I'd be happy with that at my funeral! 😂 I used to own an Estey that I got from my grandmother. It came from the Richard's Funeral Parlour in Princeton, Maine. It had leaky bellows, but the stops worked. My daughter has it now. It's an impressive piece of Victorian era parlor furniture. It had round shelves on both sides for lamps (?) Plant pots(?)😂 It convinced me that some pieces of music should NEVER be played on a piano if an organ is available!
You are being too judgmental regarding the old Estey. Yes, it is easy to hear how it is out of tune. But Eventide sounds magical in despite thereof. You wouldn't play it as is in a concert hall, but in a twice-a-year church? The imperfections are not too great to appreciate its qualities.
I have given the following comment serious consideration. For as long as I have been a subscriber and Patreon member, you have been informing us as to what you want your channel to achieve. You have outlined your musical likes and dislikes. You have asked for our feedback in relation to what you are producing. I believe that this film totally reflects all you want your channel to be. I hope that you can see what gifts you have and why your viewers consider you to be "a priceless treasure." Continued best wishes.
Am I the only one who loves the untuned sound of the harmonium? Perhaps not with a congregation, but on its own, I thought Abide with Me sounded lovely!
I own an Estey instrument that was quite literally rescued while burning from a church fire. The church was levelled and the organ sat smoking in a field as the firefighters extinguished the flaming building. I was given the organ to repair. I stripped the char from the lovely golden oak case. The reeds were carefully retuned and now the organ (harmonium) sings beautifully once again. The case still shows signs of it close demise, but to me, it just adds to the history of the instrument. Thanks for your channel Ben.
As a professional organist you know all the faults and foibles of the instruments you play, but a congregation of elderly, probably partial deaf attendees at a funeral will just be grateful and moved to have someone of your calibre play for them💚
Underneath the manual of the harmonium (or reed organ here in USA) are two knee stops, one for volume, and one for full organ. Many reed organs, especially Estey organs have a function that if you push either of the knee stops all the way, the organ will snap into a full organ and/or full swell volume and the use of the knee lever becomes redundant. Most likely someone before you pushed the knee lever as far as it could go, and then the organ locked in the full organ and the full volume. There’s a little finger level underneath the keyboard that will release that. Next time you go back to this church, or any church in the future with a harmonium stuck like you outlined here, use your flashlight and look under the keyboard for a little finger level to release the full swell and the full organ. That will make all the stops above the keys function again.
Not sure I’ve commented before, but I really, really enjoy this channel. Not only is the organ-playing well done, but the commentary is always so interesting… and soothing! As a southern American, Ben’s accent is refreshing! Content is great, quality is great, and we can all tell what great time and care is spent in preparation for each video. Well done!
I am a Dorset lad but have just come back after 50 years. I have never seen most of these villages, let alone the churches. The first church at Winterbourne Thomson is just amazing. Your thoroughness and tenacity is extraordinary too, and your organ playing is sublime!
The Bach prelude is a delight! And In the Bleak Midwinter is wonderful accompaniment to the snow that is sweeping across a large swath of the US today. Just starting here in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Well played!
Happy New Year, Ben and Sophia! Please know that you make Sunday, the Lord's Day, especially wonderful! That beautiful church in Dorset is (after my German-Austrian-American taste) exactly the sort of building I would choose to pray in! We have several dear small (although half as old) buildings in our area. Cathedrals are grand and glorious; as a rule I respond more to simplicity. How fitting that you visited that dear hidden gem on the last days of Christmas: Our Lord's birth made a stable holy. An architect with a heart of gold preserved that building, where farm animals had recently been kept. The Estey Co. also built pipe organs. One was in a church on our South Side in Pittsburgh. It had been funded in large part by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The facade featured beautifully stenciled speaking pipes, and from what people told me, a gorgeous sound to match. Years of neglect, and the demmise of the congregation left it speechless. Recently I walked by where the building had stood: it was completely razed, the lot was covered with grass. His Majesty King Charles III is correct: that church is truly a hidden gem. In times like this I often wish I had a chequebook like Andrew Carnegie's: I would complement that Estey in Dorset [after a thorough cleaning and restoration] with a sweet little tracker organ suitable to those beautiful Voluntaries the old English composers (Tallis, Byrd, Clarke, Purcell et al) bequeathed to the corpus of fine organ literature! Alas, being retired on fixed income I cannot. Ah, if wishes were fishes I could dance on the sea! Thank you again. May 2025 be a year of blessings and best of health for you, Sophia, Billy and all your dear ones! An euch, Gottes Segen allerwegen Jim K.
JIM I cherish your complimentary notes to Ben and word pictutes of churches,organs, other. l am Blessed with beauty in all things Church at St Francis Anglican Dallas for 60× years of cherished memories. Blessings to you. May we both continue to share Bens video gifts of beauty to all of his grateful followers....
@MaryAnnLaRue Thank you, Mary Ann! I forgot to mention that, when I was young, that church with the unplayable Estey pipe organ had begun holding services in the fellowship hall, and I played the sad electronic organ there for about nine months. until I moved to become organist at the church where we worshipped in German and English (two separate services). Since that time (which was 1979 to 1981) I played all over Pittsburgh, for every Christian Denomination, as well as three different Jewish Temples, and I did that for 50 years total. Now I have dry eye syndrome. Extensive reading and long practice sessions are out of the question, let alone full worship services, so I play for my own enjoyment now. Ben Maton is a blessing!
