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    Frederik Magle
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    Krummhorn
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Middelschulte by Cameron Carpenter...

Flute'n'Pedal

New member
With feet like that, who needs hands?

Which brings me to my next question: Have there been any organists who out of necessity played only with their feet, i.e., who lacked the use of their hands?
 

falcon1

New member
He's playing on electronic organ... not quite the same as doing it on real pipes.

Yea, he has a good technique (at least on electronic instrument) but what I have heard performed by him have lacked in phrasing, emotion etc.
 

AllanP

New member
I listened to a Cameron Carpenter sound video on YTube last week. His technique is fabulous. He plays the somewhat controversial electronic organ at Trinity Wall Street. My opinion is that the organ sounds pretty good but still has a little electronic buzz and brittleness in the tone.

Cameron's playing ability exceeds almost anything I have ever seen. I am sure that he can now or will learn quickly to vary his technique to suit the building acoustics and handle pipe organs just as well as the electronic.

Note that he also played for the ATOS convention this summer and got several standing ovations.

In summary, a fabulous player!!
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
With feet like that, who needs hands?

Which brings me to my next question: Have there been any organists who out of necessity played only with their feet, i.e., who lacked the use of their hands?

Noted Organist Mark Thallender had an unfortunate accident several years ago and lost one arm. After many months of diligent practice, he is once again playing the organ with both feet and one arm. I hear that the performances are absolutely phenomenal.
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Krummhorn,

Yeah man, I remember hearing about the accident Mr. Thallander was a victim of. Its so inspiring that he could overcome such an obstacle and is now playing again. I just thought about Ravel's piano concerto for the left hand. What a tour-de-force that is.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Corno Dolce,

I first heard about the Ravel piece for the left hand on, oddly enough, a M*A*S*H episode where a soldier who was a concert pianist incurred tendon damage and lost the use of three fingers of the right hand. Major Winchester was able to convince the man to try the Ravel piece towards the end of that episode.

A remarkable work - and even more remarkable to see it being played.
 
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