I recently played a small pipe organ (probably about twice the size of this one) and it was clear that it hadn't been played for a while. To name a few examples, only about half of the notes of the 8' Principal on the Great actually worked, several notes in the 16' Subass on the pedal just sounded like air coming through, and it was the most fun I've ever had playing a pipe organ. Furthermore, the pastor of the church offered to let me play during any of the services, although I have a job in the service at _my_ church and I doubt my ability to play in front of a large number of people by myself right now.
I love the explanation of the stops and how they blend together. It’s a lovely lesson in creating registrations. Sort of like a chef mixing flavours. This particular instrument has a lovely blend of sound.
I'm an organist from the UK, and used to visit Germany regularly. As a teenager and student I was lucky to have an 'organ-geek' friend there who would take me to various churches, some local, some not so local, in order to deputise for him. He got a day off; I had brilliant fun. I loved how the congregation (our audience) would patiently and appreciatively listen to the postlude. And the coffee and biscuits gossip sessions after service, something people might think quite 'British'! I was shocked and delighted at the variety of instruments. You are uniquely qualified to imagine the challenges. This brings back wonderful memories, and a chance for me to discover interesting gems all over again. This channel brings so much to different kinds of people, but it really fills me with a unique joy. Thank you Fraser & Co.
6:38 "It's technically summer over here... it's 22°(C) outside..." Cute. Very cute. It technically winter here in South Africa, and today was a frigid 24°C outside.
I think, when I will design an organ, i put 60 or 70 stops with trumpets, chamades and military trumpet (in brass), tuba magma and with 16ft, 32ft and 64ft trumpet, bombardes and wood pipe (if is possible). Beacuse I love the biggest ogan lol :)
I'm sure you've probably seen it, but if not, look at the Midmer Losh organ in Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City NJ. 33,112 pipes, all the way down to 64' Dulzian, plus a 42-2/3 for a 128' resultant. Over 1000 stop tabs. 7 manuals. Sadly, only half of it works at the moment, but it's halfway through the restoration project, and the most functional it's been since 1948.
This, this is what I enjoy. An organist who knows his/her organ and can go through all the sounds that merge and blend nicely together to create any sound or mood. 20,000 stops forget it. Give me 15 that do what I want and i'll beat your 20,000 that no one really knows how to use other than loud.
You mentioned that it gets a bit tight during services. I sing at the Cathedral in Springfield, MA. It gets VERY tight up in the loft because, like the loft you're at here (I assume), it was built for the organ, some other instruments, and maybe a couple voices. For that reason, it's considered an organ loft, as opposed to a choir loft. It gets so hot, we had to have small fans installed through the gaps in the pipes. Glad to see you're feeling well, again! For 50,000 you should play the Lemmens Fanfare.
Two other fine choices and personal favorites are Little Fugue in G-Moll and Lemare's transcription of Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre if you're in for a large challenge. Maybe that's 100k stuff. Just one more thought: arrange John William's ET for organ. I've fooled with it and there's lots of potential. The dynamics and registration changes are made for clever creativity. Hector Olivera uses it as a Roland Atellier encore.
Hi Frazer, I do not play the pipe organ , but am a great appreciator of it, and think that it is the greatest musical instrument ever devised from the genius of the human mind, and the only thing that can equal that, in my estimation, are the folks (like yourself) who can make it sing for us. I think the modest organ you present in this video, is a very beautiful pipe organ, and very suitable for the space that it's in. I loved the piece of music you played on it at the end, which it presented very well. I know this will anger some organ purists, but I think the pipe organ is so much more versatile as a musical instrument, then to just confine it to Bach, and a few other such notables of the organ. As far as the physical size of the organ goes, I used to be one of those folks that thought, the more pipes the better. But as my ear has become over time, better tuned, I no longer think that way. There can be (to much) organ for a small space, and similarly (not enough) organ for a large space, and I have heard both. What I really appreciate now, is a thoughtfully designed instrument that has the necessary stops to whisper quietly and melodically, and also to thrill us with it's grandeur, majesty and power, and it does not require an organ with 150 stops to do that. I would even say that I think a to large instrument can obscure the different divisions of the organ, to where their beauty is lost in the volume of sound. I think a well balanced instrument that perfumes the air softly, and continues to build to blazing splendour while not losing the definition of each of it divisions is a winner every time. Just an opinion. Sure do appreciate the various organs that you take us through physically and musically. All the best to you.
For the 50K mark, can you play Widor's Toccata? Possibly the finest piece of organ music ever. And what about playing it on the organ in Cologne Cathedral? Love the channel
Hi I'm grade 7 in piano and am 12 years old and live in Inverness, where you started and I want to start organ in that cathedral and I was wondering how to get started
Hi Finn. You're doing very well, achieving grade VII piano at your age. My Mother lived in Inverness as a girl (she was born in 1915) and during a family holiday there in 1976 I had permission to do some holiday organ practice on the then pipe organ in St Andrew's Scottish Episcopal Cathedral. The organ has long gone, I fear. Keep on practising, and have fun!!! Kindest regards, Peter A
Very interesting to see this 'little' organ prancing at your command. I have a ton of suggestions for 50K, but honestly I cannot think of *anything you would play that wouldn't be enchanting* , so I leave the decision entirely to you. Danke schön!
50k vote here is for Meyerbeers Coronation March. A good piece to explore the difference acoustics play in setting staccato timing in various halls. The mighty myte organ's acoustical feedback is quite excellent - in an empty church.
Welcome back Fraser we have all missed you and of course Glad to have your back. Its been a fantastic day here weather wise England just won the crocket world cup which I know as a Scotsman might not be happy news for you. Love the acoustic here. Interesting to here about why the G is so important and the point you made about the heating. I wont say anymore just enjoy what your doing
Absolutely loved the jazz bit. At times it comes close to the classic Wurlitzer theater organ sound. For 50,000: Johnathan Scott's adaptation of the Finale of Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony on the biggest organ you can find. 👍 👍 👍
I gave this video a thumbs up. I live on the West Coast United States, where there's still a share of theater pipe organs around as well as all the other kinds. And all the ones I liked the best by far happened to only have 2 manuals. So, I can relate to this vid. I saw in one video demonstrating a theater organ at the Weinberg Center someone in Maryland, on the East Coast of the U.S.A. That one also just had 2 manuals. And one of the 3 guys in that vid. demonstrated that theater organ being able to simulate a church organ, showing how the theater organs can do a whole lot more. And if I understand correctly, even the largest church organs can have multiple manuals and even still not be able to do what a theater organ can do, maybe even a theater organ with only 2 manuals. Jazz stuff is probably the biggest difference. There's a lot I'd have to say about this. But the bottom line here is that the ones I've seen with just 2 manuals have still had a total of 1,000+/- pipes and all the bells & whistles that one could ask for. I'm not an organist myself, I have too many other hobbies. But if I was ever to try and get one (finances and room permitting), 2 manual ones with maybe few ranks is all I'd be interested in, no interest in even 3 manuals. And I've talked to 1 guy who is a theater organist in my home state of Washington and has preferred 3 manuals over just 2, but said 4 manuals is ridiculous and shook his head while saying how there's ones out there with as many as 5.
