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    Frederik Magle
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    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

For all you hard-core organists...And Pianists...

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Indeed - Cameron Carpenter is splendid ... just check out that fancy footwork too!!
Caught most all his performances at Trinity via the internet ... all truly worth seeing and hearing.

I've been trying to contact Trinity about getting DVD's of his performances there - Would love to watch this on larger screen with my home audio setup for sound.
 

Argoth

New member
Check this link out - the organist performs a transcription of Chopin's C-minor Etude(Revolutionary) - has to be seen to be believed!!! Even Liszt's Mephisto Waltz...And themes from Star Wars...

http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/calendar/index.php?event_id=40478

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

Yes I watched some of this and he is fascinating. Quite the new Virgil Fox. Turns out he's a student of Paul Jacobs too, it would be fun to see some joint concert with these two one day!
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Krummhorn,

RoJo should have to see Cameron's footwork in the Chopin - his pedal technique would put to shame many pianists attempts on the Chopin.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Argoth,

Cameron studied with Paul Jacobs? I know Paul Jacobs is quite the fabulous and musical organist but I wonder if Cameron hasn't now outshone his mentor at least in the technique department.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce
 

methodistgirl

New member
Corno Dolce, this organ almost looks like the one I play except the one
at Trinity is just one manual larger and a few more stops. Just like
the one I play. It's also just as pretty. I wonder if it is just as much
fun to play as the one at my church? I have a ball on the Methodist
church pipe organ. What do you think Krummhorn?
judy tooley
 

Argoth

New member
Hi Argoth,

Cameron studied with Paul Jacobs? I know Paul Jacobs is quite the fabulous and musical organist but I wonder if Cameron hasn't now outshone his mentor at least in the technique department.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

He most probably has done so. Yes, Cameron studied under Paul Jacobs at Julliard, I found that out through an organ student here at Trinity, since one of Cameron's other teachers at Julliard was Gerre Hancock (also of UT Austin), who is in turn one of the mentors of the head of organ here at Trinity.

Anyway, I'm really glad that people like Cameron will most probably bring a renewed interest in the instrument among younger people who don't have much interest in such things, much the same way that Virgil Fox did. Most people of my generation who are unaware of the instrument would at least be taken up by such things as speed of playing, and flashiness. Because it's sad when you hear most people think that an organ is one of those little portable keyboards. Of course, Cameron is probably setting himself up for the same kind of criticism as Fox, but who knows how many future greats will be inspired to take up the instrument by seeing this kind of thing. It's just great, I know it would make Virgil Fox smile.

And just wondering...how on earth does he manage to do that with his feet???
 
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Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Corno Dolce, this organ almost looks like the one I play except the one
at Trinity is just one manual larger and a few more stops. Just like
the one I play. It's also just as pretty. I wonder if it is just as much
fun to play as the one at my church? I have a ball on the Methodist
church pipe organ. What do you think Krummhorn?
judy tooley

Judy,

Here are the specs for the Trinity Organ. A mighty impressive stop list - 240 voices (ranks). Would it be fun to play? Certainly - they would have to tear me away from it while I was kicking and screaming for more time ... lol
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Argoth,

How Cameron manages to do that with his feet? Well, I'm reminded of what an old man said to a young boy when asked how one gets to Carnegie Hall - the old man said: *Practice, Practice, Practice*. Cameron has surely practised his patootie off. :grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin::grin:

Cheers,

Corno Dolce
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
I agree with the heavy practice theory, but also know that there is a huge difference in pedalboards amongst builders. My Möller pedalboard is VERY clunky and slow compared to a Reuter I had played a few years ago. The Allens I have played over the years are also much quicker than my Möller.

Now, this is not to say that I can't do fast pedaling on the Möller - I've performed Mendelsohn Sonata I on this organ several times, but it took lots of practice to overcome the slower action.

Also, look at the bench height that Mr. Carpenter uses, and how he positions himself so far forward - great technique that does take lots of practice. I would like to know where he gets those shoes ... certainly Organmaster doesn't carry these. There are other organ shoe manufacturers one would think - or are the ones he uses custom made?
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Krummhorn,

Oh dear - a clunky and slow pedalboard - might that not be rectifiable by a competent organbuilder? I have found that concave and radiating pedalboards make it easier to perform quicker pedalling, for me at least. ;)

Yeah, those shoes look like a custom job alright.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Corno Dolce,

Yes, the pedalboard issue could be solved - problem is no $$ available. The parish views this instrument as a 'service organ', a task which it excells at ... I've pushed the envelope by doing pieces like Mendelssohn's 1st and Franck's Chorale #3 to illustrate that it can do more than just play hymns and liturgies. At least the church does fund Quimby Pipe Organs to perform the twice annual tunings along with minor repairs.

