This video provides a simple overview of the workings of the pipe organ and how it is played. Recorded at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
Excellent video. I’m a classical pianist & we’ve recently lost our church organist. I “faked it” the other Sunday and played the organ because my synthesizer electrical cord was lost. But it reminded me that I am NOT an organist. My left foot was playing all the wrong pedals. But the church audience liked it.... i think. I’m gonna make another attempt. Wish me luck.
Best moment is 16:16 where you try not to smile too big in order to keep it professional but it looks like you are just so happy with the LOUD SOUND We
I played for a while as a teenager. There's nothing like the feeling of being immersed in the sheer power in those sound waves rippling through your body. It'd hard not to grin!
@@mpp33 ~ Why does one have to 'not grin, or smile' ?? l know there must be reverence however, when l am in awe, l cant help grinning after the initial jaw drop. xD
Always get chills at 10:15, it goes from a simple educational video that you are completely invested in, to staring into the 1000 foot abyss that is Bach's profound emotional music. The change is so jarring and sudden, I love it.
In response to a previous question from Zhou Xuanle (as I couldn't reply to the comment directly): I heard the organ for the first time at a funeral when I was six years old. It was a small organ compared to the one in this video but the sound was still awe-inspiring. After a year of nagging, my parents compromised and I started learning the piano, but the organ was always my dream. I first had access to a pipe organ almost seven years ago now and about six years ago I went to the cathedral in this video and asked the organist if he would teach me. From there it's history.
I am a young classical pianist, I have had several small brief experiences with a pipe organ even though it only had two manuals, the stops were slightly messed up and it required a lot of maintenance, but anyway, I have always wanted to learn to play it professionally but I never really have gotten any chance to learn. It would be fun, but honestly I still prefer piano over the organ. Love this video though, am sorely tempted to find a way to get up to Bendigo and ask the organist some questions.
5 years of music composition and 20 years of choir; I've sung with the organ and never knew this stuff. Good information for beginning composers who want to write a simple Organ piece/accompaniment. THANKS!!!!!!!!!
As an amateur piano player, I have to confess when a pianist tries to play pipe organ, it is like a teen girl coming out of a toyota prius and sitting behind the wheel of 18 speed lorry truck.
Here's why you still watch videos like these: you see a four-manual console on the video's thumbnail and you know that you want to hear what sounds the instrument can produce!
Amazing instrument. I would have loved to start learning how to play one of these at a young age. I can only imagine what who first invented it was thinking. "Guys, lets build a giant instrument that can imitate almost any other instrument at any note at any volume."
""Guys, lets build a giant instrument that can imitate almost any other instrument at any note at any volume."" Right then, lads, we need a large bellows from the local blacksmith, an available symphony orchestra, five scots with their bagpipes and any number of German Baroque composers that you can spare.
Thank you for this video! Your knowledge and explanations are very easy to understand. I've been playing the organ for nearly 40 years, and love to travel around and "nose" into churches to check out the organ, and have been known to just sit down and play if the organ is unlocked and accessible. Thank goodness no-one has ever asked me to leave - they generally find it very nice that someone has taken interest, knows what they're doing, and can actually play! I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) and would certainly like to look you up and be able to hear you play, and allow me to play that magnificent instrument some day! Blessings to you and for the beautiful music you share with the world!
In art school in the 70s we had a brochure assignment and I decided to do it on area pipe organs. I visited Macky Auditorium on the CU campus in Boulder, CO to talk to the Dean of pipe organs and he gave me the tour. They have a pipe organ museum with a player pipe organ. It has a brass drum of compressed air with holes that actuate the keys much like a player piano. He invited me to play it after a pipe organ concert in the main auditorium. It is a 2 manual organ and was quite a thrill. A bit embarrassing in front of the concert artist, but I was not going to pass up the opportunity! Years later I had several pipe organ samples for my synthesizer and a large sound system with an 18" sub woofer the size of a refrigerator to get closer to reproducing the frequencies. I wrote several pieces for pipe organ, albeit in an amateur realm and played a few weddings. Thanks Samuel, that is a great video.
This may be one of the very best videos on youtube. We were fortunate to hear Virgil Fox play a dedication concert on a local church's new organ. It was great but this video tells and shows us much, much more about the organ. It's a whole orchestra controlled by a single musician. Thank you, Samuel.
Thank you for the excellent breakdown of all the controls. I have always thought that the pipe organ must be the most complex instrument out there and this confirms it.
Mr. Whitehead, I've been composing for years and I have avoided the organ because of my ignorance of its capabilities and logistics. Your video has completely opened my eyes to the possibilities. Thank you thank you thank you!