Really glad you are both well again. Missed you, Fraser! As for the fifty thousand mark, what about Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor or Widor's toccata, if you prefer to stick with toccatas? :) However, Widor's toccata is a crazily complicated thing, I'm sure you know it. Anyway, thanks for your videos and please keep going!
Hm, it is easy to say that size doesn't matter when the organ is that awesome ;) I have to stick to an organ which has one manual, 8' and 4' Flute, 4' Principal (very bright and dominant), 2' somewhat Principal-ish. At least the organ has pedals and a Koppel.
Fraser, a second comment. While my computer is connected to a good amp/speaker set-up, I downloaded this and played it in my home cinema. This way, we were effectively in the church, surrounded by the great acoustic, and really hearing the benefit of those microphones! But my main purpose here is to say a friend who is totally ignorant about organs was with me. He was totally entranced by all he saw and heard─including your dazzling playing (and personality), it left him very keen for more. I was immediately put in mind of a comment not very long ago that interest in pipe-organs and organ music is dying─clearly not while people like you are around! (As the growth in your viewer & subscriber numbers continues to attest so well). Can't wait for the 50k!
Fraser, so glad to have you back, and sorry to hear of the travails you both have suffered ─ protracted and most unpleasant.. This organ is a delight with a very clever disposition of stops. When you say it's all you need, you are referring to an average parish church I guess and not to a larger church or cathedral where more ambitious repertoire is explored. I see in the suggestions frequent mention of the popular warhorse works (not intended to be disparaging of some wonderful music), but I have a suggestion that is less well-known but has the mood/style of many of the suggestions and that is the "Toccata on Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" by Wilhelm Middelschulte, a great display piece and within the realm of the more famous Toccatas suggested. [Sheet music can be downloaded at imslp.org/wiki/Category:For_organ#fcfrom:T ] I'm wondering at the popular Bach work played in several organs. Sounds fun, but wonder at musical worth. Still, no reason why fun should not prevail, organ music is so often hide-bound and starchy and in being so deters many potential listeners. Your work on this channel happily reverses that trend. Two other asides: the correct term is Celsius, not Centigrade, that changed decades ago (OK, so I'm pedantic!); and 22°C in summer may be warm for you, for me that's a warm day in winter (which I'm still waiting for this winter!) ─ greetings from Melbourne, Australia.
Since you are in Germany, Bach's Passacaglia BWV 582 should be possible on most organs. If you are really ambitious, Toccata in F BWV 540. In North America that pedal is just called the Crescendo shoe and it is normally to the right of the Swell shoes and placed a bit higher.
Would love to hear you play The Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1 by Charles-Marie Widor for the 50 000 subscriber mark. And it's great to have you back😄
Hello Fraser I hope you are well, my idea for the 50k subscribers video would be for you to play Widor Toccata Symphony number 5 on a big large cathedral organ in somewhere like the Berlin cathedral in the German capital city or if there is a cathedral closer to where you are even better if you can travel to a big city near you with such a large cathedral organ.
What a cracking little organ!! Beautiful tone. Love the chiffy flutes! I can think of many priests who would die of apoplexy if they heard "that" music in "their" church lol. As for the roller crescendo I can only think of it as an ex organ builder in its German terms as we know it in England as a "Roller schwell" not sure I have spelt it properly. As for a piece of music, well I know most of your viewers will probably go fora Bach piece, but I love French Romantic organ music, so I go for anything of your choice from Louis Vierne.
Does size matter? Yes, to the extent that the smaller the organ, the narrower the range of literature that it can do justice to. A Handel concerto certainly doesn't need a four manual 100 stop organ. And also, Yes, to the extent that you want to give variety to the people who will be listening to the instrument every week for 40 years. This isn't as big a problem with a well-appointed and regulated small organ like the one here, used by a creative registrator. After all, people listen with perfect aplomb to a piano time after time without crying that it always sounds like a piano. And finally, Yes, to the extent that the organ needs enough power to energize the volume of air in the room. That is one of the key reasons why the Midmer-Losch in the Atlantic City convention hall is so gigantic. It is energizing a truly huge amount of air.
Dear Fraser, you are not only a great musician with a great knowledge of your instruments and music, but also a pleasant storyteller. Keep doing this, I am always looking forward to your new videos. I love this way of promoting the King of the instruments.
Glad to see you back Fraser! I’m a self taught organist. This video helps me a lot on the proper use of the stops. I mean which ones to use to accompany a choir and which ones to use when playing a solo piece. Thank you!
OMG, Fraser!! How I’ve missed you!!💕 so sorry you & the Missus were ill. Not such a tiny church, though... quite a nice size!! Love the color-coded stops. Thank you for this delightful video.... and yes, size does matter: the best in everything comes in small packages!😊🌺💕🌷🎶
I’m sure it’s probably already been said but I would love to see you play the gigout toccata. Absolutely love that love and there are only a few good videos of it
Hi Fraser, For your 50 000 there is a Tocata by Robert Prizeman which he composed fro Dianna's wedding to Prince Charles which my son and I love that you should look at. I think many will appreciate the piece. You may or may not remember it my son has a recording of the piece. Be well. Great to hear from you. I have learned so much from your talks which have been shared with my wife who has been playing for church services for the past 53 years. Makes us fossils but we love Bach Handel Mozart, Telemann, Mendelsohn. My honour was to sing in Bach choir which for South Africa is Like being on a sunny beach in Siberia. Bless you Bill
Very cute video, glad you are both okay, I actually knew that because I have already watch some August videos, ahem! :-) Anyway, what amazing little organ! The Church acoustics is absolutely fantastic for such a relatively small place, they really knew how to make holy spaces back then! And, as some others have commented, I love that you treat the organ as the complete and powerful and versatile instrument it is, not a sacred, mythical thing you can only touch with a ten feet pole. Sacred music is okay, here in Spain we have a lot of that as well, so I'm not stranger to it, not to choruses, which are amazing, like small, organic pipe organs able to produce so many sounds! Two mixed voices, in particular, have my respect, but in reality any choir is truly difficult to perform in and to direct, so kudos to you and your people! As for the 50,000 subscribers, which I am sure you will get, while everybody is giving amazing proposals, with grandious organs performances, I really love and appreciate a piece I first listened to in piano and learned to appreciate (and started to learn to play to, as is decievingly "simple"!!! as they go, LOL) is Bach's "Little fugue in G minor". I think it's so simple and, at the same time, so ... it has that Bach quality only Bach can give... those fugues... argh! It's... devilish alluring! Like the sirens calling to Odiseus... Come, come, play me... And I try, and... LOL.. Well, as I say, maybe repeating Bach is too much, but Tocatta & Fugue in d minor" is a classic, people is crazy (it's amazing, of course, I first lienested to it in the 20,000 Leagues under the Sea 1956 or'64 or something movie, when Capt. Nemo plays it while the Nautilus goes under storms and ices caps...); but this is different, not so known and beautiful, you won't need 10 years to re-learning it and I know you will enjoy it as mush as we will.. Eh? Eh? ;-) LOL. Anyway. Thanks for a very different, very interesting and pretty unique channel. Keep it up! N.B. wondering about your kilt tartan pattern... Do you belong into a particular clann? I would tell you the clann of my kilt (I am not a member of the clann, though), but I rather not clash into any centuries feud by chance, lol. Best regards!
