Who is your favorite organist?

[Marc]

Sorry, nice idea but not possible as there is no recording extant of the Bach Organ works using an instrument from his era in its original condition (with the blacksmith pumping the bellows: no electricity).

Of course I didn't mean it literally.

Anyway: there is one integral (Berlin Classics), recorded in the sixties, and played by several organists on (mostly) non-restored Silbermann organs, though some of them had temperament changes and electricity was available.
But I guess the sound they make is less 'original' than most of them sound now, after restoration.

Old instruments have to be restored and taken caren of. And the slightest changes can influence the overall sound, no doubt about it.
(And of course in many cases the tuning and temperament have changed in the 19th & 20th century, too.)

But there are still instruments where ordinary people are pumping the bellows in concert. For instance: last spring I was in Noordwolde, Groningen (Netherlands). In the village church there's a 17th century (restored) Huisz-organ (2 manuals + pedals) with original bellows, and they are still used in concerts and recording sessions. So: no electricity there.

Al Gore would be very pleased.

[Udyret]

Hard one for sure, but the following come to mind:

-Olivier Latry
-Thomas Trotter
-Thomas Murray (who also is a very kind man)

When it comes to baroque repetoire, i prefer Ton Koopman, for the french symphonic repetoire Ben van Oosten.

Of past organists i have to give props to Pierre Cochereau, Anton Heiller and Helmut Walcha

[ArthurWoolsey]

My teacher Richard Lester (also a harpsichordist)
Olivier Latry
Daniel Roth
David Briggs
Anthony Hammond

[GoneBaroque]

In no particular order
Virgil Fox (whom I once met)
E. Power Biggs
Christopher Herrick
Kevin Boyer
Simon Preston
Peter Hurford
Daniel Roth
Piet Kee
Michael Murray
Jean Gillou

[OrganoPleno105]

Ken Cowan
John Scott
Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen

[virtualpkh]

Raymond Sunderland, inspirational and renowned organist at Bridlington Priory 1957-1977. A brilliant musician and a true gentleman.

[GoneBaroque]

Al Gore would be very pleased.

No animals were killed or injured in making the bellows.

[Metzner]

Since a concert of Ben van Oosten in Dinkelsbuehl Minster with its fine Rieger Organ ( 58/III ) I am still impressed of his wonderful program with Widor, Vierne and his perfect playing without any weaknesses.
The audience was quite happy. It seemed as if those pieces were so easy and no other organist could play them better. Not only with viruosity but also with deep emotion.

[methodistgirl]

I finally found a new picture of the organ I used to play.
This little monster can really sound so good!
judy jennings