This video was fantastic! I have loved the organ since I was 7, and have been trying to take lessons since (21 years!). I watch tons of videos of organ pieces, but it was a treat to see and hear you, the organist, because I could immediately tell that you feel that same giddy feeling being around this magnificent instrument as I do. God bless you and thank you again!
Always wanted to know more about one of my two favorite instruments. The other is the piano. The organist at my church, a retired professor in music specializing in the organ and harpsichord, performed a organ concert where he played four different melodies at the same time using a foot or hand for each one. He started out with one and moved up to four. Interesting how the melodies intertwined and complimented each other. The other thing is the practice and concentration that the organist had to do accomplish the piece. The organist had moved the organ around so the audience had a better look at what was going on. He was able to do this because its an electronic pipe organ built by the Bond family in Portland, Oregon. What a great performance.
This video sparked my interest in the instrument and led to me playing organ for the first time, I can’t thank you enough for sparking my lifetime interest with this terrific instrument
I am very pleased to hear that. My interest was sparked as a child by hearing an organ at my grandfather's funeral - it was only a small organ, but the music made an impact.
This video is awesome! Killer content. Organist that looks like a movie star and plays the #1 most influential composition from my childhood...just amazing.
Just saw the video first time a few days ago. And I keep coming back to watch it again and again. I have always been mystified by these pipe organs, ever since back when I can remember it as child, I was drawn to the sound when going into the church with my parents. I have never really understood how it worked, but you made a very nice and clear explanation. What a priviledge you have to play this wonderful instrument. Thank you, Jimmy
Thank you so much for this video. I have always loved the sound of the pipe organ and a friend in high school played. It is just amazing to me that a single person can play such a complex instrument so beautifully.
I certainly did enjoy your demonstration and explanation of how the organ stops work and well I have played the pipe organ by ear with Lord of the Dance and I loved how it sounded and our church had Opposite colors on the keys. Blacks were white and whites were brown. Quite a cool instrument I have always loved hearing a pipe organ played and even more interesting on the other side is how they roll the pipes. So beautiful.
What a remarkable person you are - I knew nothing about how the organ is constructed or how the various parts of the organ are controlled and combined before watching your video, but I understood what you said quite easily and found your presentation both logical and well-spoken. Bravo, sir!
With regard to your speech -- just let it slide, I am from Newfoundland , Canada and I understood perfectly all you said. I was more into what you said than how you said it. Message well conveyed. Thank you.... From "The Rock" --- Dennis Barnes
Thank you for this very interesting demonstration. I like your ability to reduce the complexities of a pipe organ into an understandable model. Building a small reed organ (one set of reeds, no stops) took me a year. I can only guess the amount of work that goes into building an instrument like the one at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
+Shining Armor why you always show up in every organ-related video? are you an organist, organ-builder, or maybe...a registrant as you know everything about it? i guess you had watched all organ stuff in youtube...!!! (human organs not included) anyway, do you messing up with Hammond organs too?
Yudhi GN I am an amatuer organist and general organ enthusiast, and I have loved the organ as long as I can remember. I always enjoy the stop demonstrations and such because they display the vast array of possible colors one might hear from the instruments. I’ve particularly been fascinated by the abnormal, odd, and strange sounds that are rarely called upon (not the least of which is the 32’ reed drawn alone). I never really liked the Hammond organs much because they do not have the same grandeur that one would expect from a pipe organ. They were designed to imitate the Tibia Clausa, which is quite possibly the least interesting sound despite how useful it is. The Hammond organ is grey, colorless, synthetic, and most of all, boring. I’m sorry if this is rather long-winded, people don’t usually ask me personal questions like that.
Thanks Sam, I really enjoyed listening to your fine demonstration of the varying sounds created by your magnificent instrument. It's my view that there can be no better sound than that produced by a finely tuned pipe organ and is even better when its expertly played in a great historic building. It's the sound that marks 'all the stages of our life' in the Christian World, but importantly for me, was JS Bach's chosen medium. And in turn, thanks to Bach music in the western World was forever changed. Thanks again for sharing √
Five minutes ago I just randomly saw my first ever video on youtube that relates to an organ and it really piqued my interest so i searched for "church organs explained" to try to gain some understanding of the majestic instrument. Imagine my surprise then, that the first video I click on is from the city of Bendigo as I visited Bendigo three days ago for work and stayed in the Cathedral Motel overlooking the very Cathedral this man shot the video in. From my motel room, I admired the building and architecture, even going for a walk around it to see it up close.
A very concise presentation. Thanks! I had the opportunity to practice at one time on a small chapel pipe organ that was seldom used at my university. Never got any good as it was an hour here and there. But when a line or two came together - wow! I look forward to exploring your channel's videos. Thanks!