My home Parish has 9 stops, no reeds, and because it's in Wisconsin, is never in tune because our weather ranges from "hot and humid" to "it's too cold for snow to form".
Fraser, I have only just recently "discovered" you. Thank you so much for sharing you musicality and sense of fun. Made my day! All the way across the world in Tasmania.
I would have loved to hear Bach's Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, the Pastorale in F, and BWV 577 ("Gigue") on this instrument - t'would be truly sweet. By the way, the English word for the crescendo pedal is .... "crescendo" pedal - I know - confusing when half of the words in English come from words that aren't English .... ;-) Hauptwerk ----------------- 8' Prinzipal 8' Spillflote 4' Octave 2 2/3' Quint 2' Blockflote Mixtur IV 8' Trompete Oberwerk - Hauptwerk Oberwerk --------------- 8' Gedeckt 4' Rohrflote 2' Prinzipal 8' Salicional Sesquialter II Pedal --------- 16' Subbass 8' Gedecktbass 4' + 2' Choralbass Hauptwerk - Pedal Oberwerk - Pedal
Answer to the title's question: Imho---Yes. To approach any sort of truly orchestral sound, I think a theatre organ needs at least six ranks available at at least three pitches per rank. Wurlitzer's Style "D"/165 2-manual 6-ranker is a great example. Vox, Tibia Clausa, Salicional, Flute, Open Diapason and Trumpet. One of each "flavor" of tone color! :) Of course, these are only good if all things are equal. Good regulation, "properly" set tremulants, a good "room"........... and a good player! Up to about 1,200 seats of good auditorium, the "D" works nicely. A third manual is also super useful as an "accent/alternate melody registration" manual---even with only six ranks! Bigger than that, I think 10 ranks at a minimum works well until you break the 2K-2.5K seating capacity mark. For a church? Assuming a "straight" design, maybe beginning at 2/16 for a chapel? One thing: You gotta "fill the room". Churches and such rely more on color than power many times, though. Summation: Yeah. It matters. From a purely practical standpoint for starters. :)
Nice little organ! One thing that could make it better would be a 16' extension to the Trompete rank for the Pedal. For 50,000 subscribers, you should play something really bombastic on a large organ, maybe at Koln Cathedral.
Hi Fraser. What about for your 50000 mark a piece of music by Widor. Toccata symphony nr. 5 would be fun. If needed, I’ve got the sheet music for that. Kind regards. Martin (ps. Welcome back)
Hi Fraser, it's wonderfull, to hear (and see) from you (and your wife of course !) again. Passed the sickness-PingPong finally ? That's great. Nice and beautifull church, and organ of course, sounds wonderfull. Well done, as ever, this video, thanks a lot for your work !!!
My dad loved pipe organs all his life. Our church never had one until recently and he would be in heaven if he had not already been there (now). He would get a kick out your videos. Seeing these different organs makes me feel my dad is watching with me.
I had another idea for the 50,000 subscribers piece: Rick Wakeman's "The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table", first song. Arthur. It has some really impressive electronic organ and it's epic! I can't wait to listen it on a real organ! It's also quite old, how many years for copyright?!? We could call it a cover and get over the algorithm... :-) Anyway, some more wild ideas... :-)
Great stuff. I'm a new subscriber, and although not an organist, I hugely enjoy learning stuff about organs. I've come away from every video so far with a feeling of "I didn't even know that I didn't know what I just learned." Thanks for that! What I would like to hear you play for the 50,000 subscriber milestone would be the Sinfonia from the Cantata "Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir", BWV 29. It was one of the great showpieces of the first Switched-on-Bach album. Originally it with other instruments but it can also be incredible on a large organ alone. I don't really care if you play the Dupré transcription or any other arrangement.
I'd like to see how that building would handle a 16' and 32' set. With how small the building is, would the 32' even fit? Prokofieff would sound nice on that organ, do you think they would let you perform Peter and the Wolf as a charity presentation? I'd love to hear it.
@@anickode I've seen 32' bent both 90° and 180°, but, there still seemed to be more room in the buildings that that was done in that what the one he's in would be capable.
So glad you're back and feeling better. Two questions: who was the organ-builder? And could you please give the *actual stop names* rather than "Here's a flute" etc.? Merci beaucoup. 👍 ❤️
If you guys remember well, I was talking about the out of tune Casavant organ at our church. Thankfully, the financial situation at our church is being resolved, and the pastor agreed to tune it for September. The bad news is, one of the pedals BROKE, like it just snapped. I know what you're thinking: How can someone BRAKE a pedal on an organ? We are still trying to figure out who did it and how it happened. Anyways, our church decided to use GORILLA GLUE to fix it, imagine my frustration when I found that out. Anyways, speaking of the Crescendo pedal, we have one on our Casavant organ, and it only has 27 ranks if I'm not mistaken.
Welcome back Fraser - you've been missed! Beautiful little church & organ, thank you. A piece for 50k subscribers? I'd have to ask for BWV 564 (but if not Bach, maybe Vierne 2...)
Loved the jazzy organ piece at the end! That was fantastic. And your explanation how less can be more was fantastic. Maybe for 50,000 subscribers you can play something grand .. like Elgar 'Imperial March' ... or something similar.