These videos are masterpieces for enthusiasm, editing, professionalism and above all, a love of neglected organs. You are revealing a much overlooked part of our heritage and culture......oh that there were more like you! Your background story is much like mine.....and I'm still buzzing with organs 60 years on! Very well done.
Your rendition of Abide With Me was very moving. If you played that hymn on that harmonium at the funeral service of my loved one, I would have no complaints at all.
I thought it didn't sound too bad until I tried to sing along with it. And then I really struggled, because I was having to sing the "wrong" notes and not the notes I'm used to. I can see Ben's point. Probably best to explain the problem and offer to bring your own instruments (keyboard or whatever) if you're asked to play an instrument that's "off".
Hi Ben! The old Estey made us smile--it reminded us of Carol Lynn's grandmother's old pump organ in the parlor. It also played ALL the stops, all the time, and none could be cancelled. It was indeed out of tune, but grandmother loved it. She could get more sound out of it than I could, with my college degree in organ! We enjoyed this episode immensely--keep up the good work. Happy 2025, with love & hugs from North Carolina, USA.
Thank you for this week’s video. The first church was breathtakingly beautiful. Thank you for the explanation about the stops & reeds, it definitely helped with understanding the instrument. I feel my affection is growing for harmoniums thanks to your channel, as I didn’t know anything about them before. Thank you for wisdom about not over thinking & just going for it, I can relate… Your ‘not over thinking’ worked beautifully for ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ performance.
That first organ sounded really good to me, but I don't have your trained ear. Your video's are always a delight for me! I love old churches, organ music, history, and views of the countryside. You cover it all. Thanks Ben! Tony in Missouri, USA
I sort of enjoy the old Estey too. I don't think it was as bad as it seemed in person. Plus, I find it amusing that they imported it from here (USA), when surely there were manufacturers in the UK that would have avoided the shipping costs!
Re the harmonium. If you look under the keyboard there are two levers operated by your knees. The one on the right is usually the expression one and the left one is the general crescendo lever. It is most likely to be jammed open. They fold out at right angles to the instrument. Take another look at the video and you will see them folding in (not used). Keep doing your videos as I started my organist career as a village organist of three churches in Berkshire. Tim
Ben, this sad organ could (under the hands of a proper restorer) could be make brand new again. I wish I could get my own hands on this organ (here in the United States) I'd make it brand new again and would then be most happy to hear you play it. There are restorers in England but it would take the funds raised by the church to get the work done...but it would be splendid if it was done.
Thank you as always Ben. Yes, your videos are one of the highlights of my Sundays. - Cheers and Cheerio, - Matt, Organist, Mendocino Presbyterian Church, California 🎹
Ben is a professional organist, while I am an indifferent pianist. I thought the harmonium sounded fine as an accompaniment for small congregations singing hymns. As an old geezer who has had a full and interesting life, I fully endorse Ben's sage advice.…just do it.
Featuring these countryside churches and the surrounding views puts one in the spirit of worship. Your performances are the topper. I look forward to a new year of great stuff from the wayfaring Salisbury Organist!
Only recently found your channel and am so glad I did. I live in Dorset so there is much to interest me in seeing these churches even though they are in the “foreign” bit of the county! My initial love is the piano but I’ve have had occasional opportunities to play organs. I have fond teenage memories of bribing someone to pump the bellows in Sydling St Nicholas church so I could play. Not so fond memories of freezing hands and ears!!! I look forward to being able to follow your adventures in 2025. Many thanks for making these videos.
... and to you to Ben - Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year from New Zealand. We look forward to watching this episode later tonight over a cuppa. Many thanks for your dedication in preparing these. Enjoying all of them - and especially your informative research.
So because it was too cold in the summer house, you went outside in the cold? ;-) In the bleak midwinter was very beautiful! (So were the other pieces but this really touched my heart) The Norman church was awesome.
Thank you so much Ben, if I had a church and if I had opportunity to have you here in Finland, I would hire you as a an organist. Then I would make sure you would also get status as director cantus/musices. 🎩 May God bless you and your good work and may He give you a happy year.
My late husband and I once considered buying a bungalow in Lover, but decided to move abroad instead. It was such a lovely village, I really would have liked to have lived there, but it was not to be. Thanks so much for showing us the beautiful interior and letting us hear how beautiful the organ in Lover church sounds.
❤ thanks for your professionalism and dedication to music, organ and harmonium 😊 Could it be possible to have step by step unbuilding and rebuilding of an harmonium. Some parts could be accelerate 😅 It could be very interesting to discover the heart of the instrument, dust cleaning and even the check of the tunes 😅 I'm sure you will find a piece of art needing love and resurrection 😂
Thoroughly enjoyed your lively playing of We Three Kings. You really made the old instrument sing. However, the highlight of this viewing session has to be your rendition of In the Bleak Midwinter. So much soul in the performance, I've replayed this part of your video 4 times so far this evening. Simply beautiful.
The old Estey is doing the best it can with what it’s got❣️ Happy New Year from Washington State USA, where it’s been a bleak mid-winter through the holiday season 🎉
I really loved the Estey organ,❤ with its limitations, even because of them. Its Zen-like simplistic beauty reflects an aesthetic of nature and the church building that houses it. In the bleak Mid-winter is one of my favorite Christmas hymns. A perfect mix of Winter Solstice and Christmas vibes😊🙏
I used to be acquainted with harmoniums 60 years or so ago in village chapels in East Anglia. This one sounds just like them. Not too bad. Would do for many a congregation.