Excellent job my friend. Very well explained, your enthusiasm is so infectious. I always thought one of these instruments would be the ultimate challenge for a musician - and so it is. I used to go to the free organ concerts given in Birmingham town hall by George Thalben Ball as a teen - have just found out that he also was from down under! Keep up the good work.
I'm singing in a church tomorrow with a pipe organ and I have never heard one in person before. Naturally, I was curious about how they work, so thank you so much for this upload!
Cyvin Tyranea Most organs are smaller than this, but a moderately large organ will still be enough to rattle one with excitement. And I assure you they always sound so much better in reality than even the best recordings - you will feel the sound in your body. My first encounter with a pipe organ was at age six. It was a small organ, but that one experience is directly responsible for me having become an organist all these years later. I hope you have fun.
Amazingly smart designs and making of a monumental instrument like this. It is so huge that it occupies a significant portion of a cathedral and so the building has to be made in a way that accommodates the instrument. The making processing must be extremely tedious. No wonder it needs years to complete. Considered one of man-made wonders.
This is such a cool sharing! Thank you for posting! I’ve always admire friends who was able to play the pipe organ. It is such an enjoyment and a way to praise music and the world. True respect!
And they say men can't multitask! I wonder how many different things are happening, all at the same time, during one of the many spectacular organ pieces. We had the Carillon-Sortie, Henri Mulet, for our wedding exit piece recently, and could only marvel at how the Organist managed to make all those different lines come together. I am in awe, Sir!
Colin Powell I know right? And that doesn't even account for when I'm improvising (when I'm also having to usually keep watch down the other end of the church to finish at just the right moment, occasionally while holding a conversation simultaneously). My wife though is so good at multitasking that she could cook breakfast and wash the dishes holding a one-year-old boy while doing all that too (well, ok, minus the organ playing since she doesn't actually play the instrument, otherwise she probably could)!
Thank you... that was super informative and easy to understand! WOW 12:42 and 14:40 and 16:10 exactly the sounds I had been waiting for in the video... you not only hear, but FEEL the sound!!!! How very lucky you are to master this magnificent instrument... don't think I could ever learn to play something with 500 keys, dozens of pistons, plus pulls, stops, swells, foot pedals... overwhelming :) Would love to hear St. Saens Organ Symphony #3 Finale played on this organ... would literally take your breath away!
That is why many organists, myself included, believe a pipe organ to be superior, more interesting, more powerful than even the best electronic organs, even those with digital sampling. No matter how large, a vibrating speaker cone can not replicate the feel of those large pipes speaking. As well, a large organ like this one can actually change the barometric pressure in the "room" and our bodies can perceive that even if we don't know why we feel something different.
My musical training is on the piano and violin. The organ is an instrument of immense mystery to me. So powerful, yet controlled by a single man. I will admit, even after your video, I am still not sure how all these pieces work together to create the sound, but your passion for it is clear.
I had learned to play the piano - from about the age of 4 - 5 or so...and was always always fascinated by the pipe organ - loved the sound, loved the music (particularly of BACH - i also sang harmony from birth...choral music...grins). I didn't know for the longest time that there was only one pipe, which produced one note, one pitch, one volume ONLY. for each key...for the longest time...no one bothered to tell me or show me that(!)...so I had no idea of what those "stops" did...or why...sighs...still fascinated by how one can couple pipes to play via the same set of keys. I saw one of the older mechanical coupled organs (online) which brought that simple set of facts home to me...years past, of course...and, THATS how I learned what I should have been shown or told in the past...sighs. I appreciate your tutelige ( I give up - "teaching" - grins sp?)...
Incredible; thanks so much for the video! I've wondered for ages about how the pipe organ works, and everything is answered so neatly here. The way you move with the music and your familiarity with all the bits is a great visual to go with the beautiful sound.
Absolutely incredible! The pipe organ has always been a curiosity of mine. I'm amazed that anyone can play this instrument. So many things you can do. Great video!
Sam, I've seen a good number of videos but have never seen someone explain the organ like you have. Thank you! Say hello to Victoria for me. I enjoyed watching your video. Have a wonderful day.
Thanks for your kind words, but I won't be saying hi to Victoria as I now live in Queensland. The upside of this is that St John's Anglican Cathedral is only a couple of hours away, and is undoubtedly the most wonderful church in the country with its stone-vaulted roof and beautiful organ. Actually there are also many other upsides of living in the greatest state of the federated states of Australia (as I like to say), but I will keep the reply a bit shorter and not enumerate them!
