Many thanks for the comment! This is a case of the right music being played on very much the right organ. And with some enthusiasm from the player mixed in as well ...
This 'Choral' by Joseph Jongen is indeed the perfect piece of music for demonstrating how this fabulous vintage Father Willis can build from the softest, most gentle sounds to a thrilling climax crowned by majestic reeds: bravo, Paul!
Many thanks, Graham. Building up the crescendo with so few playing aids takes some forward planning on this instrument but it's a joy to work out how to do it, and then to get the job done. There's always a solution - and it often generates extra musical subtleties along the way. [A quite renowned local organist - who shall remain nameless! - recently suggested that I have the Christ Church organ electrified so that I could have all the pistons and lights and buttons which make his life easier where he plays - I left him in no doubt where I stand on such matters!!]
Many thanks for the comment! Yes, it's a great opportunity to give the old girl a proper spin down the freeway. This organ sounds even better when it's in tune - the summer months have messed it up a bit. Roll on the next tuning in a month or so. Thanks again!
Haha, yes, my description did promise a lot, didn't it?! Glad you weren't disappointed!! Right music, right organ - I couldn't help but enjoy playing it.
Hi Steve. Many thanks for the comment. Yes, it's a great piece for working up to the full thunder of this venerable instrument! After the many temperature variations of the summer months our organ needs a good tuning. That said, the French don't tend to bother very much with tuning their organs and so the current somewhat impressionistic tonality adds a little Gallic authenticity to this rendition ...
Fantastic!
Many thanks for the comment! This is a case of the right music being played on very much the right organ. And with some enthusiasm from the player mixed in as well ...
This 'Choral' by Joseph Jongen is indeed the perfect piece of music for demonstrating how this fabulous vintage Father Willis can build from the softest, most gentle sounds to a thrilling climax crowned by majestic reeds: bravo, Paul!
Many thanks, Graham. Building up the crescendo with so few playing aids takes some forward planning on this instrument but it's a joy to work out how to do it, and then to get the job done. There's always a solution - and it often generates extra musical subtleties along the way. [A quite renowned local organist - who shall remain nameless! - recently suggested that I have the Christ Church organ electrified so that I could have all the pistons and lights and buttons which make his life easier where he plays - I left him in no doubt where I stand on such matters!!]
Superb. Great crescendo piece and I love the organ.
Many thanks for the comment! Yes, it's a great opportunity to give the old girl a proper spin down the freeway. This organ sounds even better when it's in tune - the summer months have messed it up a bit. Roll on the next tuning in a month or so. Thanks again!
You did not promise too much, it's a wonderful chorale, great playing!
Haha, yes, my description did promise a lot, didn't it?! Glad you weren't disappointed!! Right music, right organ - I couldn't help but enjoy playing it.
Great piece to demonstrate a pipe organ and it is indeed as if a choir was approaching from afar!
Hi Steve. Many thanks for the comment. Yes, it's a great piece for working up to the full thunder of this venerable instrument! After the many temperature variations of the summer months our organ needs a good tuning. That said, the French don't tend to bother very much with tuning their organs and so the current somewhat impressionistic tonality adds a little Gallic authenticity to this rendition ...
Of course, Jongen was Belgian rather than French but this piece is very much in the French tradition.
That was a rousing piece of music and extremely well played.😮xx
This piece is an absolute joy to play on our organ! Well, they all are - but this one really fits this organ perfectly.