Dear Ben, thank you so much for your hard work in producing these weekly videos that are so incredibly heartwarming. May God bless you richly with good health, peace and prosperity in the coming year. You’re a delight to know l, even though we have never met in person it seems as if we know each other! Your gentle, thoughtful and loving spirit is very evident! It doesn’t go unnoticed or overlooked, so thank you so much for this delightful hour with you each week! Blessings to you, Royden
Royden ...I alzo feel I lnow Ben very well. Ben's Faith is in every sound he plays , reads or just speaks and he inspires me. What a fine person to know as he prayerfully shares his perfect videos . I dtrsmed of a trip to England to visit old churches. . I never could .Now I sm so often there with Ben. He is in my daily prayers. Mary Ann LaRue Dallas Tecss
Hi Ben, I have restored over 60 reed organs in my life, with Estey, Miller, Cornish, Karn, and Mason & Hamlin organs being the best ever manufactured here in North America. (I can also name the worst.) My kids grew up playing on my collection of reed organs. Out-of-tune brass reeds are no problem. They can easily be brought up to pitch by carefully cleaning with mild sudsy ammonia and a very soft tooth brush to remove the dirt and tarnish that has collected on the vibrating flanges. With a careful rinsing and drying, they then come up to original pitch. But original pitches in reed organs were based on 435 instead of 440. 440 wasn't declared a standard until 1926. (BTW, Estey voiced a great Celeste effect with one rank being slightly out of tune from another rank, and nobody did it better than Estey.) Are you sure the Estey is a harmonium? I am under the impression that harmoniums (English) had bellows systems that created air pressure, while American reed organs had bellows systems that created air vacuum. I believe it was Estey, as the harmonium migrated to the US, who reversed the pressure system to vacuum, after which all reed organ companies here in the US copied Estey. Estey also engineered the use of two valve flaps on each of the exhauster bellows which increases the reservoir vacuum without additional pumping. With an organ fully restored and use of the Forte Knee Stop, one can increase or decrease the pumping of the pedals to create crescendos and decrescendos as sensitively as with a symphony orchestra. I utterly love the smell of a reed organ as air passes through all the old wood. I recently acquired an Allen Quantum Renaissance digitally-sampled pipe organ with pipes sampled from American Classic, German Neo-Baroque, French Cathedral, and English Cathedral. I love watching your channel. Keep up the great work!!!
Thank you for the totally not bleak midwinter film and the thought for 2025..I agree. I really hope you will be able to visit some Cornish churches one day. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Ben, you could make two rubber bands stretched over a matchbox sound like a complete symphony orchestra. Maybe it sounded worse in person than what we heard on the internet. Either way, I would happily listen to you bang away on a plastic bucket with a soup spoon.
A very happy new year to you Ben and all the people dear to you. Im 70 now and a very basic self taught keyboard player. Your videos speak to me at so many levels, the love of music, old churches, history and spirituality. Todays video even evoked a family memory and a smell. When I was small my father had a harmonium that had had a hard life, none of the stops worked and the instrument was out of tune. When you played that 1st harmonium it sounded just like dad's and it evoked a 66 year old memory of my father playing. When you showed us the workings of the good harmonium and played it I could actually smell the wood, felts and all the other materials in my fathers instrument. That was an amazing evocation of a long forgotten sensory memory. Im still trying to come to grips with it. What other video producer can do that? Thank you so much Ben.
Happy New Year Ben! Thank you for all your organ treats during 2024 and this very delightful intro to 2025! The poor old harmoniums do well considering their age, and for some a mighty journey. There are those you have featured that came from Brattleboro, Vermont, and that is a long ways from England!
Getting close to 40K subscribers! Who would have thought? You do a good job Ben. I hope the little I send helps a bit. My best to you all. Happy New Year. My brother has our great grandmothers harmonium. I will send him this so he can get to work on it. 😂
24:30 frost on shadows, 29:10 frost on graveyard,,,,,,,haircut, frost on ears. hehe. Nice way to end the film, and a nice way to start 2025. Many thanks
It's just possible the Victorians didn't realise it was a church (the shape is it's saviour) and passed it by. I agree with you about the decimation & over restorartion by those in that era, as one who has professionally specified repairs to many ecclesiastical buildings
Whatever your Dad thought of Bach’s Prelude in C major, I’m sure he’s very proud of you now, and maybe a bit bemused at the path your life has taken. You’re a thoughtful guy and I very much appreciate that in this world of so much thoughtless superficially. May you have a wonderful and creative year ahead!
Great videoing, great content, great keyboard choices……..and great haircut! Sorry about the cold ears. Also your words of wisdom further underscore the realization that you are a very special person. God has you here for a special reason.
A wonderful and very interesting start to 2025! The Bach piece sounded stunning (and yes, I also got Hickory Dickory Dock vibes!) It’s your playing of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ that really touched my spirit tonight…a moment of perfection and reflection for me. Thank you, Ben.
I, too, played my own arrangement of We Three Kings this morning at a local Lutheran church where I am employed. It's a fun one on which to do an organ improv. Mine, a postlude, had more of a Middle Eastern sound to it.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Ben I will never forget your rendering of WE THE THREE KINGS, love it.. I believe you are passing on all your passion for organs and organ music..how we appreciate The diversity you bring….Happy new year…
Funny you should ask- when we were there I was convinced it was unworkable, but when I listened back just now it seemed strangely agreeable. I’m my own worst enemy!
The first organ (harmonium) is almost metaphoric for me, especially with the pews in the church being different sizes based on social status. It outlines the imperfections of human nature in a a beautiful way. It's imperfections are what makes it perfect.