I love everything you teach and everything you play and that piece at the end was so much fun! Great little organ. For your 50K how about Saint-Saens Organ Symphony arranged for solo organ? 🙂
The jazz improv was wonderful! For your 50k milestone celebration, here are a number of pieces that would work beautifully. J. S. Bach. Fugue in G Major, BWV 577. E Power Biggs, organ ruclips.net/video/nOP_0YRHbZo/видео.html David N. Johnson. Trumpet Tune in A Major. Doug Marshall, organ ruclips.net/video/O8uRIaKGEoI/видео.html Richard Elliot, arr. I Saw Three Ships. Rob Stefanussen, organ ruclips.net/video/ufCAZJF-iDU/видео.html Hymn Tune Kingsfold (R. Vaughan Williams). I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say. Michael T. C. Hey, organ ruclips.net/video/L0VmpNq4IDg/видео.html Eugène Gigout. Scherzo in E. John Scott Whiteley, organ ruclips.net/video/C60Ttqkrq_s/видео.html Healey Willan. Prelude on Gelobt Sei Gott. Noel Rawsthorne, organ ruclips.net/video/7RSJpRSBOts/видео.html G. F. Handel. Concerto in B♭ Major, Op. 4, No. 2. Doug Marshall, organ ruclips.net/video/PfCqdAx_qRs/видео.html
Pweh Fraser, Glad to have you back! You made me worried what the heck was the matter, waiting for a mail to know you was posting again. Anyway nice to hear all is well now :)
You would also make a great theatre organist. Actually being an organist, i haven't came across a crescendo pedal (even on large organs). I presumed the crescendo pedal was something from electronic pipe organs, as I have only seen being used there. Great video and very informative, how exactly does a crescendo pedal work - does it go up in switch increments?
Crescendo Pedals are extremely common on virtually all American pipe organs (and digital). I make (occasional) use of it while playing hymns, etc.; and while performing English, French, and German Romantic repertoire particularly... Howells, Widor, Reger, etc. The Crescendo Pedal (and the awkward, horizontal barrel-type mechanism still sometimes seen) has been around long before electronic/digital instruments. It works by electrically, and incrementally, adding pre-set stops (and nowadays this stop-order is adjustable/programmable by the organist), from the quietest sounds (8' then 4' Flutes & Strings, minus Céleste stops), gradually up to most of the loudest and brightest stops (pedal and manual Chorus Reeds 16'-8' & Mixtures + manual 16' flutes, if the pedal 32' Soubasse/Contre-Bourdon is actuated) - making use of various unison couplers during the process, as well. The fully-open Crescendo Pedal normally ends shy of "Full Organ" or "Tutti" - which would bring on the 32' pedal Reed stop and loud manual Tuba-style stops 16'-4', plus very bright Scharfs & Zimbels. Closing the Crescendo Pedal is subtractive, and exactly reverses the process: quite loud down to softer (depending on which stops have been drawn beforehand). And, like the Zoom Lens on a movie camera, it should be used judiciously and sparingly. If properly set-up, the Crescendo Pedal is a very useful accoutrement on any organ, without fussing with pistons and toestuds... regardless of what some purist snobs may profess. Hope this helps and isn't too confusing. 😊
Hello fraser, good to see you back in good health, recently subscribed, and loving your flamboyant approach of it all. i see some pretty obvious suggestions for the 50K subs , ( in 3 months ) , like widor and Boelmann and such, so let;s add another one :) karg ellert, Festliche Musik alla Handel ... and of course played at a bombastic organ like the one you played at wiesbaden
That is even quite a sizeable organ. Not small at all. I started out on a 1 manual ‘van Hirtum’ organ with 8 stops and a pedal that was permanently connected to the manual of only 1,5 octave. A bit later I did play an electro-pneumatic organ for quite some years with a little less stops than the one you are demonstrating.
I am pleased to see you back, perhaps it is not organ music but my second most favorite piece (Bach's Fugue is my favorite) is Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1, B-flat minor. As I said, may not be something for an organ...
50K should be the Carillon de Westminster
I recently played a small pipe organ (probably about twice the size of this one) and it was clear that it hadn't been played for a while. To name a few examples, only about half of the notes of the 8' Principal on the Great actually worked, several notes in the 16' Subass on the pedal just sounded like air coming through, and it was the most fun I've ever had playing a pipe organ. Furthermore, the pastor of the church offered to let me play during any of the services, although I have a job in the service at _my_ church and I doubt my ability to play in front of a large number of people by myself right now.
My father Saxon Aldred, who is a retired organ builder now aged 88 years loves your programs as he call them.👍👍
I love the explanation of the stops and how they blend together. It’s a lovely lesson in creating registrations. Sort of like a chef mixing flavours. This particular instrument has a lovely blend of sound.
I'm an organist from the UK, and used to visit Germany regularly.
As a teenager and student I was lucky to have an 'organ-geek' friend there who would take me to various churches, some local, some not so local, in order to deputise for him. He got a day off; I had brilliant fun. I loved how the congregation (our audience) would patiently and appreciatively listen to the postlude. And the coffee and biscuits gossip sessions after service, something people might think quite 'British'!
I was shocked and delighted at the variety of instruments. You are uniquely qualified to imagine the challenges. This brings back wonderful memories, and a chance for me to discover interesting gems all over again. This channel brings so much to different kinds of people, but it really fills me with a unique joy. Thank you Fraser & Co.
6:38 "It's technically summer over here... it's 22°(C) outside..." Cute. Very cute. It technically winter here in South Africa, and today was a frigid 24°C outside.
You think this organ is a little one? I just have one manual, 2 pedal-stops and 6 manual stops... does size really matter? Yes 😂
I think, when I will design an organ, i put 60 or 70 stops with trumpets, chamades and military trumpet (in brass), tuba magma and with 16ft, 32ft and 64ft trumpet, bombardes and wood pipe (if is possible). Beacuse I love the biggest ogan lol :)
I'm sure you've probably seen it, but if not, look at the Midmer Losh organ in Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City NJ. 33,112 pipes, all the way down to 64' Dulzian, plus a 42-2/3 for a 128' resultant. Over 1000 stop tabs. 7 manuals. Sadly, only half of it works at the moment, but it's halfway through the restoration project, and the most functional it's been since 1948.
This, this is what I enjoy. An organist who knows his/her organ and can go through all the sounds that merge and blend nicely together to create any sound or mood. 20,000 stops forget it. Give me 15 that do what I want and i'll beat your 20,000 that no one really knows how to use other than loud.
A lovely little organ. I wish I had this in my condo, but it would have to overflow to my neighbors, who wouldn't appreciate it...
WE MISSED YOU FASER!!!
