Pipe Organs

[thomas_williams]

Do any of you play the organ (or wish you did)?  It seems ironic that I had never been to an organ concert until yesterday afternoon, for I always been facinated by this instrument and have listened to the radio program Pipedreams for more than five years.   But yesterday afternoon I finally did go to an organ recital at a church that had recently had their existing organ enlarged, enhanced and refurbished.  It was the first time I had ever experienced music performed live on an actual pipe organ (the exception being a combination pipe/electronic organ with pretty realistic sound, accompanying hymns in church).  It featured organist Carolyn Thibideau from Michigan performing works of Bach, Vierne, Daquin and others, as well as an original composition based on Lowell Mason hymn tunes, and closing with the magnificent singing of a hymn, "For All the Saints" (Ralph Vaughn Williams' setting).  It was a marvelous event that I will never forget.

So what are your thoughts?  Are you an orgnist?  (I am not    [yet]-- maybe someday)   Been to any organ concerts/recitals lately?  Attend a church with great organ music?  I would love to hear from you!

[Allan]

Your post is right up my alley.  I am a classically trained pianist and organist.  To  play the great compositions for the "King of Instruments" requires a solid grounding in the piano.  The great organists, like Virgil Fox, were adamant about constant piano practice.  At my home, I usually work on Bach and Liszt pieces (or perhaps some Mozowski studies) on the piano.  I have a three manual (that is, three keyboard) Allen digital organ (usually installed at churches) in my home.  It is a real blessing to have both at my disposal.  When faced with a difficult passage in an organ piece, I practice it on the piano (without pedal)--this forces me to really develop good technique.

I love the piano which is why I visit this forum.  But, in many instances, there is nothing like playing a great pipe organ.  The accumulation of centuries of knowledge that goes into the art and science of organ building is amazing.  I have an incredible tonal spread on my Allen organ.  The large 32' pedal stop has a pitch at approximately 8 cycles/second, and the high-pitched stop has a pitch at thousands of cycles/second!   The overtones (both harmonic and inharmonic) form incredibly rich and complex sounds.  In my instrument, I can even change the temperment so that I can play earlier music in a pitch closer to what hearers centuries ago heard!  It is a real experience to play in some keys that are more truly "in tune" (as you probably know, our current "equal-tempered" scale is a compromised system which allows us to play numerous keys on one keyboard).

Unfortunately, many of my pianist friends have been exposed to poor organs, poor organists or both.  But when a virtuoso gets hold of a great instrument, it is an amazing experience.  My pianist friends are really enthusiastic about Bach, Vierne, Franck and others as it can be played on a great sounding organ!

The literature of the piano and organ are unlike any other instruments.  We are truly fortunate as players.  Check out the website virgilfoxlegacy.com.  Click on the the "chronology" section and view the video clips and you will see some amazing playing (Fox played from memory the most monumental music).   Purchase his cd "The Bach Gamut" and the one in which he plays the famous Wanamaker organ.  

A while ago I played the large pipe organ (over 15,000 pipes) at the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California at a recital.  It was the highlight of my musical life!

[JK]

I am also a classical trained/training pianist and I've recently started the organ as well (about a year ago). What a fantastic instrument, I love it. Very confusing at first I found, especially reading from three seperate staves and trying to seperate your left hand from your feet! Vierne wrote some brilliant organ music, I'm also playing a sonata by Rheinberger, a composer I'd never heard of until recently, great music which reminds me of Brahms. As for spectacular organs the first one that comes to mind is that of the Royal Albert Hall here in London, it's just been renervated and sounds magnificent!

[Allan]

Interesting post, JK.  I have heard recordings of the organs at Royal Albert Hall and St. Paul's Cathedral.  There are also some very good organs designed by Willis in England.    Albert Schweitzer once said that the  organ at St. Sulpice in France was the most beautiful organ.  If you ever get to the States, make a point to hear the Wanamaker organ (check out the website wanamakerorgan.com), and the organs at Girard College and the Crystal Cathedral.    All the best in your studies!

[JK]

Interesting post, JK.  I have heard recordings of the organs at Royal Albert Hall and St. Paul's Cathedral.  There are also some very good organs designed by Willis in England.    Albert Schweitzer once said that the  organ at St. Suplice in France was the most beautiful organ.  If you ever get to the States, make a point to hear the Wanamaker organ (check out the website wanamakerorgan.com), and the organs at Girard College and the Crystal Cathedral.    All the best in your studies!

Thanks, I'll check out that site.  

[klavierkonzerte]

i'm piaist-violinst  and wish i could play the organ,i loved classical music because the organ, it so speritual and overwhelming.

[DarkWind]

I'd love to play the organ. How much do one of these digital organs cost? I just love the sound, the almost symphonic texture.

[thomas_williams]

As for spectacular organs the first one that comes to mind is that of the Royal Albert Hall here in London, it's just been renervated and sounds magnificent!

Not long ago the newly renovated organ at the Royal Albert Hall was featured on the Pipedreams radio program (a showcase for great organ music, its performers and instruments).  You can check out the show's website at www.pipedreams.org.  There are many good resources linked from the site, as well as an online photo album of organs from around the world.  And you can listen online.

And here's their photo of the Royal Albert Hall organ:

https://pipedreams.publicradio.org/gallery/united_kingdom/london_albertmander.shtml

[Allan]

Darkwind, digital organs are quite expensive.  However, you can sometimes find used organs on ebay.  To learn more about the company that built my instrument, go to www.allenorgan.com.