Happy New Year! Your videos not only have wonderful hymns, but a little education on how the instruments are made. There is an organ factoery not to far from my home that builds (mostly tracker) organs and they have open houses about twice a year. Very awe inspiring. Best to you and your family fo the new year.
SO nice to see your show. :). An a ..Great...fan of old and ancient English architecture; especially churches..AND...music!!!...particularly hymns in praise of Our Lord Jesus Christ....thank you for making a person;'s day (who cannot venture out as you do).....but will watch a number of times as will learn more with each view. SANG with your as you played "We Three Kings".....how lovely.....and how lovely your particular and certainly, most enjoyable place of action.....if you would call it that....may you help to educate and preserve these timeless and priceless churches and instruments.....as you play I can picture people in their best, gathering in service to worship and to sing!!!! Thank you and yours the time taken to record. But aren't you glad you did not hear me sing (haha) as you played...the instrument may have quit in protest!!! (haha again!)....Well, will close but just wanted to put in writing the immense joy and pleasure in seeing your work here on your channel....seeing the English countryside.....I will look to put something in the PayPal for future shows and your own needs. Thank you again for your lovely...and certainly...your own enjoyment....Happy New Year and belated Merry Christmas in His name above all names for who we celebrate this time of year. Cheers!!
Bravo for THREE cameras! You are simply amazing man. I am an old organ player and that is why I first began to watch You. BUT, as time goes forward, You are teaching quite a bit. FIRST of all, I do suspect that YOU are quite an over thinker and it really helps You. Just pray You can keep it under control. Better yet...thanks for saying it. Thank YOU for some important information in THIS video. Even when You pointed it out, I didn't hear the lack of tuning that is so obvious to YOU. I never considered how the tuning and condition of each instrument affects the choices You make for music to be played! Once again, I never considered how many "takes" might be required to satisfy Your standards. But I'm SURE You will go look at what I'm talking about now...YOUR arrangement (Bravo for playing arrangements that are YOURS) of We Three Kings brought a smile of pride while You played it. Without Your added explanations, often times we can't even fully appreciate WHAT You are performing for us. Thanks for making us, a more understanding audience of what You are bringing to us! You are always making this work more interesting AND enjoyable with Your additional commentary. Well done my friend, well done.
Your channel gives a busy 1st soprano a good excuse to stop and sing with all her heart, thank you. In the Bleak Midwinter was played out so beautifully!
Ben, Lovely old church. When you showed it l was reminded of a Saxon church l visited years ago in Bradford on Avon. If l recall correctly there was one tiny window, no pews or other furniture. It was completely desolate but l remember being impressed that it was still standing and intact.
The first church, a gem! Shame about the organ. The second church at Crichel: did you move the organ to its position facing the congregation? Unusual, surely? The organist would not want to be turning around to see what was happening behind him, cue Hymn....! "Who moved the mirror?" Then to Lover and wonderful music! What a great finish, my favourite carol! Ben, a very happy, healthy and safe 2025 to you and yours! (Sorry, I've not been around as Christmas and New Year was cancelled in our house! Viral infection and it's still not completely away!)
So I’m getting lots of comments praising the old Estey… Maybe I was too harsh? 🤣 Let me know what you thought!
You played it very well in the circumstances, Ben.
Praise yes! Agree with the other comments.
I’d like to know if there’s a service person who cares for those reed instruments like there are service firms for pipe organs.
I'd be happy with that at my funeral! 😂 I used to own an Estey that I got from my grandmother. It came from the Richard's Funeral Parlour in Princeton, Maine. It had leaky bellows, but the stops worked. My daughter has it now. It's an impressive piece of Victorian era parlor furniture. It had round shelves on both sides for lamps (?) Plant pots(?)😂
It convinced me that some pieces of music should NEVER be played on a piano if an organ is available!
You are being too judgmental regarding the old Estey. Yes, it is easy to hear how it is out of tune. But Eventide sounds magical in despite thereof. You wouldn't play it as is in a concert hall, but in a twice-a-year church? The imperfections are not too great to appreciate its qualities.
I have given the following comment serious consideration. For as long as I have been a subscriber and Patreon member, you have been informing us as to what you want your channel to achieve. You have outlined your musical likes and dislikes. You have asked for our feedback in relation to what you are producing. I believe that this film totally reflects all you want your channel to be. I hope that you can see what gifts you have and why your viewers consider you to be "a priceless treasure." Continued best wishes.
❤well said😅😅
May i suggest a wholly hat❤❤
I meant a wooly hat 75 % of your heatgoes out of your head
Totally agree. I wear a wooly hat that I bought in Norway. It keeps my head lovely and warm 🔥🎩🇳🇴
Am I the only one who loves the untuned sound of the harmonium? Perhaps not with a congregation, but on its own, I thought Abide with Me sounded lovely!
I don’t know…there is something charming about the sound of that little Estey in this ancient and lovely building.
I own an Estey instrument that was quite literally rescued while burning from a church fire. The church was levelled and the organ sat smoking in a field as the firefighters extinguished the flaming building. I was given the organ to repair. I stripped the char from the lovely golden oak case. The reeds were carefully retuned and now the organ (harmonium) sings beautifully once again. The case still shows signs of it close demise, but to me, it just adds to the history of the instrument. Thanks for your channel Ben.
Well done for rescuing and renovating it 👍
As a professional organist you know all the faults and foibles of the instruments you play, but a congregation of elderly, probably partial deaf attendees at a funeral will just be grateful and moved to have someone of your calibre play for them💚
Very good point! I know I would!
