Bob Castle, who played for decades as organist at Denver's Paramount Theatre, plays the Wu
Bob Castle, who played for decades as organist at Denver's Paramount Theatre, plays the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ in the Denver home of Dr Bruce Belshaw. As the console rises on the hydraulic lift from the pit, he plays strains from Puccini's Madame Butterfly. This is followed by his version of a popular tune dating from 1916, Poor Butterfly.
Dr Belshaw constructed his Denver home expressly to accommodate a large theatre organ. His son, Don, who works with the Denver organ-building firm Morel & Associates, spent years doing a thorough restoration and installation of this instrument. After the passing of Dr Belshaw, the residence was sold and the organ was sold and removed to a new location in the midwest.
This video shows extensive application of the theatre organ playing technique known as the "Crawford Slide," named after the person credited with its innovation, Jesse Crawford.
The complete 30-minute video includes a tour of the organ works and pipe chambers by Don Belshaw, an interview with Bob Castle and an interview and selections played by the home dweller, Dr Bruce Belshaw. It is available from www.zarex.com/bin and details are accessed by entering "9024" in the Search Box on the site.
(more)
(less)
Added: 3 months ago
Views: 3,952
Organist Frederick Hohman plays the ninth and tenth variations of the organ partita on the
Organist Frederick Hohman plays the ninth and tenth variations of the organ partita on the choral "Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig," S. 768, by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The organ is the 1970 Schlicker organ, 2 manuals and pedal, 31 ranks, at the First Lutheran Church of Lyons, New York. The organ is considered a hybrid, because, while it is mainly a mechanical-action instrument (tracker), it incorporates some electro-mechanical features. For example, the 16-foot pedal stops are on electro-pneumatic offset chests, and not tracker driven. Also, the organ has an electric stop action and a crescendo pedal, but a tracker swell shutter control.
The acoustics at First Lutheran Church of Lyons are much like the live acoustics found in eastern European churches from the 19th-century. The immigrants who made the plaster that lines the walls of the sanctuary used the same construction techniques they brought from Germany. First Lutheran Church of Lyons dates from 1830, and held services in German until the 1950s.
The Bach Partita on "Sei gegrüsset" is the longest of Bach's solo organ works. The ninth variation is in an organ Trio form, and the tenth variation presents the chorale tune phrase by phrase in augmentation. During variation ten in this video, we see the 10 tableaux which are located between the windows on the side aisles of the sanctuary where this video is performed. Since the chorale (English translation: "Hail to Thee, Blessed Saviour" is appropriate to Passiontide, this linking of visuals depicting the Stations of the Cross seems appropriate.
Frederick Hohman's website is: http://www.frederickhohman.net and his recordings and videos may be reviewed and purchased at http://www.zarex.com/bin
(more)
(less)
Added: 3 months ago
Views: 538
Organist Frederick Hohman plays the first portion of the organ partita on the choral "Sei
Organist Frederick Hohman plays the first portion of the organ partita on the choral "Sei gegrüsset, Jesu gütig," S. 768, by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The organ is the 1970 Schlicker organ, 2 manuals and pedal, 31 ranks at the First Lutheran Church of Lyons, New York. The organ is considered a hybrid, because, while it is mainly a mechanical-action instrument (tracker), it incorporates some electro-mechanical features. For example, the 16-foot pedal stops are on electro-pneumatic offset chests, and not tracker driven. Also, the organ has an electric stop action and a crescendo pedal, but a tracker swell shutter control.
The acoustics at First Lutheran Church of Lyons are much like the live acoustics found in eastern European churches from the 19th-century. The immigrants who made the plaster that lines the walls of the sanctuary used the same construction techniques they brought from Germany. First Lutheran Church of Lyons dates from 1830, and held services in German until the 1950s.
The Bach Partita on "Sei gegrüsset" is the longest of Bach's solo organ works. After the choral is heard on the "plenum" registration, we see the first 3 variations played. Variation one presents a highly-ornamented choral melody in the right hand against an accompaniment figure in the left hand. The second variation is a four-voice elaboration of the chorale, while the third variation is played on a 4-foot flute stop, with figures that only hint at the root chorale melody and its harmonies.
Frederick Hohman's website is: http://www.frederickhohman.net and his recordings and videos may be reviewed and purchased at http://www.zarex.com/bin
(more)
(less)
Added: 4 months ago
Views: 2,818
|
Organist Frederick Hohman is seen here in an excerpt the organ re-dedication concert of a
Organist Frederick Hohman is seen here in an excerpt the organ re-dedication concert of a circa 1900 vintage Bevington pipe organ (restored with new electric blower by Patrick J. Murphy & Associates) at St. James Parish in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
For several years during the 1990s, Patrick J. Murphy and Associates http://www.pjmorgans.com/ made annual excursions to Jamaica in order to maintain, and in many cases, revive ailing pipe organs in the island nation. Much of the organ maintenance for Jamaican organs had been handled by English firms, but this maintenance ceased when Jamaica became an independent nation.
Additional footage on the organ restored in this video, as well as the restoration work on another organ nearby, is seen in the complete 30-minute VHS video. Detail are accessed at http://www.zarex.com/bin when one enters 9004 in the Search Box.
