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Can anyone enlighten me?

Nikam

New member
Have recently been watching Vincent Dubois on YouTube, and am curious to know the process(es) used to enable organists of his calibre to perform vast tracts of music totally from memory. Anyone got some theories ...... or knowledge?
 

wljmrbill

Member
I remember one of my college professors calling it " instant recall ability" in the 1960's.. where one can listen to or play through a piece and instantly play it also a photographic memory may be involved as well.... you see it once and remember it always.. both situations are beyond many of us (and believe God given to a selected few) who must go phrase by line by etc etc to get it down. In my days I have noticed that those who have perfect pitch are better at memorization then those who are/have relative pitch. I email back and forth with Vincent.. I will contact him and ask what system he uses/has. I personally was never good at memorization for the most part and always had points deducted for using manuscripts at times.... Now days many concert people use music more so I noticed. Interesting topic..... Like Paul Jacobs is another who has great ability ( head of organ dept at Julliard ) has memorized the entire works of Bach... Hell I can not even play all of them...LOL.. If not mistaken Cameron Carpenter ,another concert organist, has absolute pitch and a photographic memory
 
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Nikam

New member
Will wait with interest to read his reply Bill. You're obviously a man to know, for it has been said that everyone is 'just a handshake away'! The cathedral organist from whom I had lessons way back had himself had lessons from Flor Peeters. The organist I currently have lessons from was present at Flor Peeters' funeral service!
 

Albert

New member
Will wait with interest to read his reply Bill. You're obviously a man to know, for it has been said that everyone is 'just a handshake away'! The cathedral organist from whom I had lessons way back had himself had lessons from Flor Peeters. The organist I currently have lessons from was present at Flor Peeters' funeral service!
Suzanne Gibson Coulthard FRCCO studied with Flor Peeters. I took lessons from her for two years.
 

Albert

New member
Albert, so you too were just a handshake away from Flor Peeters!
Yes. Suzanne was the best teacher I ever had. I only met the organ when I was 25 and drafted by the director of the Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps band, Charles Villeneuve, who was also the director of music at the Fort Chambly Roman Catholic Chapel near Soest, West Germany. This coming November will mark 50 years of trying to play the organ with very patient help by Suzanne and many others.
 
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