Underneath the manual of the harmonium (or reed organ here in USA) are two knee stops, one for volume, and one for full organ. Many reed organs, especially Estey organs have a function that if you push either of the knee stops all the way, the organ will snap into a full organ and/or full swell volume and the use of the knee lever becomes redundant. Most likely someone before you pushed the knee lever as far as it could go, and then the organ locked in the full organ and the full volume. There’s a little finger level underneath the keyboard that will release that. Next time you go back to this church, or any church in the future with a harmonium stuck like you outlined here, use your flashlight and look under the keyboard for a little finger level to release the full swell and the full organ. That will make all the stops above the keys function again.
Wow great thats so useful! Xx
I enjoyed the Parisian version of We Three Kings!
So did I.😊
Not sure I’ve commented before, but I really, really enjoy this channel. Not only is the organ-playing well done, but the commentary is always so interesting… and soothing! As a southern American, Ben’s accent is refreshing! Content is great, quality is great, and we can all tell what great time and care is spent in preparation for each video. Well done!
Plus I love seeing the beautiful English countryside and ancient churches 🇬🇧🚜🌾🐓
I am a Dorset lad but have just come back after 50 years. I have never seen most of these villages, let alone the churches. The first church at Winterbourne Thomson is just amazing. Your thoroughness and tenacity is extraordinary too, and your organ playing is sublime!
oh how l loved you playing “in the bleak midwinter” Beautiful
The establishing camera and sound are lovely in this. What a delight!
The Bach prelude is a delight! And In the Bleak Midwinter is wonderful accompaniment to the snow that is sweeping across a large swath of the US today. Just starting here in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Well played!
Contrary point from famous piano teacher - “practice less and think more.” Another good lesson for life!
Love the music you have added to the background!
for the second time in quick succession i find myself saying: "best ever episode". EXCELLENT
And at the rate things are going, you very likely will be adding the same comment next week as well! And it will be seconded by lots of people. 🙂
Happy New Year, Ben and Sophia! Please know that you make Sunday, the Lord's Day, especially wonderful!
That beautiful church in Dorset is (after my German-Austrian-American taste) exactly the sort of building I would choose to pray in! We have several dear small (although half as old) buildings in our area. Cathedrals are grand and glorious; as a rule I respond more to simplicity. How fitting that you visited that dear hidden gem on the last days of Christmas: Our Lord's birth made a stable holy. An architect with a heart of gold preserved that building, where farm animals had recently been kept.
The Estey Co. also built pipe organs. One was in a church on our South Side in Pittsburgh. It had been funded in large part by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The facade featured beautifully stenciled speaking pipes, and from what people told me, a gorgeous sound to match. Years of neglect, and the demmise of the congregation left it speechless. Recently I walked by where the building had stood: it was completely razed, the lot was covered with grass.
His Majesty King Charles III is correct: that church is truly a hidden gem.
In times like this I often wish I had a chequebook like Andrew Carnegie's: I would complement that Estey in Dorset [after a thorough cleaning and restoration] with a sweet little tracker organ suitable to those beautiful Voluntaries the old English composers (Tallis, Byrd, Clarke, Purcell et al) bequeathed to the corpus of fine organ literature! Alas, being retired on fixed income I cannot.
Ah, if wishes were fishes I could dance on the sea!
Thank you again. May 2025 be a year of blessings and best of health for you, Sophia, Billy and all your dear ones!
An euch, Gottes Segen allerwegen
Jim K.
JIM I cherish your complimentary notes to Ben and word pictutes of churches,organs, other. l am Blessed with beauty in all things Church at St Francis Anglican Dallas for 60× years
of cherished memories. Blessings to you. May we both continue to share Bens video gifts of beauty to all of his grateful followers....
@MaryAnnLaRue Thank you, Mary Ann! I forgot to mention that, when I was young, that church with the unplayable Estey pipe organ had begun holding services in the fellowship hall, and I played the sad electronic organ there for about nine months. until I moved to become organist at the church where we worshipped in German and English (two separate services). Since that time (which was 1979 to 1981) I played all over Pittsburgh, for every Christian Denomination, as well as three different Jewish Temples, and I did that for 50 years total. Now I have dry eye syndrome. Extensive reading and long practice sessions are out of the question, let alone full worship services, so I play for my own enjoyment now. Ben Maton is a blessing!
These videos are masterpieces for enthusiasm, editing, professionalism and above all, a love of neglected organs. You are revealing a much overlooked part of our heritage and culture......oh that there were more like you! Your background story is much like mine.....and I'm still buzzing with organs 60 years on! Very well done.
Sensitive beautiful playing. Thanks, Ben. Mark Jones
Your rendition of Abide With Me was very moving. If you played that hymn on that harmonium at the funeral service of my loved one, I would have no complaints at all.
I thought it didn't sound too bad until I tried to sing along with it. And then I really struggled, because I was having to sing the "wrong" notes and not the notes I'm used to. I can see Ben's point. Probably best to explain the problem and offer to bring your own instruments (keyboard or whatever) if you're asked to play an instrument that's "off".
Just getting round to watching an episode and I must say it is viewing of the highest quality. So interesting and well made.
Hi Ben! The old Estey made us smile--it reminded us of Carol Lynn's grandmother's old pump organ in the parlor. It also played ALL the stops, all the time, and none could be cancelled. It was indeed out of tune, but grandmother loved it. She could get more sound out of it than I could, with my college degree in organ! We enjoyed this episode immensely--keep up the good work. Happy 2025, with love & hugs from North Carolina, USA.
Thank you for this week’s video.
The first church was breathtakingly beautiful.
