Favourite Organ Videos

[Argoth]

I thought of starting a thread (hope one hasn't been already) to post our favourite organ videos on the web (given that there are quite a lot now). This one is my favourite video version of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565, played by Karl Richter somewhere in the late 70's I beleive (R.I.P.). This organ is in Ottobueren, built in 1766 by Karl Joseph Riepp. There are also some other nice videos of this piece out there, specially the one on the Sydney Town Hall Organ, but I just get drawn to this.

However, as I'm not an organist but just an enthusiast, I can't give any detailed analysis of this, but welcome you all to post and give commentary on videos, maybe those less experienced/future organ hopefulls (like myself) can then learn something from explanations given.

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[Clavier]

Here are a few of my favorites.

My favorite piece for the organ:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Neu-t6ofW6o

One of the most pleasant sounding organs, (stop for stop) I've ever heard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pCJ-QaUUbc

It's nice to see that someone still plays the Hammond in the old style:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FudyFrexmyE

[Thomas Dressler]

Wow, I'm going to have to do some searching on YouTube!

I love the Riepp organ. Have not heard it in person, only on recordings, but I love the sound I hear!

I can't say I think Richter makes the organ sound all that great, however. He is of a school of organ playing that does not play tracker instruments all that well, in my opinion at least. Watching his technique bears this out. A most notable thing is the way he dramatically leaps with his hands on releases. A fast release makes a tracker instrument, especially an old one, hiccup. Also, watch his fingers as he plays--they are held consistently higher than the key surfaces, so they STRIKE the keys as if he were playing the piano. What I see, in fact, is piano technique at the organ--something that works ok on electropneumatic actions but not so well on tracker actions. All the old treatises, including CPE Bach, say it is necessary to keep the fingers in contact with the keys, not above them, and to PRESS not STRIKE the keys. Also note how flat his fingers are. This is not good organ technique, at least not good early organ technique. CPE Bach makes it clear the fingers are to be kept curved as much as possible, and everything I have read connected with JS Bach's playing technique is very clear on this point, going so far as to imply that flattening the fingers is not good.

All of these things would be trivial except that what I hear if I don't look is an organ that is struggling to speak well and sound good. I really do not relish publicly criticizing and I would not do so now except that I think it could be instructive and useful to those who listen and watch. I will see if I can find some examples of what I consider to be good technique which produces a good sound.

Piano technique and organ technique are two very different things.

[Thomas Dressler]

Here are two videos I have come up with that I like. They are both on Cavaille-Coll organs and Romantic repertoire, so one would expect a technique that is more informed by piano technique than Bach. However, even this Romantic style playing shows the difference between striking keybeds (as in piano technique) and pushing through a pluck (on the organ.) I am also choosing these right now as there is so much misunderstanding among organists about what is a truly French Romantic instrument. Here in America, I have met many organists who feel Skinners are ultimate instruments for Widor and Franck, but that is simply not true. They are very different instruments, and because of their pneumatic action, they tolerate more piano hammering technique than real Romantic instruments.

Now, about the videos: The first one is a young French organist who plays very well, and the second is a very experienced and well known French organist, Daniel Roth. You'll notice that the first organist plays much more closely to the keys than Richter, though he does fly off the keys sometimes with dramatic releases. His fingers also flatten out, but in general it is very good playing. Notice that he plays more "into the keys" than "on the surface" as Richter does. (Not sure how to explain this, but it's the terminology I use with students. It works better if you can demonstrate.) Roth has a very good technique, with curved fingers. Notice how he FEELS the keys before he plays them. This is very important to making a good sound on the organ. To strike the keys from a distance above them produces a very insensitive pluck. So even for Romantic repertoire, on instruments with pneumatic assisted actions, playing close to the keys works better. I can say from personal experience that it makes a cleaner technique even on electro-pneumatic actions, though they tolerate pretty sloppy attacks and releases since these aspects are completely controlled by the action.

Here's the first video:

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And here's the second:

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[Janne]

This is not a bad organist either.

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[NEB]

Hi Thomas. Intersting observations that I really hadn't thought about at all. But since we're talking about all this. I recall many moons ago, one of my Paino teachers at college, whose job it was to deal primarily with technique issues (one Mildred Litherland - I'll never forget her!) spent many many months during year one concentrating with us on fingers bent, in the ready position hovering over or preferably just touching the key to be depressed, and that it should be pressed firmly rather than struck. Her whole aim in that year was to get students to feel the mechanism, feel the striking point, and feel the hammer movement onto the string, and then feel the dampeners on release.