I think I speak for a lot of people.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for being back.
Love your videos ❤️🎶🇿🇦
You mentioned that it gets a bit tight during services. I sing at the Cathedral in Springfield, MA. It gets VERY tight up in the loft because, like the loft you're at here (I assume), it was built for the organ, some other instruments, and maybe a couple voices. For that reason, it's considered an organ loft, as opposed to a choir loft. It gets so hot, we had to have small fans installed through the gaps in the pipes.
Glad to see you're feeling well, again! For 50,000 you should play the Lemmens Fanfare.
Two other fine choices and personal favorites are Little Fugue in G-Moll and Lemare's transcription of Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre if you're in for a large challenge. Maybe that's 100k stuff.
Just one more thought: arrange John William's ET for organ. I've fooled with it and there's lots of potential. The dynamics and registration changes are made for clever creativity. Hector Olivera uses it as a Roland Atellier encore.
Hi Frazer, I do not play the pipe organ , but am a great appreciator of it, and think that it is the greatest musical instrument ever devised from the genius of the human mind, and the only thing that can equal that, in my estimation, are the folks (like yourself) who can make it sing for us. I think the modest organ you present in this video, is a very beautiful pipe organ, and very suitable for the space that it's in. I loved the piece of music you played on it at the end, which it presented very well. I know this will anger some organ purists, but I think the pipe organ is so much more versatile as a musical instrument, then to just confine it to Bach, and a few other such notables of the organ. As far as the physical size of the organ goes, I used to be one of those folks that thought, the more pipes the better. But as my ear has become over time, better tuned, I no longer think that way. There can be (to much) organ for a small space, and similarly (not enough) organ for a large space, and I have heard both. What I really appreciate now, is a thoughtfully designed instrument that has the necessary stops to whisper quietly and melodically, and also to thrill us with it's grandeur, majesty and power, and it does not require an organ with 150 stops to do that. I would even say that I think a to large instrument can obscure the different divisions of the organ, to where their beauty is lost in the volume of sound. I think a well balanced instrument that perfumes the air softly, and continues to build to blazing splendour while not losing the definition of each of it divisions is a winner every time. Just an opinion. Sure do appreciate the various organs that you take us through physically and musically. All the best to you.
For the 50K mark, can you play Widor's Toccata? Possibly the finest piece of organ music ever. And what about playing it on the organ in Cologne Cathedral? Love the channel
I love the piece at the end! I'm also a fan of the theatre organ and this piece had that flair.
The king is back! Glad you guys feel better! Maybe at 50k u could play the Widor Toccata from Symphony No.5 in F major.
Good to see you back. I was worried that something awful had happened to you just when things were progressing so well.
Hi I'm grade 7 in piano and am 12 years old and live in Inverness, where you started and I want to start organ in that cathedral and I was wondering how to get started
Hi Finn. You're doing very well, achieving grade VII piano at your age. My Mother lived in Inverness as a girl (she was born in 1915) and during a family holiday there in 1976 I had permission to do some holiday organ practice on the then pipe organ in St Andrew's Scottish Episcopal Cathedral. The organ has long gone, I fear. Keep on practising, and have fun!!! Kindest regards, Peter A
Very interesting to see this 'little' organ prancing at your command. I have a ton of suggestions for 50K, but honestly I cannot think of *anything you would play that wouldn't be enchanting* , so I leave the decision entirely to you. Danke schön!
i like how u made a standard church organ sound like a theater organ
50k vote here is for Meyerbeers Coronation March. A good piece to explore the difference acoustics play in setting staccato timing in various halls.
The mighty myte organ's acoustical feedback is quite excellent - in an empty church.
Absolutely that last jazzy bit (on a pipe organ)... thanks for making my day!!
Welcome back Fraser we have all missed you and of course Glad to have your back. Its been a fantastic day here weather wise England just won the crocket world cup which I know as a Scotsman might not be happy news for you. Love the acoustic here. Interesting to here about why the G is so important and the point you made about the heating. I wont say anymore just enjoy what your doing
Absolutely loved the jazz bit. At times it comes close to the classic Wurlitzer theater organ sound. For 50,000: Johnathan Scott's adaptation of the Finale of Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony on the biggest organ you can find. 👍 👍 👍
I gave this video a thumbs up. I live on the West Coast United States, where there's still a share of theater pipe organs around as well as all the other kinds. And all the ones I liked the best by far happened to only have 2 manuals. So, I can relate to this vid. I saw in one video demonstrating a theater organ at the Weinberg Center someone in Maryland, on the East Coast of the U.S.A. That one also just had 2 manuals. And one of the 3 guys in that vid. demonstrated that theater organ being able to simulate a church organ, showing how the theater organs can do a whole lot more. And if I understand correctly, even the largest church organs can have multiple manuals and even still not be able to do what a theater organ can do, maybe even a theater organ with only 2 manuals. Jazz stuff is probably the biggest difference. There's a lot I'd have to say about this. But the bottom line here is that the ones I've seen with just 2 manuals have still had a total of 1,000+/- pipes and all the bells & whistles that one could ask for. I'm not an organist myself, I have too many other hobbies. But if I was ever to try and get one (finances and room permitting), 2 manual ones with maybe few ranks is all I'd be interested in, no interest in even 3 manuals. And I've talked to 1 guy who is a theater organist in my home state of Washington and has preferred 3 manuals over just 2, but said 4 manuals is ridiculous and shook his head while saying how there's ones out there with as many as 5.
Really glad you are both well again. Missed you, Fraser! As for the fifty thousand mark, what about Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor or Widor's toccata, if you prefer to stick with toccatas? :) However, Widor's toccata is a crazily complicated thing, I'm sure you know it. Anyway, thanks for your videos and please keep going!
Hm, it is easy to say that size doesn't matter when the organ is that awesome ;) I have to stick to an organ which has one manual, 8' and 4' Flute, 4' Principal (very bright and dominant), 2' somewhat Principal-ish. At least the organ has pedals and a Koppel.
Fraser, a second comment. While my computer is connected to a good amp/speaker set-up, I downloaded this and played it in my home cinema. This way, we were effectively in the church, surrounded by the great acoustic, and really hearing the benefit of those microphones!
But my main purpose here is to say a friend who is totally ignorant about organs was with me. He was totally entranced by all he saw and heard─including your dazzling playing (and personality), it left him very keen for more. I was immediately put in mind of a comment not very long ago that interest in pipe-organs and organ music is dying─clearly not while people like you are around! (As the growth in your viewer & subscriber numbers continues to attest so well). Can't wait for the 50k!