Thank you for the explanation about the stops & reeds, it definitely helped with understanding the instrument. I feel my affection is growing for harmoniums thanks to your channel, as I didn’t know anything about them before.
Thank you for wisdom about not over thinking & just going for it, I can relate…
Your ‘not over thinking’ worked beautifully for ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ performance.
We have your video always playing on our Sundays here in our home in SF. Please keep up the good work. You provide us peace.
Same here across the Bay in Oakland. I look forward to this time every week.
@@alwaysbearded1 he's brilliant.
That first organ sounded really good to me, but I don't have your trained ear. Your video's are always a delight for me! I love old churches, organ music, history, and views of the countryside. You cover it all. Thanks Ben!
Tony in Missouri, USA
Just love you & your videos Ben..Happy New Year Ben & Sophia
keep up your wonderful playing
Another wonderful adventure, Ben. Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed your arrangement of "We Three Kings." 😁
Wonderful video. The prelude was exquisite!
I sort of enjoy the old Estey too. I don't think it was as bad as it seemed in person. Plus, I find it amusing that they imported it from here (USA), when surely there were manufacturers in the UK that would have avoided the shipping costs!
Your rendering of the Holst tune, which I love, was magical.
Happy New Year, Ben! Your videos are an absolute breath of fresh air! May God bless you, and may all your endeavors come true in 2025 by His grace. ❤
Happy New Year to you too! And happy Epiphany. Loved the Three Kings arrangement!
That was outstanding as usual, thank you so much Ben.❤
I wish you had of continued “The Lord’s my Shepherd”. Out of tune or not, it sounded beautiful!
Yes it did
Best wishes from western Massachusetts on Epiphany. Thank you for these presentations.
Re the harmonium. If you look under the keyboard there are two levers operated by your knees. The one on the right is usually the expression one and the left one is the general crescendo lever. It is most likely to be jammed open. They fold out at right angles to the instrument. Take another look at the video and you will see them folding in (not used). Keep doing your videos as I started my organist career as a village organist of three churches in Berkshire. Tim
I have been living in the UK for 47 years but I am French so thank you for the parisian We Three Kings. Have a brilliant year in 2025 😊!
Ben, this sad organ could (under the hands of a proper restorer) could be make brand new again. I wish I could get my own hands on this organ (here in the United States) I'd make it brand new again and would then be most happy to hear you play it. There are restorers in England but it would take the funds raised by the church to get the work done...but it would be splendid if it was done.
Thank you for braving the elements to offer commentary whilst exposing awesome scenery. The sacrifice is appreciated.
You can make anything sound acceptable!
Sounds like most of them in the USA!
THANKS for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you as always Ben. Yes, your videos are one of the highlights of my Sundays.
- Cheers and Cheerio,
- Matt, Organist, Mendocino Presbyterian Church, California 🎹
Thank you for your careful explanations and thoughtful musings and warmly beautiful organ playing.
Ben is a professional organist, while I am an indifferent pianist. I thought the harmonium sounded fine as an accompaniment for small congregations singing hymns. As an old geezer who has had a full and interesting life, I fully endorse Ben's sage advice.…just do it.
Featuring these countryside churches and the surrounding views puts one in the spirit of worship. Your performances are the topper.
I look forward to a new year of great stuff from the wayfaring Salisbury Organist!
Oooh there’s plenty in store yet!
Only recently found your channel and am so glad I did. I live in Dorset so there is much to interest me in seeing these churches even though they are in the “foreign” bit of the county! My initial love is the piano but I’ve have had occasional opportunities to play organs. I have fond teenage memories of bribing someone to pump the bellows in Sydling St Nicholas church so I could play. Not so fond memories of freezing hands and ears!!! I look forward to being able to follow your adventures in 2025. Many thanks for making these videos.
... and to you to Ben - Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year from New Zealand. We look forward to watching this episode later tonight over a cuppa. Many thanks for your dedication in preparing these. Enjoying all of them - and especially your informative research.
From NZ also. I love these videos, so relaxing.
Wellington NZ here, with the southerly blowing in cold Ben looks warmer than us.
So because it was too cold in the summer house, you went outside in the cold? ;-)
In the bleak midwinter was very beautiful!
(So were the other pieces but this really touched my heart)
The Norman church was awesome.
Thank you Ben such a poignant feeling about this church. Thanks to Hardy his loved church is saved.
Thank you so much Ben, if I had a church and if I had opportunity to have you here in Finland, I would hire you as a an organist. Then I would make sure you would also get status as director cantus/musices. 🎩 May God bless you and your good work and may He give you a happy year.
Totally appropriate with bleak mid winter. Lots of snow here today! Thanks for another beautiful video.
My late husband and I once considered buying a bungalow in Lover, but decided to move abroad instead. It was such a lovely village, I really would have liked to have lived there, but it was not to be. Thanks so much for showing us the beautiful interior and letting us hear how beautiful the organ in Lover church sounds.
The second ("sounding" or working) harmonium using the pressure system is a pure delight.
❤ thanks for your professionalism and dedication to music, organ and harmonium 😊
Could it be possible to have step by step unbuilding and rebuilding of an harmonium. Some parts could be accelerate 😅
It could be very interesting to discover the heart of the instrument, dust cleaning and even the check of the tunes 😅
I'm sure you will find a piece of art needing love and resurrection 😂
Thoroughly enjoyed your lively playing of We Three Kings. You really made the old instrument sing. However, the highlight of this viewing session has to be your rendition of In the Bleak Midwinter. So much soul in the performance, I've replayed this part of your video 4 times so far this evening. Simply beautiful.