In other words gain a fine control and feel of the mechanical action that a piano works from. The most tedious of all the practice, and yet to this day some of the most useful, esecially when moving between the various different keyboards I routinely use.

She'd turn in her grave to see someone waving their fingers and arms in the air the way of that initial clip.

I've just remembered something else she hammered into us. To press through the key rather than pressing the keys. Play through the note rather than playing the note.

[Argoth]

Thanks Thomas for those insightful reviews! I was not aware of those basic little things (I'm not an organist myself but an enthusiast). Anyway, it was an interesting read. I gather Richter was a conductor as well, maybe his wild arm movements are related to that lol. Anyway, here's another video I've been watching today, it's Virgil Fox playing the Wanamaker Organ:

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I understand this man had his own style which was not to everyone's taste, but was a great player nonetheless? What do you guys think?

[Krummhorn]

Indeed, Virgil Fox was a showman at the console, but the energy he always put into his performances and how much enjoyement he displays playing the pieces is unmistakable.

I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Virgil while I was assisting his road technician in setting up his newly acquired Allen touring organ for a performance in Pasadena (California, USA) years ago. I discovered a very nice individual, one who was witty and had a wonderful sense of humor - It was like talking with someone I had known for many years. That same "persona", at least for me, was always present in his music interpretations.

Certainly, Fox was not everyone's cup of tea ... but we possibly have to admit that he was a great player.

[Argoth]

John Scott Whiteley Prelude from BWV 532 of York Minster plays the Arp Schnitger organ at the Jakobikirche Hamburg. Restored by Jurgen Ahrend. This is well filmed and gives unique views from inside the organ as well. I think its from a part of a series filmed by the BBC.

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The Fugue

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[methodistgirl]

The organ looks like a very old instrument by the way it looks but still sounds
real good. Like they say the older the violin the sweeter the music. The
organ in the video reminds me of that. This one sounds wonderful to me
like the city churches with pipe organs that age. The one at my church is
very new and small. But antique ones have a special sound to them like
the one in the video.
judy tooley

[Argoth]

Indeed, Virgil Fox was a showman at the console, but the energy he always put into his performances and how much enjoyement he displays playing the pieces is unmistakable.

I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Virgil while I was assisting his road technician in setting up his newly acquired Allen touring organ for a performance in Pasadena (California, USA) years ago. I discovered a very nice individual, one who was witty and had a wonderful sense of humor - It was like talking with someone I had known for many years. That same "persona", at least for me, was always present in his music interpretations.

Certainly, Fox was not everyone's cup of tea ... but we possibly have to admit that he was a great player.

By the way, do you know what Bach pieces Virgil is playing on that (rather aweful sounding) "heavy" organ of his when the video starts showing that? Thanks

[methodistgirl]

I liked the videos of this organist. He kinda reminded me of Liberachy.
Sorry I can't spell sometimes. Didn't I hear him say that he was
just a country boy? That should give us who live in these little towns
like mine some inspiration. I was inspired by him just a little. Maybe
I could get enough practice in where I could at least be called on even
at church. The organ he was playing was humungous! He even played
a church hymn somewhere. I don't know which church but he was
great! I wonder if he has anyone else in his family who can play?
judy Tooley

[Krummhorn]

By the way, do you know what Bach pieces Virgil is playing on that (rather aweful sounding) "heavy" organ of his when the video starts showing that? Thanks

Argoth,

That's the Fugue in G Major, BWV 577 (aka "The Jig Fugue")

. . . . . He even played
a church hymn somewhere. I don't know which church but he was
great! I wonder if he has anyone else in his family who can play?
judy Tooley

Judy,

Virgil played at Riverside Church in NYC at one time. One of his last organ concert appearances was at that church. Dr. Fox passed away on October 25, 1980. AFIK he was an only child.

[Argoth]

Argoth,

That's the Fugue in G Major, BWV 577 (aka "The Jig Fugue")

.

Hi Krummhorn,

I wasn't referring to the Wanamaker organ (that certainly does not sound aweful lol, on the contrary I find it amazing on that organ), I'm referring to the piece being played when the light show and Rogers organ concert starts? Or is it another part of the same piece? Namely, at 5.42 onwards on the video. Thanks!

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Also, here's a nice video I found of him playing the BWV 577:

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[Argoth]

Judy,

Virgil played at Riverside Church in NYC at one time. One of his last organ concert appearances was at that church. Dr. Fox passed away on October 25, 1980. AFIK he was an only child.

The wonders of Youtube, here is a video from the closing hymn of that final Riverside Church concert!

+ YouTube Video