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Another Great Improv of hymn accomp. with congregation singing by Gert.

Soubasse

New member
The only thing I'd say from a technique point of view is that his knees could be moving a little less (I was taught that everything should be from the ankle as much as possible), but in some ways it goes to show enthusiasm!
I will say that this lad has an extremely good ear for harmony - some most impressive harmonic progressions and modulations here.
I'm also interested that so much is packed into a 2-manual instrument when there's obviously enough pipework for 3!
 

Albert

New member
I just bought Stainer after playing organ for services since 1965. I learned (with much help) using Ernst Kaller's Orgelschule in two volumes. The pedalling is MUCH different than the Ango America style that I began to learn about 1976. Knees work a lot more doing mostly toes with lots of foot crossing and on parallel keyboards I find. Just different, not better not worse.

And I fully agree with you on young Gert's aptitude for the instrument. I would love to have that instrument rather than the Johannus Opus 10 in my avatar, but somehow, I don't think it is going to happen any time soon.
 
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wljmrbill

Member
Yes Albert true as well we western folks need to remember those heavy action on many Trackers require more effort then our electro units which many USA organist forget when thy observe them playing from the old country.
 

pcnd5584

New member
Yes Albert true as well we western folks need to remember those heavy action on many Trackers require more effort then our electro units which many USA organist forget when thy observe them playing from the old country.

Although it is still not necessary to pump one's knees up and down. A glance at a few commercially available DVDs, to view some French organists playing older instruments (which do not have Barker-lever assistance to the Pedal clavier) - or to watch Jos van der Kooy at the organ of the Westerkerk, Amsterdam, in order to realise this.
 
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wljmrbill

Member
true pcnd5584..... I know I was trained the old way" like a stick up your"""//" and you pivot from that point with knees together..but does not seem to be the recent years teaching philosophy. But I go for the performance of the music and not so much the displays exhibited by the performer anymore.. and that helps some...
 

DrBen

New member
And I fully agree with you on young Gert's aptitude for the instrument. I would love to have that instrument rather than the Johannus Opus 10 in my avatar, but somehow, I don't think it is going to happen any time soon.

Gert started out on a Johannus. Take a look at this video of him playing the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D-minor, at age 14, after less than 3 years of playing the organ (with no piano background). It took him 6 months to prepare the piece.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cUrJ_G1BzDw
 

Albert

New member
Gert started out on a Johannus. Take a look at this video of him playing the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D-minor, at age 14, after less than 3 years of playing the organ (with no piano background). It took him 6 months to prepare the piece.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cUrJ_G1BzDw
I first took note of Gert because of the link with Johannus. I think it was one of the organ fests that are held periodically. I follow him on YouTube just because I like the way he is growing with his playing.
 

branchporter

New member
A fear of many of Gert's fans was that his present course of studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music at The Hague would make him into a "cookie cutter" organist. Fortunately, that has not happened. I believe that the "old school" style of playing in a very "staid" style which does not allow extraneous movements and absolutely bans anything that could be mistaken for "flamboyance" is on the way out. I am glad for that - I think that restraining an organist's natural, emotionally driven style of playing results in duller, more robotic sounding performances.
 
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