@@Sathrandur well, say hello to any part of OZ you wish for me. That's the closest I'll be able to get anytime soon. Hopw your move has been good for you. Marc
Samuel, I very much enjoyed this video. I am an armature organist in Omaha , Nebraska USA. I have been to your beautiful country and was EXTREMELY impressed. This video was very well done and your description of the pipe organ was appreciated by all I am certain. You obviously are very talented and accomplished. There are many young people that really need a video like this to get started/interested in the pipe. Keep up the great work. M Lee Riley Omaha, NE USA
I have always been mystified by the pipe organ and have always wanted to play one. This video gives me a better understanding on what all the stops, pedals, and the multiple manuals do. I now have a greater desire to play one some day!
@@theschath9046 translation: People have asked about the song he played at 10:15 time of this video. He recorded it and shared the link to you can hear the song in its entirety
What an incredibly complex and beautiful instrument the pipe organ is, very informative video too. One day I hope to have the opportunity to hear a live performance on one of these great instruments.
Brilliant, concise explanation of something that is incredibly complicated. I'm going to refer back to this as I continue to learn about this wondrous instrument, thanks for posting champ!
i really enjoyed watching this video, i found it very interesting indeed as i have always wondered how these amazing pieces of craftsmanship were played. Thanks very much for that.
Just found this vid thanks very much for doing it, the Pipe Organ is a mysterious instrument as you rarely get to see its workings only its public face. It was good to get an appreciation of its inner beauty as well.
What a nice sounding organ. Will try to replicate the sound on some sample sets I found and use it on my organ music recordings . Thank you for sharing. Love watching your videos.
I've gotten to mess around on an organ at church maybe twice and it really is awesome. I always enjoyed getting the huge, full powerful sound it can create.
Thank you so much for the video! I'm a young composer and have recently fallen in love with the pipe organ. I've done tons and tons of research but have never been able to find any good sites or videos explaining the instrument, but this video is PERFECT. Such an amazing instrument. At some point in my life I would absolutely love to learn to play it.
I'm glad you found the video informative and helpful. The pipe organ is an amazing instrument. As a composer myself, I hope you will have a look at my "Toccata Héroïque" video on my channel also.
Excellent video. I’m a classical pianist & we’ve recently lost our church organist. I “faked it” the other Sunday and played the organ because my synthesizer electrical cord was lost. But it reminded me that I am NOT an organist. My left foot was playing all the wrong pedals. But the church audience liked it.... i think. I’m gonna make another attempt. Wish me luck.
Best moment is 16:16 where you try not to smile too big in order to keep it professional but it looks like you are just so happy with the LOUD SOUND
We
I played for a while as a teenager. There's nothing like the feeling of being immersed in the sheer power in those sound waves rippling through your body. It'd hard not to grin!
how do you know that is why he grinned? Maybe the camera person did something to make him grin.
@@mpp33 ~ Why does one have to 'not grin, or smile' ?? l know there must be reverence however, when l am in awe, l cant help grinning after the initial jaw drop. xD
That’s was def the joy creeping up on him unexpectedly lol power stuff
There’s an old adage in organist circles that goes, “ The more the training, the louder the playing.” 😜
Always get chills at 10:15, it goes from a simple educational video that you are completely invested in, to staring into the 1000 foot abyss that is Bach's profound emotional music. The change is so jarring and sudden, I love it.
kindof ironic how you talk so softly and then create this awesome noise that fills the whole building up
TheBlapman maybe a little TOO softly, I had trouble understanding a lot of his speech along with HEARING it, but I enjoyed the lesson immensely!
You noticed that did you? What did you make of it?
In response to a previous question from Zhou Xuanle (as I couldn't reply to the comment directly): I heard the organ for the first time at a funeral when I was six years old. It was a small organ compared to the one in this video but the sound was still awe-inspiring. After a year of nagging, my parents compromised and I started learning the piano, but the organ was always my dream. I first had access to a pipe organ almost seven years ago now and about six years ago I went to the cathedral in this video and asked the organist if he would teach me. From there it's history.
Sathrandur
Sathrandur Why are there so many keys on the organ? What does each row do?
I am a young classical pianist, I have had several small brief experiences with a pipe organ even though it only had two manuals, the stops were slightly messed up and it required a lot of maintenance, but anyway, I have always wanted to learn to play it professionally but I never really have gotten any chance to learn. It would be fun, but honestly I still prefer piano over the organ. Love this video though, am sorely tempted to find a way to get up to Bendigo and ask the organist some questions.
@delta fox Thank you for clarifying that. I truly do appreciate it.
5 years of music composition and 20 years of choir; I've sung with the organ and never knew this stuff. Good information for beginning composers who want to write a simple Organ piece/accompaniment. THANKS!!!!!!!!!
