Vincenzo Ninci plays Franck and Vierne

[acc]

Vincenzo Ninci was already known for his nice Bonnet recording at St-Antoine-des-Quinze-Vingt (Paris). Here is some more.

César Franck

• Pièce Héroïque: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSAy_0uYx6U
• Cantabile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VMhRQGwOXo

Louis Vierne

• Carillon de Westminster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_p-5xwXu1k
• Clair de Lune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-qGbXBu-uE
• Toccata: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU0DM03vLSc

Nothing off the beaten track, nothing flashy: simply beautiful music, beautifully played.

[dll927]

"Cantabile" has been compared to the light shining through stained glass windows. It's a rather 'prayerful' piece and beautiful when well done. And being in B-natural, it's no cinch to play. As you say, not flashy, but nevertheless a gem.

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha acc,

Consider yourself cherished since you so selflessly posted those *endearing readings* of Franck and Vierne By Maestro Ninci. He made it sound easy and without effort - A hallmark of a musician's musician.

Let me share some things I just found by Maestro John Scott:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXIs1ygQUh8&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Nuq...related&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ3Pc...related&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlBjY...related&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BI9s...related&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaLj_...related&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBN7S...related&fmt=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsed4...related&fmt=18

The last three links are my all-time favorites of a most, imo, scintillating work.

Cheers,

CD

[dll927]

The main thing that throws me about these videos is the total avoidance of the organist. Why bother if you don't show what's going on?

Yes, the sound is nice, at least as far as a computer can do, But I still want to see the action.

[acc]

I understand the point you're making, dll927 — but then, there are lots of situations where people just can't get anything else than audio (for example, as a simple listener during a concert, with no access to the console where the "action" takes place).

Now assume that you've got such audio which you consider good and interesting enough to share it with the world. Then the question is: where do you upload it to? And let's face it: there is no site for pure audio that is as universally known and as thoroughly developed (with extensive search functions, commenting, rating, playlists etc.) as Youtube. Now, wouldn't it be a pity if you chose not to upload your great audio just for that reason?

I don't have any problem with Youtube offering different types of media. It's just that some of them happen to be audio/video, and some audio only. Just like my collection at home, really: some of the items are DVDs, some are CDs. Would you also dismiss CDs as being uninteresting because DVDs exist?

Or, to make another comparison: if you happen to be in Paris, would you skip a beautiful concert at Notre-Dame or St-Sulpice just because the organist will be invisible to the public at those particular venues?

[jhnbrbr]

It's always interesting (and educational) to see the performer in action, but there's also a good case for concentrating 100% on the music without distraction. I seem to remember reading something by Albert Schweitzer about playing Bach (or was it Schweitzer/Widor?) which was strongly opposed to the organist being visible to the audience.

[dll927]

I dare say that, in most cases, the organist is only marginally visible to the audience anyway. Even at First Congregational LA you can see the chancel console (not the one up in the balcony), but it's sort of behind the pulpit and other stuff, so you hear more than you really see.

Obviously, the old European tracker-action organs with a positif in front would make visibility nearly impossible, to say nothing of being too high up. But in such cases, no one tried to.

I was probably a bit harsh in my comment about visibility. I have a rather extensive collection of organ CDs, and I don't pretend I can see anything going on!!

But organ consoles seem to have an attraction for people wanting to watch - maybe because all four limbs are busy, to say nothing of the fact that, to a neophite, the console can look like the cockpit of a 747. It's just that somehow, on a video you expect to see what's going on.

[acc]

the console can look like the cockpit of a 747

You mean something like this?