Great video of Richard Hills playing a rarely heard instrument. All the organ pipes are contained in two big rooms up in the roof space over the proscenium arch and the console, with the keyboards, operates them via remote-control electrical signals. There are fifteen ranks of pipes (about 1200 pipes) Open Diapason, Horn Diapason, Concert Flute, Stopped Flute, French Horn, Tuba Horn, Trumpet, Clarinet, Tibia, Cello, Violin, Violin Celeste, Salicional, Vox Humana, Orchestral Oboe plus real drums, cymbals, xylophone etc. The tunes are:- 1:43 Blaze Away (Abraham Holtzman) 4:19 Londonderry Air (traditional) 8:12 Satyr Dance (Edward German)
Absolutely brilliant thank you Richard. David Booker from Bognor Regis but brought up on a mixture of the Kilburn State Gaumont and the Harrow Coliseum organs and in later life the ABC in Plymouth and the gentleman of all organists the late Dudley Savage.
One of the most beautiful theatre pipe organs in the world, played by one of the finest organists on the planet. It just does not get any better than this. Bravo, Richard. Five stars!
A great, thunderous console riser as it should be! A great theater organ concert should always start with the organ roaring from out of the pit. Richard is definitely one of the worlds great musical treasures. His artistry and professionalism is amongst the top level organists performing today!
Superb playing as ever from Richard Hills. His calm and unhurried manner together with a superlative technique make organ playing look so easy, which it isn't. These are the hallmarks of a true professional. The organ sounds wonderful, too. It's such a crying shame that it is so seldom used in public. How I wish I could play the instrument. Peter
I never knew Hammersmith had a theater pipe organ. First thing I think of when I think of this place is Iron Maiden, Side IV of the Live After Death album.
Absolutely brilliant, wonderful. Richard is a wonderful organist and the Compton is truly a great instrument. Can't get enough of this. Thank-you Richard.
A lovely instrument that I enjoyed as a kid when it was the Gaumont in the 1950s and I went to Saturday morning pictures. I grew up locally in Barnes, and if there's anything you want to know about snogging in the back row at the Gaumont just let me know....
This medley includes possibly the best version of Blaze Away I’ve ever heard on a theatre organ. I’ve listened to Phil Kelsall playing it on the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer and was really impressed but whether it’s the. Compton sound or Richard Hills’ style I don’t know but this is absolutely amazing and brought tears to my eyes nod joy to my heart
Found this clip after watching the film 'The Smallest Show on Earth" which shows the cinema as it was in the 50s, when it was still the gaumont, though renamed 'the grand' for the film's purposes. Unmistakeable Compton sound, ideal for Londonderry Air's mournful melody
Yes indeed I saw it later as the Gaumont Palace and Odeon thanks to the COS & TOC Douglas & Ralph, couldn't remember all the organists but remember the sounds AND the building of the Flyover outside! Gordon Exmouth
Fantastic organ, magnificent theatre, phenomenal organist. Who could ask for more? Someone had mentioned in the comments about this theatre having been demolished. Is this so? If so, what a terrible loss. Hopefully they're in error.
@@IanSmith-ge7bo There are usually more wooden pipes in a Wurlitzer than a Compton. The only wooden pipes in the Hammersmith Compton is one rank of 12 bass pipes.
@@Mr1X what's a 'play table'?? Do you mean the organ console? Yes that is stored understage. The pipes are above the stage and the sound comes through the large grill at the top of the proscenium
![TEEDEE TADA - DIAMOND NARAKORN X LEGO LYKN [Special Dance Performance]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QgtZedFeumA/mqdefault.jpg)
Wouldn't it be lovely if every "Live from the Apollo" comedy show began and ended with a little ditty from this magnificent organ?
Great video of Richard Hills playing a rarely heard instrument. All the organ pipes are contained in two big rooms up in the roof space over the proscenium arch and the console, with the keyboards, operates them via remote-control electrical signals. There are fifteen ranks of pipes (about 1200 pipes) Open Diapason, Horn Diapason, Concert Flute, Stopped Flute, French Horn, Tuba Horn, Trumpet, Clarinet, Tibia, Cello, Violin, Violin Celeste, Salicional, Vox Humana, Orchestral Oboe plus real drums, cymbals, xylophone etc. The tunes are:-
1:43 Blaze Away (Abraham Holtzman)
4:19 Londonderry Air (traditional)
8:12 Satyr Dance (Edward German)
Absolutely brilliant thank you Richard. David Booker from Bognor Regis but brought up on a mixture of the Kilburn State Gaumont and the Harrow Coliseum organs and in later life the ABC in Plymouth and the gentleman of all organists the late Dudley Savage.
One of the most beautiful theatre pipe organs in the world, played by one of the finest organists on the planet. It just does not get any better than this. Bravo, Richard. Five stars!