As an amateur piano player, I have to confess when a pianist tries to play pipe organ, it is like a teen girl coming out of a toyota prius and sitting behind the wheel of 18 speed lorry truck.
i actually, unironically, find the piano harder than the organ.
In my opinion, one of the best explanations about the pipe organ on TH-cam! Thanks for doing this!
Time well spent is what watching this video is
I love playing the organ, I've been playing for many years but I don't know why I still watch videos like these
Here's why you still watch videos like these: you see a four-manual console on the video's thumbnail and you know that you want to hear what sounds the instrument can produce!
@@Sathrandur Yeah, my organ only has two, this also isn't the first time I've watched this video
What an outstanding demonstration of such a majestic instrument.... THANK you!
Amazing instrument. I would have loved to start learning how to play one of these at a young age. I can only imagine what who first invented it was thinking.
"Guys, lets build a giant instrument that can imitate almost any other instrument at any note at any volume."
xygomorphic44
Carpenteer:"Hold my beer."
It's actually first invented by the Hellenistic scientist Ctesibius of Alexandria in the 3rd Century BC. but it wasn't as massive as the later ones
I always suspected the "mind's bigger" mentality drove its development?
""Guys, lets build a giant instrument that can imitate almost any other instrument at any note at any volume.""
Right then, lads, we need a large bellows from the local blacksmith, an available symphony orchestra, five scots with their bagpipes and any number of German Baroque composers that you can spare.
This was very well done. I used to always wonder what all those knobs were for!
Thank you for this video! Your knowledge and explanations are very easy to understand. I've been playing the organ for nearly 40 years, and love to travel around and "nose" into churches to check out the organ, and have been known to just sit down and play if the organ is unlocked and accessible. Thank goodness no-one has ever asked me to leave - they generally find it very nice that someone has taken interest, knows what they're doing, and can actually play! I'm in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) and would certainly like to look you up and be able to hear you play, and allow me to play that magnificent instrument some day! Blessings to you and for the beautiful music you share with the world!
In art school in the 70s we had a brochure assignment and I decided to do it on area pipe organs. I visited Macky Auditorium on the CU campus in Boulder, CO to talk to the Dean of pipe organs and he gave me the tour. They have a pipe organ museum with a player pipe organ. It has a brass drum of compressed air with holes that actuate the keys much like a player piano. He invited me to play it after a pipe organ concert in the main auditorium. It is a 2 manual organ and was quite a thrill. A bit embarrassing in front of the concert artist, but I was not going to pass up the opportunity! Years later I had several pipe organ samples for my synthesizer and a large sound system with an 18" sub woofer the size of a refrigerator to get closer to reproducing the frequencies. I wrote several pieces for pipe organ, albeit in an amateur realm and played a few weddings. Thanks Samuel, that is a great video.
As a non-musician I really liked this video. Thanks for giving an explanation and demonstration how this beautiful instrument works.
This may be one of the very best videos on youtube. We were fortunate to hear Virgil Fox play a dedication concert on a local church's new organ. It was great but this video tells and shows us much, much more about the organ. It's a whole orchestra controlled by a single musician. Thank you, Samuel.
Thank you for the excellent breakdown of all the controls. I have always thought that the pipe organ must be the most complex instrument out there and this confirms it.
Marvellous! A tour de force in both explanation and playing. Bravo Samuel for sticking to your guns about piano - the organ world needed you!
Mr. Whitehead, I've been composing for years and I have avoided the organ because of my ignorance of its capabilities and logistics. Your video has completely opened my eyes to the possibilities. Thank you thank you thank you!
This video was fantastic! I have loved the organ since I was 7, and have been trying to take lessons since (21 years!). I watch tons of videos of organ pieces, but it was a treat to see and hear you, the organist, because I could immediately tell that you feel that same giddy feeling being around this magnificent instrument as I do. God bless you and thank you again!
You're welcome. And I agree that there is no instrument quite like the organ. It's power and grandeur can have a very intoxicating effect!
Sathrandur Oh do you have a video of you playing the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor on this organ!!!!!!!!!!! If not can you please upload it!
@@Sathrandur hi
what a great demo, church, organ, playing and videotography.....
Great job of explaining the mechanics of this wonderful beast!
Always wanted to know more about one of my two favorite instruments. The other is the piano. The organist at my church, a retired professor in music specializing in the organ and harpsichord, performed a organ concert where he played four different melodies at the same time using a foot or hand for each one. He started out with one and moved up to four. Interesting how the melodies intertwined and complimented each other. The other thing is the practice and concentration that the organist had to do accomplish the piece.
The organist had moved the organ around so the audience had a better look at what was going on. He was able to do this because its an electronic pipe organ built by the Bond family in Portland, Oregon. What a great performance.
