there he's smiling!)
This is a very musical rendition of such a famous work. It is nice to actually hear the notes. Well done!!
Best recording on RUclips!
When I listen to this music, the world stops around me. It is so beautiful!! I think, if God would create music, he would have created this!!!!
This is one of my fave Songs for organ! Its takes me back...I mean i was that kid at 12 listening to this in an inner City enivron
Thanks for writing. The funny answer is that you need 4 in case the other 3 break! By tradition, each division of a pipe organ has had its own keyboard. You play all divisions at once (as on this video) by coupling the divisions together. On a mechanical action organ, often the keys of all keyboards move when coupled together. Here, the action is electro-pneumatic, hence no phantom key movement. By placing various sounds on each keyboard (division) one can easily make tonal contrasts. -FH
Effortless and magnificent in such a wonderful setting for this amazing music - many thanks for being able to listen over and over again.
Good tempo. Crisp phrasing. elegant & smooth fingering. All this in Newark NJ?!!!. what a surprise! Un-self-conscious and relaxed ease of performance. Organistas frequently resemble malicious little dogs nipping at superb organists' ankles.
Search "Ch. M. Widor" to hear the composer play this. This is the most majestic organ composition ever written.