Fraser, so glad to have you back, and sorry to hear of the travails you both have suffered ─ protracted and most unpleasant..
This organ is a delight with a very clever disposition of stops. When you say it's all you need, you are referring to an average parish church I guess and not to a larger church or cathedral where more ambitious repertoire is explored.
I see in the suggestions frequent mention of the popular warhorse works (not intended to be disparaging of some wonderful music), but I have a suggestion that is less well-known but has the mood/style of many of the suggestions and that is the "Toccata on Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" by Wilhelm Middelschulte, a great display piece and within the realm of the more famous Toccatas suggested. [Sheet music can be downloaded at imslp.org/wiki/Category:For_organ#fcfrom:T ]
I'm wondering at the popular Bach work played in several organs. Sounds fun, but wonder at musical worth. Still, no reason why fun should not prevail, organ music is so often hide-bound and starchy and in being so deters many potential listeners. Your work on this channel happily reverses that trend.
Two other asides: the correct term is Celsius, not Centigrade, that changed decades ago (OK, so I'm pedantic!); and 22°C in summer may be warm for you, for me that's a warm day in winter (which I'm still waiting for this winter!) ─ greetings from Melbourne, Australia.
I would love to hear you play Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, famously used (in part) during the christening scene from the Godfather.
Since you are in Germany, Bach's Passacaglia BWV 582 should be possible on most organs. If you are really ambitious, Toccata in F BWV 540. In North America that pedal is just called the Crescendo shoe and it is normally to the right of the Swell shoes and placed a bit higher.
For the 50k -> Toccata - Leon Boellmann
Would love to hear you play The Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1 by Charles-Marie Widor for the 50 000 subscriber mark. And it's great to have you back😄
Hello Fraser I hope you are well, my idea for the 50k subscribers video would be for you to play Widor Toccata Symphony number 5 on a big large cathedral organ in somewhere like the Berlin cathedral in the German capital city or if there is a cathedral closer to where you are even better if you can travel to a big city near you with such a large cathedral organ.
Love your channel, good to see you back!
When you do your toccata on “various organs”, you should to a behind the scenes video
What a cracking little organ!! Beautiful tone. Love the chiffy flutes! I can think of many priests who would die of apoplexy if they heard "that" music in "their" church lol. As for the roller crescendo I can only think of it as an ex organ builder in its German terms as we know it in England as a "Roller schwell" not sure I have spelt it properly. As for a piece of music, well I know most of your viewers will probably go fora Bach piece, but I love French Romantic organ music, so I go for anything of your choice from Louis Vierne.
Could do an organ duet - dueling organs? Maybe with someone famous.
that would be impressive.
So happy to hear you are both back in good health!
Does size matter? Yes, to the extent that the smaller the organ, the narrower the range of literature that it can do justice to. A Handel concerto certainly doesn't need a four manual 100 stop organ. And also, Yes, to the extent that you want to give variety to the people who will be listening to the instrument every week for 40 years. This isn't as big a problem with a well-appointed and regulated small organ like the one here, used by a creative registrator. After all, people listen with perfect aplomb to a piano time after time without crying that it always sounds like a piano. And finally, Yes, to the extent that the organ needs enough power to energize the volume of air in the room. That is one of the key reasons why the Midmer-Losch in the Atlantic City convention hall is so gigantic. It is energizing a truly huge amount of air.
For 50K you should play Grand Choeur Dialogué on two organs
Lovely sounds, thank you for posting. It'd be nice to hear you play there with your choir one day. 👍
Dear Fraser, you are not only a great musician with a great knowledge of your instruments and music, but also a pleasant storyteller. Keep doing this, I am always looking forward to your new videos. I love this way of promoting the King of the instruments.
Lovely work Fraser - great to have a passionate, knowledgable organist on youtube!
I came down with the same thing over the last two weeks, I feel your pain.
Great organ, no matter the size they are always wonderful!
Glad to see you back Fraser! I’m a self taught organist. This video helps me a lot on the proper use of the stops. I mean which ones to use to accompany a choir and which ones to use when playing a solo piece. Thank you!
OMG, Fraser!! How I’ve missed you!!💕 so sorry you & the Missus were ill. Not such a tiny church, though... quite a nice size!! Love the color-coded stops. Thank you for this delightful video.... and yes, size does matter: the best in everything comes in small packages!😊🌺💕🌷🎶
I’d like to hear you tackle the mighty Wurlitzer some time !
50K.......Has to be the Widor
The Widor Toccata is a masterpiece, but it's often ruined by organists trying to play it TOO fast.
Glad to you hear and see you on the pipes again, I’d love to hear the occasional modern tune on one of these organs,maybe tubular bells ?
Nice to see you back in good health. Nice church !
How about “Dieu parmi nous” from Messiaen’s “La Nativité du Seigneur” when you hit 50,000. It’s a tough piece to play, but it’s a beauty. ☺️
I’m sure it’s probably already been said but I would love to see you play the gigout toccata. Absolutely love that love and there are only a few good videos of it
Glad to hear you both are fine again.
A very important question: Who built this organ and when?
Indeed, it is a little sound jewel.
It was built by Peter Wagenbach, I don't know when.
Charles Marie Widor's Symphony No.5 Toccata or Gigout's Grand Choeur Dialogue. Just maybe don't play Widor Toccata as fast as Ms. Diane Bish 😉
50.000 ? I'd die for that momentum finding a whole concert of your's here at yt ;)
Hi Fraser, For your 50 000 there is a Tocata by Robert Prizeman which he composed fro Dianna's wedding to Prince Charles which my son and I love that you should look at. I think many will appreciate the piece. You may or may not remember it my son has a recording of the piece. Be well. Great to hear from you. I have learned so much from your talks which have been shared with my wife who has been playing for church services for the past 53 years. Makes us fossils but we love Bach Handel Mozart, Telemann, Mendelsohn. My honour was to sing in Bach choir which for South Africa is Like being on a sunny beach in Siberia. Bless you Bill
I am impressed with your experiences!
Very cute video, glad you are both okay, I actually knew that because I have already watch some August videos, ahem! :-) Anyway, what amazing little organ! The Church acoustics is absolutely fantastic for such a relatively small place, they really knew how to make holy spaces back then! And, as some others have commented, I love that you treat the organ as the complete and powerful and versatile instrument it is, not a sacred, mythical thing you can only touch with a ten feet pole. Sacred music is okay, here in Spain we have a lot of that as well, so I'm not stranger to it, not to choruses, which are amazing, like small, organic pipe organs able to produce so many sounds! Two mixed voices, in particular, have my respect, but in reality any choir is truly difficult to perform in and to direct, so kudos to you and your people!
