Cool, just discovered your channel and can't stop watching your great videos - thanks for these contributions! Talking about humor, I think Reger's Scherzo Op 65 No 10. deserves mentioning here, I find that one the most funniest ;-)
My teacher told me about Johnny learning at school that Bach had a lot of kids, wrote alot of music and had a spinet in the attic for practice. When he got home and his mom asked what he'd learned that day he reported that Bach wrote music, had twenty six kids and practiced on a spinster in the attic.
Very droll, Prime Organist. You were so positive in explaining organ humour. The voice of humour (Vox humourna). The principal being that the listener is not bored on hearing the music of a raw flute sound while trying to pronounce Rauschpfeife, which surely ranks as a funny word!
I love your example of the playfulness of the Bach C major Toccata as in my experience a number of people in the music world are seemingly in denial that JSB had this humorous dimension to him, and believe that everything he wrote has to be performed in deadly dull seriousness. My favourite slapstick moment in the Bach organ music is the D major fugue in BWV 532 where a ridiculously banal subject (up and down and up and down semiquavers - then a long rest - and then a sequence of more semiquavers) is immediately shown up by the countersubject interjecting into the next entry! - and the high spirits of the fugue just go on building and building from there.
This is genius - so entertaining - full of wonderful Easter eggs, and wonderful musical inside information too - I've always enjoyed listening to that Alain masterpiece, but never attempted it (I'm scared to now) - what an amazing piece of music. Bravo Ben! Bravo!!!!
40+ years ago - when attendants pumped your gas, and license plates had only 5 characters - I assisted an organbuilder with tuning a pipe organ in a church. We stopped for gas, and when the attendant returned with the change he asked, "Are you a doctor?" The organbuilder was surprised, "Why do you ask?" "Because your license plate says ORGNS."
That was very entertaining Ben. BTW if you were working this morning 19 Nov, loved the Widor, slightly drowned out RMcH (in St Wilfrid's) but was a joy to hear.
When I tell people I like accompanying the choir in a (John) Blow job but sometimes I also play a lot of old (Samuel) Scheidt they are either deeply shocked or get a fit of the giggles. I really can’t think why 🤔 I also told people I tried to play an organ reduction of the Halleluljah Chorus but found it too hard to handle at my level. They laughed at that too…whyyyy?
@Ben Bloor Organist [I posted this as a reply but it wasn't appearing when I logged out of YT] Yeah, I've played in socks for years and have managed just fine, but there are certain pieces I've avoided due to vigorous pedal sections where I worry that I might stub my toe or something. I think I'll buy some shoes and see how I get on.
Funny story. The organ player leaves the organ to have a smoke A very short speech later you heard foot steps climbing up the organ steps .. Different sound at speed with a silent cathedral
Here's a couple of organist jokes for ya: Well at church somebody called for an organ donor and a medical personnel came up with a small cooler in tote to the church and asked did somebody call for an organ donor😂 Here's another one. One day, an organist was playing the hymn O' For A Thousand Tongues for the upcoming church service, well, the head deacon over heard the organist play this hymn, so the deacon came into the sanctuary and turned on the lights and went up to the organ loft where the organist was playing, and he told the organist: 'You know, I don't like that hymn' and the organist looked at him strange like and the organist asked why, so the deacon said, 'Because I have a hard enough time keeping my own mouth shut😂
I wasn't familiar with that Alain piece, but I liked it! And the 'Die or pay, son' joke was hilariously awful. Not related to the topic of the video, but I notice that, like me, you don't wear shoes when playing the organ. Are there certain pedal passages which you find difficult to execute without shoes? I'm considering investing in some 'Organmaster' type shoes because I think the heel depth might sometimes be useful.
Glad you liked it! I just find it more comfortable playing in socks - I'm not an advocate for it, just what works for me. See how you get on with shoes - I'm sure the heel helps in certain situations...
If Phantasmagorie is humor the joke is on me for watching this. It is such an "inside" joke that the rare few that would actually attend a recital would have a vanishingly small of even the premise. How is an audience member going to understand there is a missed beat, like was that written that way or did the recitalist make a mistake? There are plenty of pieces that are humorous in a way that is accessible, like Noel Rawsthorne's Hornpipe as an example. Phantasmagorie is something that would make the parents of an organist shake their heads why they put their child through school.
My wife watched in silence and then responded, wow, there are more like you... 🙂 Loved it
Régal + nazard = instant funny sound!
The correct punchline is: "Because his organ had no stops."
Oh... I thought it was because if he doesn't have any stops, he can't pull out.
Cool, just discovered your channel and can't stop watching your great videos - thanks for these contributions!
Talking about humor, I think Reger's Scherzo Op 65 No 10. deserves mentioning here, I find that one the most funniest ;-)
My teacher told me about Johnny learning at school that Bach had a lot of kids, wrote alot of music and had a spinet in the attic for practice. When he got home and his mom asked what he'd learned that day he reported that Bach wrote music, had twenty six kids and practiced on a spinster in the attic.
😂
I enjoyed that, and was particularly pleased to see a copy of Roger's Profanisaurus on the shelf - no home should be without one.
Very droll, Prime Organist. You were so positive in explaining organ humour. The voice of humour (Vox humourna). The principal being that the listener is not bored on hearing the music of a raw flute sound while trying to pronounce Rauschpfeife, which surely ranks as a funny word!
It's Charles Ives' Variations on America. That's the funniest organ piece. It's even funnier if you're a Brit.