Many thanks Ben for going to Winterbourne Thomson Church happy memories for having lived near there you are so sensitive
The old Estey is doing the best it can with what it’s got❣️ Happy New Year from Washington State USA, where it’s been a bleak mid-winter through the holiday season 🎉
I really loved the Estey organ,❤ with its limitations, even because of them. Its Zen-like simplistic beauty reflects an aesthetic of nature and the church building that houses it. In the bleak Mid-winter is one of my favorite Christmas hymns. A perfect mix of Winter Solstice and Christmas vibes😊🙏
A lovely end to a Sunday on a bleak, foggy, cold and snowy day in Shropshire.Thank you Ben.
I used to be acquainted with harmoniums 60 years or so ago in village chapels in East Anglia. This one sounds just like them. Not too bad. Would do for many a congregation.
Lots of East Anglian churches still have working harmoniums. I did a tour 3 yrs ago and enjoyed playing the ones that were accessible
Well Ben, if it were my funeral I would forgive the tuning as you played beautifully despite it. Thank you.
Dear Ben, thank you so much for your hard work in producing these weekly videos that are so incredibly heartwarming. May God bless you richly with good health, peace and prosperity in the coming year. You’re a delight to know l, even though we have never met in person it seems as if we know each other! Your gentle, thoughtful and loving spirit is very evident! It doesn’t go unnoticed or overlooked, so thank you so much for this delightful hour with you each week! Blessings to you, Royden
Royden ...I alzo feel I lnow Ben very well. Ben's Faith is in every sound he plays , reads or just speaks and he inspires me. What a fine person to know as he prayerfully shares his perfect videos . I dtrsmed of a trip to England to visit old churches. . I never could .Now I sm so often there with Ben. He is in my daily prayers. Mary Ann LaRue Dallas Tecss
Hi Ben, I have restored over 60 reed organs in my life, with Estey, Miller, Cornish, Karn, and Mason & Hamlin organs being the best ever manufactured here in North America. (I can also name the worst.) My kids grew up playing on my collection of reed organs. Out-of-tune brass reeds are no problem. They can easily be brought up to pitch by carefully cleaning with mild sudsy ammonia and a very soft tooth brush to remove the dirt and tarnish that has collected on the vibrating flanges. With a careful rinsing and drying, they then come up to original pitch. But original pitches in reed organs were based on 435 instead of 440. 440 wasn't declared a standard until 1926. (BTW, Estey voiced a great Celeste effect with one rank being slightly out of tune from another rank, and nobody did it better than Estey.)
Are you sure the Estey is a harmonium? I am under the impression that harmoniums (English) had bellows systems that created air pressure, while American reed organs had bellows systems that created air vacuum. I believe it was Estey, as the harmonium migrated to the US, who reversed the pressure system to vacuum, after which all reed organ companies here in the US copied Estey. Estey also engineered the use of two valve flaps on each of the exhauster bellows which increases the reservoir vacuum without additional pumping. With an organ fully restored and use of the Forte Knee Stop, one can increase or decrease the pumping of the pedals to create crescendos and decrescendos as sensitively as with a symphony orchestra. I utterly love the smell of a reed organ as air passes through all the old wood.
I recently acquired an Allen Quantum Renaissance digitally-sampled pipe organ with pipes sampled from American Classic, German Neo-Baroque, French Cathedral, and English Cathedral. I love watching your channel. Keep up the great work!!!
Thank you for the totally not bleak midwinter film and the thought for 2025..I agree. I really hope you will be able to visit some Cornish churches one day. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Ben, you could make two rubber bands stretched over a matchbox sound like a complete symphony orchestra. Maybe it sounded worse in person than what we heard on the internet. Either way, I would happily listen to you bang away on a plastic bucket with a soup spoon.
A very happy new year to you Ben and all the people dear to you. Im 70 now and a very basic self taught keyboard player. Your videos speak to me at so many levels, the love of music, old churches, history and spirituality. Todays video even evoked a family memory and a smell. When I was small my father had a harmonium that had had a hard life, none of the stops worked and the instrument was out of tune. When you played that 1st harmonium it sounded just like dad's and it evoked a 66 year old memory of my father playing. When you showed us the workings of the good harmonium and played it I could actually smell the wood, felts and all the other materials in my fathers instrument. That was an amazing evocation of a long forgotten sensory memory. Im still trying to come to grips with it. What other video producer can do that? Thank you so much Ben.
Happy New Year Ben! Thank you for all your organ treats during 2024 and this very delightful intro to 2025! The poor old harmoniums do well considering their age, and for some a mighty journey. There are those you have featured that came from Brattleboro, Vermont, and that is a long ways from England!
Ty so much for your music today! Blessed Epiphany!
Bravo - another great episode. So grateful to have found your site Ben! Thank you!!
Thanks
That's a win for an unknown harmonium
What a gem! King Charles is certainly correct (as he usually is, when it comes to built history).
Getting close to 40K subscribers! Who would have thought? You do a good job Ben. I hope the little I send helps a bit. My best to you all. Happy New Year.
My brother has our great grandmothers harmonium. I will send him this so he can get to work on it. 😂
Once again, a delightful video! Thanks so much!!