As for the 50,000 subscribers, which I am sure you will get, while everybody is giving amazing proposals, with grandious organs performances, I really love and appreciate a piece I first listened to in piano and learned to appreciate (and started to learn to play to, as is decievingly "simple"!!! as they go, LOL) is Bach's "Little fugue in G minor". I think it's so simple and, at the same time, so ... it has that Bach quality only Bach can give... those fugues... argh! It's... devilish alluring! Like the sirens calling to Odiseus... Come, come, play me... And I try, and... LOL.. Well, as I say, maybe repeating Bach is too much, but Tocatta & Fugue in d minor" is a classic, people is crazy (it's amazing, of course, I first lienested to it in the 20,000 Leagues under the Sea 1956 or'64 or something movie, when Capt. Nemo plays it while the Nautilus goes under storms and ices caps...); but this is different, not so known and beautiful, you won't need 10 years to re-learning it and I know you will enjoy it as mush as we will.. Eh? Eh? ;-)
LOL. Anyway. Thanks for a very different, very interesting and pretty unique channel. Keep it up!
N.B. wondering about your kilt tartan pattern... Do you belong into a particular clann? I would tell you the clann of my kilt (I am not a member of the clann, though), but I rather not clash into any centuries feud by chance, lol. Best regards!
My home Parish has 9 stops, no reeds, and because it's in Wisconsin, is never in tune because our weather ranges from "hot and humid" to "it's too cold for snow to form".
Your English heritage has not been lost. You called your wife the 'missus' , wonderful !
Fraser, I have only just recently "discovered" you. Thank you so much for sharing you musicality and sense of fun.
Made my day! All the way across the world in Tasmania.
I would have loved to hear Bach's Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, the Pastorale in F, and BWV 577 ("Gigue") on this instrument - t'would be truly sweet. By the way, the English word for the crescendo pedal is .... "crescendo" pedal - I know - confusing when half of the words in English come from words that aren't English .... ;-)
Hauptwerk
-----------------
8' Prinzipal
8' Spillflote
4' Octave
2 2/3' Quint
2' Blockflote
Mixtur IV
8' Trompete
Oberwerk - Hauptwerk
Oberwerk
---------------
8' Gedeckt
4' Rohrflote
2' Prinzipal
8' Salicional
Sesquialter II
Pedal
---------
16' Subbass
8' Gedecktbass
4' + 2' Choralbass
Hauptwerk - Pedal
Oberwerk - Pedal
Except on a Brindley & Foster where it's called a 'Bringradus' - It was done entirely pneumatically and very ingenious.
Answer to the title's question: Imho---Yes. To approach any sort of truly orchestral sound, I think a theatre organ needs at least six ranks available at at least three pitches per rank. Wurlitzer's Style "D"/165 2-manual 6-ranker is a great example. Vox, Tibia Clausa, Salicional, Flute, Open Diapason and Trumpet. One of each "flavor" of tone color! :) Of course, these are only good if all things are equal. Good regulation, "properly" set tremulants, a good "room"........... and a good player! Up to about 1,200 seats of good auditorium, the "D" works nicely. A third manual is also super useful as an "accent/alternate melody registration" manual---even with only six ranks! Bigger than that, I think 10 ranks at a minimum works well until you break the 2K-2.5K seating capacity mark. For a church? Assuming a "straight" design, maybe beginning at 2/16 for a chapel? One thing: You gotta "fill the room". Churches and such rely more on color than power many times, though. Summation: Yeah. It matters. From a purely practical standpoint for starters. :)
Nice little organ! One thing that could make it better would be a 16' extension to the Trompete rank for the Pedal. For 50,000 subscribers, you should play something really bombastic on a large organ, maybe at Koln Cathedral.
I think you should do Bach's Passcaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV 582 for your 50000 celebration. A work of epic proportions.
So glad you’re back....and both feeling better. Thanks for your beautiful videos.
Hi Fraser. What about for your 50000 mark a piece of music by Widor. Toccata symphony nr. 5 would be fun. If needed, I’ve got the sheet music for that. Kind regards. Martin (ps. Welcome back)
That is a very good idea
Hi Fraser,
it's wonderfull, to hear (and see) from you (and your wife of course !) again. Passed the sickness-PingPong finally ? That's great.
Nice and beautifull church, and organ of course, sounds wonderfull. Well done, as ever, this video, thanks a lot for your work !!!
Schleimen musst du jetzt auch nicht
@@johannsebastianbach8471 Versuch's mal mit sinnvollen, andere NICHT NERVENDE, und Dich selbst nicht diskreditierenden Beiträgen, hmm, wie wär's ?!?
My dad loved pipe organs all his life. Our church never had one until recently and he would be in heaven if he had not already been there (now). He would get a kick out your videos. Seeing these different organs makes me feel my dad is watching with me.
So glad to hear that you and your Mrs are doing much better. We have missed you!
We've been worried about you! Glad you're better!
I had another idea for the 50,000 subscribers piece: Rick Wakeman's "The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table", first song. Arthur. It has some really impressive electronic organ and it's epic! I can't wait to listen it on a real organ! It's also quite old, how many years for copyright?!? We could call it a cover and get over the algorithm... :-) Anyway, some more wild ideas... :-)
And you have a 40+ people chorus back at Mariahausen, right? ;-)
Great stuff. I'm a new subscriber, and although not an organist, I hugely enjoy learning stuff about organs. I've come away from every video so far with a feeling of "I didn't even know that I didn't know what I just learned." Thanks for that!
What I would like to hear you play for the 50,000 subscriber milestone would be the Sinfonia from the Cantata "Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir", BWV 29. It was one of the great showpieces of the first Switched-on-Bach album. Originally it with other instruments but it can also be incredible on a large organ alone. I don't really care if you play the Dupré transcription or any other arrangement.
Absolutely love your style of playing, and with the new mics it’s much more satisfying to listen. Best wishes from the state of Missouri in the U.S.
WHen you hit 50k, Suite Gothique by Léon Boëllmann would be amazing!
Fraser, absolutely excellent! Widor's Toccata for 50K would be such a treat to watch you play! (Working on it myself in Rome, Italy).
I'd like to see how that building would handle a 16' and 32' set. With how small the building is, would the 32' even fit? Prokofieff would sound nice on that organ, do you think they would let you perform Peter and the Wolf as a charity presentation? I'd love to hear it.
It's not uncommon to see longer ranks with a bend in them to make them fit.
@@anickode I've seen 32' bent both 90° and 180°, but, there still seemed to be more room in the buildings that that was done in that what the one he's in would be capable.
Sounds great to me.
