Virgil Fox (The Cziffra of the Feet!!)

[bach-liszt]

Here is a video clip of the organ virtuoso playing the famous Middleschulte solo for the pedals alone.  At one point Fox plays thirds (heel and toe) in one foot while the other foot plays a chromatic scale.  I have seen the music, it is brutal.

[pianistimo]

maybe he was born hyper?  his mother though 'aha, organ lessons will be good for him.'  as you say - the music is probably impossible to most.  i mean, thirds with one foot?  whew.  the great wannamaker organ at lord and taylors in philly is really neat.  also, i found out we have a pretty good one (big pipes) at ursinus college.  and, of course, there's one now at the kimmel center in philly.

once in california, i saw a homemade organ someone built right in the center of their home.  it was wild.  organ makers and organ players are usually quite eccentric and enjoy many other things besides organ playing. 

[thalbergmad]

the great wannamaker organ at lord and taylors in philly is really neat. 

Indeed, but you would need to be a basketball player to reach the 6th manual.

Thal

[pianistimo]

strange.  the fellow i saw was hunched over.  maybe he used a cane for the sixth manual.