I'm subscribing because if your voice alone, I'm lucky enough to have access to a pipe organ so this is great to watch.
This video sparked my interest in the instrument and led to me playing organ for the first time, I can’t thank you enough for sparking my lifetime interest with this terrific instrument
I am very pleased to hear that. My interest was sparked as a child by hearing an organ at my grandfather's funeral - it was only a small organ, but the music made an impact.
No digital keyboard instrument can match the awesomeness of the mighty pipe organ!
This video is awesome! Killer content. Organist that looks like a movie star and plays the #1 most influential composition from my childhood...just amazing.
Ha! Thanks! Movie star... I don't know if I've had that one before, but I'll take it! :D
Just saw the video first time a few days ago. And I keep coming back to watch it again and again. I have always been mystified by these pipe organs, ever since back when I can remember it as child, I was drawn to the sound when going into the church with my parents. I have never really understood how it worked, but you made a very nice and clear explanation.
What a priviledge you have to play this wonderful instrument.
Thank you,
Jimmy
Loved your love of the organ. It is such a palpable reflection of Love's love for His/Her creation!!!
When you showed the quality of the swell boxes my soul felt those low frequency sounds! Thank you for this video and demonstration!
Thank you so much for this video. I have always loved the sound of the pipe organ and a friend in high school played. It is just amazing to me that a single person can play such a complex instrument so beautifully.
I certainly did enjoy your demonstration and explanation of how the organ stops work and well I have played the pipe organ by ear with Lord of the Dance and I loved how it sounded and our church had Opposite colors on the keys. Blacks were white and whites were brown. Quite a cool instrument I have always loved hearing a pipe organ played and even more interesting on the other side is how they roll the pipes. So beautiful.
Fascinating.
In a list of the most complicated instruments to master, organs like this, I guess, would be No.1.
Not what I was searching for, but I'm glad that I watched this!
What a remarkable person you are - I knew nothing about how the organ is constructed or how the various parts of the organ are controlled and combined before watching your video, but I understood what you said quite easily and found your presentation both logical and well-spoken. Bravo, sir!
With regard to your speech -- just let it slide, I am from Newfoundland , Canada and I understood perfectly all you said. I was more into what you said than how you said it. Message well conveyed. Thank you.... From "The Rock" --- Dennis Barnes
This is incredibly informative. I’ve spent a few nights watching TH-cam videos on playing organs and yours is by far the most informative. Thanks!!
Thank you for this very interesting demonstration. I like your ability to reduce the complexities of a pipe organ into an understandable model. Building a small reed organ (one set of reeds, no stops) took me a year. I can only guess the amount of work that goes into building an instrument like the one at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
The 32ft reed sounded terrifying tbh
Most people don't draw it alone, but in combinations it can be very terrifying
+Shining Armor why you always show up in every organ-related video?
are you an organist, organ-builder, or maybe...a registrant as you know everything about it?
i guess you had watched all organ stuff in youtube...!!! (human organs not included)
anyway, do you messing up with Hammond organs too?
Yudhi GN
I am an amatuer organist and general organ enthusiast, and I have loved the organ as long as I can remember. I always enjoy the stop demonstrations and such because they display the vast array of possible colors one might hear from the instruments. I’ve particularly been fascinated by the abnormal, odd, and strange sounds that are rarely called upon (not the least of which is the 32’ reed drawn alone). I never really liked the Hammond organs much because they do not have the same grandeur that one would expect from a pipe organ. They were designed to imitate the Tibia Clausa, which is quite possibly the least interesting sound despite how useful it is. The Hammond organ is grey, colorless, synthetic, and most of all, boring. I’m sorry if this is rather long-winded, people don’t usually ask me personal questions like that.
Just listen the 64ft pipe or the 128 ft pipe
Thanks Sam, I really enjoyed listening to your fine demonstration of the varying sounds created by your magnificent instrument. It's my view that there can be no better sound than that produced by a finely tuned pipe organ and is even better when its expertly played in a great historic building. It's the sound that marks 'all the stages of our life' in the Christian World, but importantly for me, was JS Bach's chosen medium. And in turn, thanks to Bach music in the western World was forever changed. Thanks again for sharing √
such a beautiful instrument I will never get to play on
I LOVE your accent! I could listen to you for HOURS, literally.
By the way, great video.
Five minutes ago I just randomly saw my first ever video on youtube that relates to an organ and it really piqued my interest so i searched for "church organs explained" to try to gain some understanding of the majestic instrument. Imagine my surprise then, that the first video I click on is from the city of Bendigo as I visited Bendigo three days ago for work and stayed in the Cathedral Motel overlooking the very Cathedral this man shot the video in. From my motel room, I admired the building and architecture, even going for a walk around it to see it up close.