Great to see you back 😁. Cant wait for that toccata in D minor
So glad you're back and feeling better.
Two questions: who was the organ-builder? And could you please give the *actual stop names* rather than "Here's a flute" etc.?
Merci beaucoup. 👍 ❤️
In my city we have the same organ, have the same stops and..... have all similar, but is a walker,.... I don’t know if it’s walker that organ
Very cute little organ, thank you, glad your Family is well. Missed you.
in our church we use the sesquilter wen the trumpets are out of tune
If you guys remember well, I was talking about the out of tune Casavant organ at our church. Thankfully, the financial situation at our church is being resolved, and the pastor agreed to tune it for September. The bad news is, one of the pedals BROKE, like it just snapped. I know what you're thinking: How can someone BRAKE a pedal on an organ? We are still trying to figure out who did it and how it happened. Anyways, our church decided to use GORILLA GLUE to fix it, imagine my frustration when I found that out. Anyways, speaking of the Crescendo pedal, we have one on our Casavant organ, and it only has 27 ranks if I'm not mistaken.
This is not a tinny organ I was playing a organ which had only one manual with 5 stops and one stop for the pedal
Welcome back Fraser - you've been missed! Beautiful little church & organ, thank you. A piece for 50k subscribers? I'd have to ask for BWV 564 (but if not Bach, maybe Vierne 2...)
I second BWV 564. It's long been one of my favorites.
BWV 540 would also be a good choice. It's pretty impressive.
@@johnopalko5223 Not bad Idea either. But BWV 533 or the Big E minor prelude and fugue by Nicolaus Bruhns
@@dulcian3230 Regardless of what he chooses, if Fraser plays it, I'll listen!
Loved the jazzy organ piece at the end! That was fantastic. And your explanation how less can be more was fantastic. Maybe for 50,000 subscribers you can play something grand .. like Elgar 'Imperial March' ... or something similar.
Love the thought of some Elgar, which of course forces one to consider Nimrod..... :)
Do you prefer the
-claribella
-flute harmonique
or
-gedackt?
Similarly, do you prefer:
-tuba
or
-en chamade?
They all have their place! It all depends on the organ/repertoire/acoustic etc!
Fair enough
Being english i always preferred the tuba to the trompet
I love everything you teach and everything you play and that piece at the end was so much fun! Great little organ. For your 50K how about Saint-Saens Organ Symphony arranged for solo organ? 🙂
So glad you and Frau Gartshore have mended! Thank you for this tour of this little, beautifully voiced powerhouse.
The jazz improv was wonderful! For your 50k milestone celebration, here are a number of pieces that would work beautifully.
J. S. Bach. Fugue in G Major, BWV 577. E Power Biggs, organ
ruclips.net/video/nOP_0YRHbZo/видео.html
David N. Johnson. Trumpet Tune in A Major. Doug Marshall, organ
ruclips.net/video/O8uRIaKGEoI/видео.html
Richard Elliot, arr. I Saw Three Ships. Rob Stefanussen, organ
ruclips.net/video/ufCAZJF-iDU/видео.html
Hymn Tune Kingsfold (R. Vaughan Williams). I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say. Michael T. C. Hey, organ
ruclips.net/video/L0VmpNq4IDg/видео.html
Eugène Gigout. Scherzo in E. John Scott Whiteley, organ
ruclips.net/video/C60Ttqkrq_s/видео.html
Healey Willan. Prelude on Gelobt Sei Gott. Noel Rawsthorne, organ
ruclips.net/video/7RSJpRSBOts/видео.html
G. F. Handel. Concerto in B♭ Major, Op. 4, No. 2. Doug Marshall, organ
ruclips.net/video/PfCqdAx_qRs/видео.html
I think the rollshcweller is just called a general crescendo pedal in English
Pweh Fraser,
Glad to have you back! You made me worried what the heck was the matter, waiting for a mail to know you was posting again. Anyway nice to hear all is well now :)
You would also make a great theatre organist. Actually being an organist, i haven't came across a crescendo pedal (even on large organs). I presumed the crescendo pedal was something from electronic pipe organs, as I have only seen being used there. Great video and very informative, how exactly does a crescendo pedal work - does it go up in switch increments?
Crescendo Pedals are extremely common on virtually all American pipe organs (and digital). I make (occasional) use of it while playing hymns, etc.; and while performing English, French, and German Romantic repertoire particularly... Howells, Widor, Reger, etc.
The Crescendo Pedal (and the awkward, horizontal barrel-type mechanism still sometimes seen) has been around long before electronic/digital instruments.
It works by electrically, and incrementally, adding pre-set stops (and nowadays this stop-order is adjustable/programmable by the organist), from the quietest sounds (8' then 4' Flutes & Strings, minus Céleste stops), gradually up to most of the loudest and brightest stops (pedal and manual Chorus Reeds 16'-8' & Mixtures + manual 16' flutes, if the pedal 32' Soubasse/Contre-Bourdon is actuated) - making use of various unison couplers during the process, as well.
The fully-open Crescendo Pedal normally ends shy of "Full Organ" or "Tutti" - which would bring on the 32' pedal Reed stop and loud manual Tuba-style stops 16'-4', plus very bright Scharfs & Zimbels.
Closing the Crescendo Pedal is subtractive, and exactly reverses the process: quite loud down to softer (depending on which stops have been drawn beforehand).
And, like the Zoom Lens on a movie camera, it should be used judiciously and sparingly.
If properly set-up, the Crescendo Pedal is a very useful accoutrement on any organ, without fussing with pistons and toestuds... regardless of what some purist snobs may profess.
Hope this helps and isn't too confusing. 😊
Have you tried recording with (2) microphones, one at each end of the pipes? Capturing the stereo quality would be interesting
Nice little organ!! The clarinets and flutes are beautiful.
Welcome back also!
Hello fraser, good to see you back in good health, recently subscribed, and loving your flamboyant approach of it all. i see some pretty obvious suggestions for the 50K subs , ( in 3 months ) , like widor and Boelmann and such, so let;s add another one :) karg ellert, Festliche Musik alla Handel ... and of course played at a bombastic organ like the one you played at wiesbaden
That is even quite a sizeable organ. Not small at all. I started out on a 1 manual ‘van Hirtum’ organ with 8 stops and a pedal that was permanently connected to the manual of only 1,5 octave. A bit later I did play an electro-pneumatic organ for quite some years with a little less stops than the one you are demonstrating.
I am pleased to see you back, perhaps it is not organ music but my second most favorite piece (Bach's Fugue is my favorite) is Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1, B-flat minor. As I said, may not be something for an organ...