24:30 frost on shadows, 29:10 frost on graveyard,,,,,,,haircut, frost on ears. hehe. Nice way to end the film, and a nice way to start 2025. Many thanks
"In the Bleak Midwinter", my favorite ❤️
It's just possible the Victorians didn't realise it was a church (the shape is it's saviour) and passed it by. I agree with you about the decimation & over restorartion by those in that era, as one who has professionally specified repairs to many ecclesiastical buildings
Whatever your Dad thought of Bach’s Prelude in C major, I’m sure he’s very proud of you now, and maybe a bit bemused at the path your life has taken. You’re a thoughtful guy and I very much appreciate that in this world of so much thoughtless superficially. May you have a wonderful and creative year ahead!
Thank You very much. Your Playing the Organ ist so wonderful!♥️❄️🍀✨🌞🌙🌲🐦
I've always wanted to see the inner workings of an organ or similar instrument. Another great video to end the weekend.
We Three Kings - hehehe! Sung it yesterday morning at St Mary Prior Church, Chepstow.
Great videoing, great content, great keyboard choices……..and great haircut! Sorry about the cold ears. Also your words of wisdom further underscore the realization that you are a very special person. God has you here for a special reason.
Happy New Year Ben! You have started us off perfectly for another year of incredible videos. All the very best to you!
Thanks again.
A wonderful and very interesting start to 2025!
The Bach piece sounded stunning (and yes, I also got Hickory Dickory Dock vibes!) It’s your playing of ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ that really touched my spirit tonight…a moment of perfection and reflection for me. Thank you, Ben.
Really love the arrangement of we Three Kings Ben, lovely video as always!
I, too, played my own arrangement of We Three Kings this morning at a local Lutheran church where I am employed. It's a fun one on which to do an organ improv. Mine, a postlude, had more of a Middle Eastern sound to it.
This is the first church you've visited that I can't find on the Ordnance Survey map!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Ben I will never forget your rendering of WE THE THREE KINGS, love it..
I believe you are passing on all your passion for organs and organ music..how we appreciate
The diversity you bring….Happy new year…
Is it really so bad? Those of us who are not musicians aren't so in tune with what's in tune and it was good to hear the harmonium sing, regardless.
Funny you should ask- when we were there I was convinced it was unworkable, but when I listened back just now it seemed strangely agreeable. I’m my own worst enemy!
We all are at times.@@SalisburyOrganist
The first organ (harmonium) is almost metaphoric for me, especially with the pews in the church being different sizes based on social status. It outlines the imperfections of human nature in a a beautiful way. It's imperfections are what makes it perfect.
Happy New Year! Your videos not only have wonderful hymns, but a little education on how the instruments are made. There is an organ factoery not to far from my home that builds (mostly tracker) organs and they have open houses about twice a year. Very awe inspiring. Best to you and your family fo the new year.
Happy New Year. Another lovely video. Much appreciated.
The countryside is so beautiful. Thank u for sharing.❤
SO nice to see your show. :). An a ..Great...fan of old and ancient English architecture; especially churches..AND...music!!!...particularly hymns in praise of Our Lord Jesus Christ....thank you for making a person;'s day (who cannot venture out as you do).....but will watch a number of times as will learn more with each view. SANG with your as you played "We Three Kings".....how lovely.....and how lovely your particular and certainly, most enjoyable place of action.....if you would call it that....may you help to educate and preserve these timeless and priceless churches and instruments.....as you play I can picture people in their best, gathering in service to worship and to sing!!!! Thank you and yours the time taken to record. But aren't you glad you did not hear me sing (haha) as you played...the instrument may have quit in protest!!! (haha again!)....Well, will close but just wanted to put in writing the immense joy and pleasure in seeing your work here on your channel....seeing the English countryside.....I will look to put something in the PayPal for future shows and your own needs. Thank you again for your lovely...and certainly...your own enjoyment....Happy New Year and belated Merry Christmas in His name above all names for who we celebrate this time of year. Cheers!!
Bravo for THREE cameras! You are simply amazing man. I am an old organ player and that is why I first began to watch You. BUT, as time goes forward, You are teaching quite a bit. FIRST of all, I do suspect that YOU are quite an over thinker and it really helps You. Just pray You can keep it under control. Better yet...thanks for saying it. Thank YOU for some important information in THIS video. Even when You pointed it out, I didn't hear the lack of tuning that is so obvious to YOU. I never considered how the tuning and condition of each instrument affects the choices You make for music to be played! Once again, I never considered how many "takes" might be required to satisfy Your standards. But I'm SURE You will go look at what I'm talking about now...YOUR arrangement (Bravo for playing arrangements that are YOURS) of We Three Kings brought a smile of pride while You played it. Without Your added explanations, often times we can't even fully appreciate WHAT You are performing for us. Thanks for making us, a more understanding audience of what You are bringing to us! You are always making this work more interesting AND enjoyable with Your additional commentary. Well done my friend, well done.
Your channel gives a busy 1st soprano a good excuse to stop and sing with all her heart, thank you. In the Bleak Midwinter was played out so beautifully!
Ben, Lovely old church. When you showed it l was reminded of a Saxon church l visited years ago in Bradford on Avon. If l recall correctly there was one tiny window, no pews or other furniture. It was completely desolate but l remember being impressed that it was still standing and intact.
Thanks!
Ben, your videos just get better and better! Happy New Year to you!
The first church, a gem! Shame about the organ. The second church at Crichel: did you move the organ to its position facing the congregation? Unusual, surely? The organist would not want to be turning around to see what was happening behind him, cue Hymn....! "Who moved the mirror?" Then to Lover and wonderful music! What a great finish, my favourite carol! Ben, a very happy, healthy and safe 2025 to you and yours! (Sorry, I've not been around as Christmas and New Year was cancelled in our house! Viral infection and it's still not completely away!)