Eventually, I would at least like to have the console rebuilt - I may have to fund this project myself (tax write off ya know) - replace the pedalboard, rebuild the stop action and add "real" pistons with multiple memory levels. Maybe add a couple digital voices for solo and/or beefing up the bottom end.
 

methodistgirl

New member
I'm not kidding! Krummhorn that organ looks like the wicks organ I play
at my own church with a manual difference. The one I play only has
two manuals and 24 ranks. I do have a ball playing the organ at church.
Only thing it is just practice only. The one in the picture has three and
240 ranks. Now I'm getting where I wished our little pipe organ could
only grow about a hundred more ranks. Some sounds the organ needs
for the songs I play. I would probably love playing the trinity organ.
It's beautiful to even just look at.
judy tooley:)
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hello Krummhorn,

Its really not fair that you have to foot the bill for repair/upgrade because of congregational ignorance. But, if you're creative enough to do a project which will enable you to use it as a tax write-off - Go for it dear sir. Maybe, the congregational ignorance will cease and desist when they hear the patently obvious difference between what they have now and after an upgrade - it could be a learning experience like none other for them. Considering that there are fully satisfactory tonal additions from Artisan Organs at a very reasonable price to the Walker Technical Company solutions which command a prettier penny but will give you the most bang for the buck, the possibilities are *infinitely endless*.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce
 

methodistgirl

New member
Corno, sometimes you can't help it in some churches. There are some
churches that can be low on funds and it needs outside help when the
piano or organ needs maintaince. Maybe Krummhorn's church can't
help it. I know of a little church I used to go to that needed the piano
tuned and the piano player had to to it himself.
judy tooley
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Judy,

Thanx for your concern about the plight of smaller congregations. As one who has been on organ committes, as President of Church Councils, and as Treasurer, I can attest that most often Councils and Congregations are ignorant. There are a few who with proper guidance will start a fund drive for the Organ or include the Organ as a part of a Church Capital Campaign drive, ergo, the Organ is part of the whole church. Any restoration/repairs to the Church Building will also include betterments to the instruments.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
. . . As one who has been on organ committes, as President of Church Councils, and as Treasurer, I can attest that most often Councils and Congregations are ignorant. There are a few who with proper guidance will start a fund drive for the Organ or include the Organ as a part of a Church Capital Campaign drive, ergo, the Organ is part of the whole church.

Corno Dolce ... Right on :up:

The church I presently serve had raised 90% of the money for the organ in a program called "Cans for Chords." Aluminum cans were housed in an outside cage and recycled (the rates then were close to $1 per pound). The organ committee joked that one of the tallest facade pipes should have had the logo for Adolf Coors painted on it since our pastor (at that time) had Adolf for a first name.

I've seen other funding methods where people buy a key - say $500 each ... that translates into about $30k per manual. Others have divided the cost of a rank by 61 and ask people to donate a pipe.

Generating interest, as Corno Dolce has mentioned, is another task we, as musicians, face. Our congregations are rather ignorant when it comes time to update/upgrade the organ - to their ears the organ sounds just fine on Sunday morning, it leads the hymns and liturgies, accompanies the choir, and well, but do mention that the organist could have played a little louder when the brass quintet were playing in church for a recent festival Sunday. Little to they realize that I was at full tutti.

To the uneducated they think all we have to do is crank up an amplifier volume control to make it louder. Then comes the conversation about amplifying the organ through the church PA system ... Nooo!!! :scold: I then firmly put my foot down against that idea for obvious reasons :eek:.. . then the issue of no $ comes into the conversation, and the viscous cycle starts all over again. :cry:
 

Argoth

New member
Corno Dolce ... Right on :up:

I've seen other funding methods where people buy a key - say $500 each ... that translates into about $30k per manual. Others have divided the cost of a rank by 61 and ask people to donate a pipe.

Hi Krummhorn, those are really creative funding methods, let us know if you're heard of any others.

I think the most important thing is to differentiate to the general public between the value of a pipe organ as opposed to a silly electric instrument with amplifiers. Like I said on that Atlantic Hall organ thread, most people don't know the timelessness of these instruments. Given the vast number of perfectly functioning organs that are two or even three hundred years old, it is not just a one time investment but a chance to include your name for a timeless cause. For example, if a wealthy philanthropist was to donate a big sum for the complete upgrade/renovation of an organ, and he was to say that the organ must carry a plaque with his name on it, the chances that his name would be associated with the organ even a hundred years after his death is very high. What better way to reach self-actualization? Even if you don't want the public to know you contributed towards such an instrument, I think it can be portrayed as a big and equally heartfelt cause, compared to some of the mindless charity donation bandwagon that everyone seems to be hopping onto these days in order to just feel good about themselves or get tax benefits.
 

methodistgirl

New member
Sometimes you do need to raise money for the work on the big musical
instruments or to by a piano or organ. If you go to a little country church,
a piano can cost too much for a little church. These big churches like the
one I belong to now and bigger has to stretch their budget to keep the
music in tune or replace one of the instruments. I still know where Mr.
Krummhorn is saying.
judy tooley
 
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