The Odeon in Leicester Square, London, has a similar organ (one with light bulbs), also built upon a lift mechanism.
Imagine an alternative universe where that theatre was full of appreciative music listeners.
A great, thunderous console riser as it should be! A great theater organ concert should always start with the organ roaring from out of the pit. Richard is definitely one of the worlds great musical treasures. His artistry and professionalism is amongst the top level organists performing today!
Superb playing as ever from Richard Hills. His calm and unhurried manner together with a superlative technique make organ playing look so easy, which it isn't. These are the hallmarks of a true professional. The organ sounds wonderful, too. It's such a crying shame that it is so seldom used in public. How I wish I could play the instrument. Peter
Superb playing and great to hear a Compton in a super-cinema.
What can one say ???
Two Words ....
Richard Hills ....
Awesome !
Thanks for posting this Musical treat ! :)
I never knew Hammersmith had a theater pipe organ. First thing I think of when I think of this place is Iron Maiden, Side IV of the Live After Death album.
I never knew this was hidden away here, they should bring these back. The one we had in our local cinema had lights that changed colour.
Absolutely brilliant, wonderful.
Richard is a wonderful organist and the Compton is truly a great instrument.
Can't get enough of this.
Thank-you Richard.
A lovely instrument that I enjoyed as a kid when it was the Gaumont in the 1950s and I went to Saturday morning pictures. I grew up locally in Barnes, and if there's anything you want to know about snogging in the back row at the Gaumont just let me know....
This medley includes possibly the best version of Blaze Away I’ve ever heard on a theatre organ. I’ve listened to Phil Kelsall playing it on the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer and was really impressed but whether it’s the. Compton sound or Richard Hills’ style I don’t know but this is absolutely amazing and brought tears to my eyes nod joy to my heart
any relation to PHIL?
Gordon
@@gordoncrook1155 sorry.. Derek Kelsall is a yacht designer I know. I occasionally muddle them up!
Master at the Organ......uplifting!
that perfomance sounds like the shining: a sound form another time in a creepy empty hotel :)
And now for something completely different!
Found this clip after watching the film 'The Smallest Show on Earth" which shows the cinema as it was in the 50s, when it was still the gaumont, though renamed 'the grand' for the film's purposes. Unmistakeable Compton sound, ideal for Londonderry Air's mournful melody
Super excellent with very good interesting video
Truly delightful
Was any part of this one saved or has it gone like the one in Wolverhampton?
Edit: This was the one in SW5 9SY wasn't it? (Building now demolished)
The Apollo has NOT been demolished. It's still there, as is the organ
It was opened by a great organist none other than Stanley Tudor
I loved to have heard him here
Gordon Exmouth
Ps twas the Gaumont Palace them
Gordon
Yes indeed I saw it later as the Gaumont Palace and Odeon thanks to the COS & TOC Douglas & Ralph, couldn't remember all the organists but remember the sounds AND the building of the Flyover outside!
Gordon Exmouth
Richard Hills played the Compton organ ex Tonic/Odeon cinema Bangor County Down Northern Ireland when the organ was transferred to a school
Does it survive?
@@rwhb1 Yes. It's in the University up there in full working order
Fantastic organ, magnificent theatre, phenomenal organist. Who could ask for more? Someone had mentioned in the comments about this theatre having been demolished. Is this so? If so, what a terrible loss. Hopefully they're in error.
The Apollo has not been demolished at all and is still going strong. The organ is also still there and in full working order
To my ears the Compton sounds much more mellow than a Wurlitzer which is harsh.
I think the greater proportion of wood to metal pipes produces this effect.
@@IanSmith-ge7bo There are usually more wooden pipes in a Wurlitzer than a Compton. The only wooden pipes in the Hammersmith Compton is one rank of 12 bass pipes.
can I post the link on FB ?
блестящий
blaze away!!!.... abc Minors! :)
What is the last piece we hear?
I had no idea there was an organ under there.
The organ must be distributed around the room - the play table was hidden underneath.
@@Mr1X what's a 'play table'?? Do you mean the organ console? Yes that is stored understage. The pipes are above the stage and the sound comes through the large grill at the top of the proscenium
how many ranks?
It's a 4-manual organ (as you can see), with 15 ranks of pipes.
Wow really thats really small I thought it would be 30 or 25
B
"one of the finest?" Find someone better, I dare you.
It sounds like a Dutch Street Canal organ! A typical Draaiorgel!
It most certainly does not!! It's a British theatre organ.
+John Black Obviously you know absolutely nothing about Theatre Organs and apparently Mechanical Fairground Organs as well.
Should have gone to Specsavers and asked about their hearing aids
John Black I
You must be tone deaf.
compton sound is better