Recent content by branchporter

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC1ipMfCxqw It looks like this Seifert pipe organ has presets on the bottom edge of the music rack. I've never seen this before. It seems like a handy place for them, except they can not be operated by a thumb while playing. It appears to me that this...

At age 13, Timothy Coriddi of the Rochester, NY area became a pipe organ enthusiast. Now, a mere10 years later, he is an amazing self-taught organist and Hauptwerk designer. After becoming proficient at playing, Timothy wanted something better than the 3 manual Allen organ in his home. A...

The pieces from #13 through # 26 are performed on the organ's console by organist David Rumsery. Many others are paper roll recordings, cut from performances by historic organists of years ago, which were made before acoustic recordings were possible. This site gives more information on the...

Around 1914 - 1915, a large "Welte Philharmonic" pipe organ was built for the HMHS Britannic, sister ship of the Titanic. This versatile organ could be played by keyboared, or by paper roll. The organ includes "toy counter" elements. The reports I read vary - some say the organ was built but...

A good registrant / page turner is so helpful to an organist, especially when the performance is on an organ that lacks presets and other conveniences. Jan de Rooij has been at Gert van Hoef's side through myriads of concerts, practices, and video sessions. There may be no better organist /...

Over three years ago, the talented young organist Gert van Hoef explored the capabilities of a Domus Viscount Vivace 90, a digital organ that has many synthesizer sounds and special capabilities. Gert, a master of improvisation, just goes wherever his mind takes him. I think the results are...

After coming across a young boy who was doing a great job of playing organ, I set about finding others. My playlist "Young Organists" now includes performances by more than 110 teens and preteens whose playing ranges from good to excellent. Some have the potential of becoming world class...

Young Gert van Hoef plays a wide variety of music... .....and his improvisations - wow! Here are improvisations on "Abba Vader u Alleen" and "Conquest of Paradise". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L16n1lpArNU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3u-y_2dPCg If you know of a better improvisation by...

Some have said that 18 year old Gert van Hoef's interpretation of the Toccata and Fugue in D minor is the best they have heard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEHGxpRoZQM You may know Gert's story: Only months after Gert's family got a home organ, he "cut his teeth" on this same Bach piece...

Young Gert van Hoef continues to amaze me! While my first love is classicalorgan music played on a pipe organ ...which Gert does with great proficiency, his other videos astound me with his skills and diversity. After just five years of playing, he has great...

It's always heartening to see young people who are dedicated to self improvement of any sort! I have found many budding young organists on YouTube who, I think, deserve attention and encouragement. To give these young people a wider audience, I have compiled a YouTube playlist "Young Organists"...

Hello! I'm a retired electronic technician, but have been a pipe organ enthusiast ever since I can remember! I am especially interested in the construction of organs. (I have completely worn out my copy of Barnes "Contemporary American Organ!) I am also into organ history, especially of organs...