A very concise presentation. Thanks! I had the opportunity to practice at one time on a small chapel pipe organ that was seldom used at my university. Never got any good as it was an hour here and there. But when a line or two came together - wow! I look forward to exploring your channel's videos. Thanks!
Excellent job my friend. Very well explained, your enthusiasm is so infectious. I always thought one of these instruments would be the ultimate challenge for a musician - and so it is. I used to go to the free organ concerts given in Birmingham town hall by George Thalben Ball as a teen - have just found out that he also was from down under! Keep up the good work.
I'm singing in a church tomorrow with a pipe organ and I have never heard one in person before. Naturally, I was curious about how they work, so thank you so much for this upload!
Cyvin Tyranea Most organs are smaller than this, but a moderately large organ will still be enough to rattle one with excitement. And I assure you they always sound so much better in reality than even the best recordings - you will feel the sound in your body. My first encounter with a pipe organ was at age six. It was a small organ, but that one experience is directly responsible for me having become an organist all these years later. I hope you have fun.
The organ is my second favorite instrument next to the harpsichord. They both have sounds that are like magic to me.
Amazingly smart designs and making of a monumental instrument like this. It is so huge that it occupies a significant portion of a cathedral and so the building has to be made in a way that accommodates the instrument. The making processing must be extremely tedious. No wonder it needs years to complete. Considered one of man-made wonders.
This is such a cool sharing! Thank you for posting! I’ve always admire friends who was able to play the pipe organ. It is such an enjoyment and a way to praise music and the world. True respect!
And they say men can't multitask! I wonder how many different things are happening, all at the same time, during one of the many spectacular organ pieces.
We had the Carillon-Sortie, Henri Mulet, for our wedding exit piece recently, and could only marvel at how the Organist managed to make all those different lines come together. I am in awe, Sir!
Colin Powell I know right? And that doesn't even account for when I'm improvising (when I'm also having to usually keep watch down the other end of the church to finish at just the right moment, occasionally while holding a conversation simultaneously).
My wife though is so good at multitasking that she could cook breakfast and wash the dishes holding a one-year-old boy while doing all that too (well, ok, minus the organ playing since she doesn't actually play the instrument, otherwise she probably could)!
Thank you... that was super informative and easy to understand! WOW 12:42 and 14:40 and 16:10 exactly the sounds I had been waiting for in the video... you not only hear, but FEEL the sound!!!! How very lucky you are to master this magnificent instrument... don't think I could ever learn to play something with 500 keys, dozens of pistons, plus pulls, stops, swells, foot pedals... overwhelming :) Would love to hear St. Saens Organ Symphony #3 Finale played on this organ... would literally take your breath away!
That is why many organists, myself included, believe a pipe organ to be superior, more interesting, more powerful than even the best electronic organs, even those with digital sampling. No matter how large, a vibrating speaker cone can not replicate the feel of those large pipes speaking. As well, a large organ like this one can actually change the barometric pressure in the "room" and our bodies can perceive that even if we don't know why we feel something different.
My musical training is on the piano and violin. The organ is an instrument of immense mystery to me. So powerful, yet controlled by a single man. I will admit, even after your video, I am still not sure how all these pieces work together to create the sound, but your passion for it is clear.
I had learned to play the piano - from about the age of 4 - 5 or so...and was always always fascinated by the pipe organ - loved the sound, loved the music (particularly of BACH - i also sang harmony from birth...choral music...grins). I didn't know for the longest time that there was only one pipe, which produced one note, one pitch, one volume ONLY. for each key...for the longest time...no one bothered to tell me or show me that(!)...so I had no idea of what those "stops" did...or why...sighs...still fascinated by how one can couple pipes to play via the same set of keys. I saw one of the older mechanical coupled organs (online) which brought that simple set of facts home to me...years past, of course...and, THATS how I learned what I should have been shown or told in the past...sighs. I appreciate your tutelige ( I give up - "teaching" - grins sp?)...
This is the most detailed explanation of an organ I've seen, thank you for demystifying it!
Incredible; thanks so much for the video! I've wondered for ages about how the pipe organ works, and everything is answered so neatly here. The way you move with the music and your familiarity with all the bits is a great visual to go with the beautiful sound.
Absolutely incredible! The pipe organ has always been a curiosity of mine. I'm amazed that anyone can play this instrument. So many things you can do. Great video!
This video is incredible!
Sam, I've seen a good number of videos but have never seen someone explain the organ like you have. Thank you! Say hello to Victoria for me. I enjoyed watching your video. Have a wonderful day.