Hilarious, at least to me 🤣 Organists are perhaps the wittiest people I know, you do that fact proud. More please!
I mean, there are a few organ transcriptions of the Liberty Bell March, aka the theme from Monty Python's flying circus... IT'S...! lol
I love your example of the playfulness of the Bach C major Toccata as in my experience a number of people in the music world are seemingly in denial that JSB had this humorous dimension to him, and believe that everything he wrote has to be performed in deadly dull seriousness. My favourite slapstick moment in the Bach organ music is the D major fugue in BWV 532 where a ridiculously banal subject (up and down and up and down semiquavers - then a long rest - and then a sequence of more semiquavers) is immediately shown up by the countersubject interjecting into the next entry! - and the high spirits of the fugue just go on building and building from there.
Brilliant! Well done. Very enjoyable and relatable.
Thanks for not mentioning Virgil Fox 👍
You missed that old chestnut “what’s nicer than a rose on the piano? Tulips on the organ”
Three different key signatures? No brain explosion? Very impressive (and funny). Keep them coming Ben!
Very entertaining, Ben! Thanks!❤
This is genius - so entertaining - full of wonderful Easter eggs, and wonderful musical inside information too - I've always enjoyed listening to that Alain masterpiece, but never attempted it (I'm scared to now) - what an amazing piece of music. Bravo Ben! Bravo!!!!
40+ years ago - when attendants pumped your gas, and license plates had only 5 characters - I assisted an organbuilder with tuning a pipe organ in a church. We stopped for gas, and when the attendant returned with the change he asked, "Are you a doctor?" The organbuilder was surprised, "Why do you ask?" "Because your license plate says ORGNS."
That was very entertaining Ben. BTW if you were working this morning 19 Nov, loved the Widor, slightly drowned out RMcH (in St Wilfrid's) but was a joy to hear.
Spiffing jokes Ben. Keep on cracking me up 😂
Oh yeah the BWV 564 riff was awesome! Feel free to do more with serious pieces in future, I have BuxWV 150 in mind but do anything!
That was a wind filled video! How about “Entry of the Gladiators” on a concert organ?
When I tell people I like accompanying the choir in a (John) Blow job but sometimes I also play a lot of old (Samuel) Scheidt they are either deeply shocked or get a fit of the giggles. I really can’t think why 🤔 I also told people I tried to play an organ reduction of the Halleluljah Chorus but found it too hard to handle at my level. They laughed at that too…whyyyy?
And none of these jokes was ‘bellow’ the belt
I love it! Well done!
Brilliant
Brilliant !
@Ben Bloor Organist [I posted this as a reply but it wasn't appearing when I logged out of YT] Yeah, I've played in socks for years and have managed just fine, but there are certain pieces I've avoided due to vigorous pedal sections where I worry that I might stub my toe or something. I think I'll buy some shoes and see how I get on.
Hi! For the next time you can read some Padre Davide, or Petrali or Morandi!
th-cam.com/video/ny89GQphbmM/w-d-xo.html
These humorous jokes for organist are really. More please.
PS, I want to learn the Alain pieces. Where did you get it. Love the piece.
Funny story. The organ player leaves the organ to have a smoke A very short speech later you heard foot steps climbing up the organ steps .. Different sound at speed with a silent cathedral
Very cute organist
You are brilliant sir 🙂🌟
Here's a couple of organist jokes for ya: Well at church somebody called for an organ donor and a medical personnel came up with a small cooler in tote to the church and asked did somebody call for an organ donor😂 Here's another one. One day, an organist was playing the hymn O' For A Thousand Tongues for the upcoming church service, well, the head deacon over heard the organist play this hymn, so the deacon came into the sanctuary and turned on the lights and went up to the organ loft where the organist was playing, and he told the organist: 'You know, I don't like that hymn' and the organist looked at him strange like and the organist asked why, so the deacon said, 'Because I have a hard enough time keeping my own mouth shut😂
You didn't mention Hornpipe Humoresque by Noel Rawsthorne.
How could I have missed it! Love that piece
How about a bit of Nigel Ogden? Penguins' Playtime is great.
Fellow couperin fan lets go
Scherzo for the White Rabbit
I guess you can earn a living as a humour person !! Maybe a Mr Bean II like Doublette 2 !!
Excellent . You have created a new strictly private club.-
G R O A N ORGAN
I wasn't familiar with that Alain piece, but I liked it! And the 'Die or pay, son' joke was hilariously awful. Not related to the topic of the video, but I notice that, like me, you don't wear shoes when playing the organ. Are there certain pedal passages which you find difficult to execute without shoes? I'm considering investing in some 'Organmaster' type shoes because I think the heel depth might sometimes be useful.
Glad you liked it! I just find it more comfortable playing in socks - I'm not an advocate for it, just what works for me. See how you get on with shoes - I'm sure the heel helps in certain situations...
If Phantasmagorie is humor the joke is on me for watching this. It is such an "inside" joke that the rare few that would actually attend a recital would have a vanishingly small of even the premise. How is an audience member going to understand there is a missed beat, like was that written that way or did the recitalist make a mistake? There are plenty of pieces that are humorous in a way that is accessible, like Noel Rawsthorne's Hornpipe as an example. Phantasmagorie is something that would make the parents of an organist shake their heads why they put their child through school.
5:17 p. m. Give me more about you.
LOL
Very nice. You look a little like Mr. Bean. corney. I would prefer you just play something straight, like widor toccata or Verne.
Widor's Toccata? That's a joke in itself!
Brilliant!