• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Bach Marathon

Thomas Dressler

New member
Howdy, sorry I've been away for a couple weeks. It seems like my life goes in waves of being really busy, alternating with times when I can sit and reflect and write.

This past Sunday, our local chapter of the American Guild of Organists (Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania) held their annual "Bach Marathon." People sign up for 1/2 hour slots, and from 2pm until 9pm, Egner Chapel at Muhlenberg College ( organ ) rings with the music of Bach. I played the Kyrie-Christe-Kyrie from the Klavieruebung (BWV 669, 670, and 671), Trio in D minor (BWV 583), and the Fantasie in G (BWV 572). This was a really fun way to get to talk to other local organists, and to sit and listen to other people play.

Now that I have a little time to breath, let's see if I can catch up on here. . .
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
That sounds like fun there....well one day when I learn organ and it is a definite, I will check out some of these pieces that you played.

I haven't been to many of these functions, but at least most people respect for what you play.

cheers444.gif
Gareth.
 

Thomas Dressler

New member
Hi Gareth,

If you like Bach's music and you like organ music, I bet you'd like the Fantasie in G (BWV 572)! It's a very cool piece with a wonderful middle section in five voices, which sounds like it's reaching a big ending cadence, but it's a trick--you then get two pages of very fast runs in the hands, with pulsating pedal notes until it finally does end with a real G major cadence. Very exciting. . .

There is actually more than one book to the Klavieruebung. Each book is a set of very difficult pieces which are supposed to be learning/practice pieces for keyboard players, but they are also wonderful music. The organ pieces are sometimes very complex, but also sometimes very dramatic. If you like the B minor Mass you'd probably like these pieces. They're in the same style as the Kyrie of the B minor Mass.

After all these years I've been playing the organ, I am still fascinated to go and hear someone play. There's just nothing like the sound of a real pipe organ.

You'll have to let us know when you're learning the organ! There are lots and lots of interesting things to learn--enough to keep you busy for a lifetime, I think!
smile.gif


Thanks!
cheers444.gif
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Hey, I typically like the slower organ music than the fast ones, as sometimes I get annoyed with the sound that comes out, just doesn't appeal to my taste, I will be sure to check that one out though.
Ahhh, if this forum is still going in about 10-15 years time, as thats when I might have time to learn organ.

cheers444.gif
Gareth.
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Hey Tom

And just a question what do you mean by 1/4 comma meantone? I was just on your website and I saw it on some of your harpsichord works that you played.

Thanks for your help.
cheers444.gif
Gareth.
 

Thomas Dressler

New member
I'll tell you what Gareth, I'm going to answer your question in the Temperament thread on the Pipe Organ forum. Take a look at that thread and it may help you some, but I'll go over there and write in more detail about meantone.

Did you listen for the differences in my soundclips? Meantone tends to make the instrument sound warmer, but it limits the keys you can play in, and much of Bach's music does not work at all in 1/4 comma meantone. His organ music, however, does mostly work in 1/6 comma meantone.

I'll try to get to this soon today.

Tom
 

Thomas Dressler

New member
Sorry for the delay, Gareth. I had to meet a deadline for a program I'm playing in June. I did write more about temperament in the other thread.
 
Top