Thanks for your kind words, but I won't be saying hi to Victoria as I now live in Queensland. The upside of this is that St John's Anglican Cathedral is only a couple of hours away, and is undoubtedly the most wonderful church in the country with its stone-vaulted roof and beautiful organ. Actually there are also many other upsides of living in the greatest state of the federated states of Australia (as I like to say), but I will keep the reply a bit shorter and not enumerate them!
@@Sathrandur well, say hello to any part of OZ you wish for me. That's the closest I'll be able to get anytime soon. Hopw your move has been good for you.
Marc
Friend: i play the flute, what do you play?
Organists: a church
Thank you for this very educational video; beautiful organ & playing!!
Samuel, I very much enjoyed this video. I am an armature organist in Omaha , Nebraska USA. I have been to your beautiful country and was EXTREMELY impressed. This video was very well done and your description of the pipe organ was appreciated by all I am certain. You obviously are very talented and accomplished. There are many young people that really need a video like this to get started/interested in the pipe. Keep up the great work. M Lee Riley Omaha, NE USA
M Lee Riley I would think that you would be familiar with the very special instrument at St Cecilia Cathedral then!
I have always been mystified by the pipe organ and have always wanted to play one. This video gives me a better understanding on what all the stops, pedals, and the multiple manuals do. I now have a greater desire to play one some day!
I absolutely ADORE the pipe organ.
Back for another visit to this great video. So very well done.
Thank you for the demonstration and explanation. I love the sound of the pipe organ so much.
Beautiful job. Thank you so much for the comprehensive overview.
Excellent demonstration of this organ!
Great demonstration of this organ. Thanks for sharing it!
Many of you have been curious about the piece at 10:15. To celebrate 100k views I have recorded it in full: th-cam.com/video/Qemihtb2RkY/w-d-xo.html
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@@theschath9046 translation:
People have asked about the song he played at 10:15 time of this video. He recorded it and shared the link to you can hear the song in its entirety
Thank you very much,it’s really great to see the pipe organ with your help,more complicated and a beautiful instrument!
Excellent and thorough demonstration!
What an incredibly complex and beautiful instrument the pipe organ is, very informative video too. One day I hope to have the opportunity to hear a live performance on one of these great instruments.
Thanks for the video. I've been commissioned to write an organ prelude for an ordination service and found this very helpful!
Amazing piece of musical engineering. Thanks for the in-depth demo.
Excellent demonstration thanks!
I love pipe organ. Thanks for the tour!
Brilliant, concise explanation of something that is incredibly complicated. I'm going to refer back to this as I continue to learn about this wondrous instrument, thanks for posting champ!
You did an Amazing job explaining how the pipe organ works. Superb Demonstration, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire video. Thank You Friend!
Love the demonstration. I learned all of the sounds from the stops on my gran's Wultizer organ. Well done.
What a brilliant video. And a truly fascinating instrument. Well done my friend
i really enjoyed watching this video, i found it very interesting indeed as i have always wondered how these amazing pieces of craftsmanship were played.
Thanks very much for that.
Just found this vid thanks very much for doing it, the Pipe Organ is a mysterious instrument as you rarely get to see its workings only its public face. It was good to get an appreciation of its inner beauty as well.
This instrument is so amazing, thank you for showing
You are a great teacher. I learned more about, and got a better overview of the organ from your video than I had before. Thanks
What a nice sounding organ. Will try to replicate the sound on some sample sets I found and use it on my organ music recordings . Thank you for sharing. Love watching your videos.
Simply impressive. Thank you very much for posting!
Congratulations on a first-rate explanation and demonstration of this wonderful instrument.
Excellent and loving explanation, thank you!
this is the best I've seen on how the organ works! good job!
awesome demonstration samuel, you help tremendously the world with your knowledge!
Wonderful!!! I loved your detailed explanation of the Pipe Organ! Thanks for Sharing!!!!
I've gotten to mess around on an organ at church maybe twice and it really is awesome. I always enjoyed getting the huge, full powerful sound it can create.
This is a really great explanation for a really grand instrument.
Absolutely magnificent demonstration by a humble and outstanding presenter. Thank you!
I didnt look for this but it was he most interesting video I have seen in a long time. Amazing technic and instrument.
Thank you so much for the video! I'm a young composer and have recently fallen in love with the pipe organ. I've done tons and tons of research but have never been able to find any good sites or videos explaining the instrument, but this video is PERFECT. Such an amazing instrument. At some point in my life I would absolutely love to learn to play it.
I'm glad you found the video informative and helpful. The pipe organ is an amazing instrument. As a composer myself, I hope you will have a look at my "Toccata Héroïque" video on my channel also.
Thank you for taking the time and making this video!
This must be one of the most interesting videos on youtube. Thank you sir.