The two short pieces heard in this video were composed by (Franz) Josef Haydn as works that would be reproduced by a device known as a Flötenührstücke, or a Flute Clock, which can be described simply as a clock which would mechanically reproduce brief music pieces on an attached pipe organ when the hour would strike. These notes of these pieces were originally encoded in devices resembling barrels set with pins, and when the pins in the rotating cylinders contacted the valves of the organ pipes, the pipes would play. The pieces were sometimes frantic and humorous, as is the second of the pieces heard here, subtitled "The Coffee Party." Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart also composed a piece or two for the Musical Clock or Flute Clock.
Patrick J. Murphy demonstrates the organ's manual winding system in this video. This winding method is normally a back-up device, for use only when electricity is unavailable. Normally, wind is supplied by an electric blower. The bellows levers are found on the side of the organ case opposite where the organist sits.
Frederick Hohman's website is: http://www.frederickhohman.net
(more)
(less)
Added: 4 months ago
Views: 1,383
In this video, we hear the last half of Jeffrey Smith's 16-minute organ transcription of t
In this video, we hear the last half of Jeffrey Smith's 16-minute organ transcription of the Adagio from Symphony No. 2, Op 27 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, as played by the transcriber, Jeffrey Smith. It is played on the magnificent 4-manual Schoenstein organ located in the Chancel of the sanctuary of Saint Paul's Parish, K Street, in Washington DC. This video was made in June 1997, when Jeffrey Smith was the Music Director at Saint Paul's Parish K Street.
During the 1940s, many show tunes and popular tunes were derived from classical music compositions. This work is certainly one of those, but its popularity dates from the mid 1970s. If you listen carefully, you'll hear strains of the melody made most popular by Eric Carmen, when he paired it with his lyrical refrain "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again."
This clip was originally a portion of Episode #15 of the Midnight Pipes television series, produced in the late 1990s. Of interest to organists is the way that various tone colors are placed on the 4 manuals of the organ, and how these colors always seem to change and alternate, just as the theme was passed from instrument to instrument in the original symphonic score.
This transcription was a part of the CD recording "Show Yourselves Joyful" (Pro Organo CD 7068), which combined organ solo tracks with many tracks featuring the fine choirs of Saint Paul's Parish, K Street. This CD is presently sold out. This same Jeffrey Smith transcription has been recorded by another fine organist, Dr John Cummins, and it is found on the current Pro Organo CD "Bravo Dolce" (Pro Organo CD 7219). This CD may be ordered through many resources, including Amazon.com as well as proorgano.com and zarex.com/bin .
(more)
(less)
Added: 5 months ago
Views: 3,956
The portion of the music selection that precedes the music conclusion in this video is fou
The portion of the music selection that precedes the music conclusion in this video is found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igKeOtDMZFo
Mark Laubach, 1984 Winner of the American Guild of Organist's national organ-playing competition, performs Cesar Franck's Final, Opus 21, from Franck's Six Pieces for organ, on the Berghaus organ at Grace Lutheran Church in the River Forest (Chicago), Illinois.
The video was made concurrently with recording sessions for Mark Laubach's second PRO ORGANO CD recording, entitled "FrenchFest" (Pro Organo CD 7052). This CD is now sold out in most places, and is only available through a few sources like Amazon, Ebay and through the church http://www.graceriverforest.org .
Mark continues to record for the Pro Organo label. His latest CD release is entitled "Mosaics in Sound" (Pro Organo CD 7210). Detail on this may be accessed by entering the product code 7210 in the Search Box at http://www.zarex.com/bin .
Mark Laubach has settled in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and has served as the director of music and organist at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church for many years. Incidentally, the organ at St. Stephen's was recently renovated by the same organ-builder that renovated the organ seen in this video, Berghaus Organ Company.
This video was originally a portion of a 30-minute episode of the Midnight Pipes television series. Details on the original VHS Hi-Fi NTSC home video of this episode may be accessed by entering the product code 9008 in the Search Box at http://www.zarex.com/bin .
This is the conclusion of the piece. Due to the 10-minute video time limit, most of the work is seen on a video posted earlier.
(more)
(less)
Added: 5 months ago
Views: 4,371
|
This video is an introduction to the choristers at St Mary's Music School and the choir of
This video is an introduction to the choristers at St Mary's Music School and the choir of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. We see the young choristers and organists as they prepare in June, 2006, for recording sessions for the Pro Organo CD "Hear My Words, Ye People."
The Choir of St Mary's Cathedral (Mother Church of the Diocese of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church) has been described by the Sunday Times as "one of the UK's finest cathedral choirs." It is unique in Scotland in maintaining a tradition of daily Anglican choral services. The choristers are educated at St Mary's Music School, Scotland's only specialist music school, which is also the choir school for the cathedral. St Mary's Cathedral became the first in the UK to offer girls scholarships to sing as trebles in 1978, and in 2006, became possibly the first British daily choral foundation to offer alto Choral Scholarships and Lay Clerk positions to women as well as men. St Mary's Cathedral website is: www.cathedral.net . St Mary's Music School website is: www.st-marys-music-school.co.uk
The choir is led in this video by Simon Nieminski www.nieminski.com , who at the time this video and CD were recorded, was Organist and Master of the Music. Mr Nieminski is still active in Edinburgh, but now concentrates upon his work as both a liturgical and concert organist. His new post is that of organist at St Mary's RC Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Also seen in this video is a principal of St Mary's Music School, and Judy Brown, an adult alto in the choir. Organists seen in the video are Organ Scholar Ruaraidh Sutherland and Assistant Organist Duncan Ferguson.
Music heard in the video: At the choir rehearsal, and also the organist's rehearsal, we hear excerpts from the extended anthem entitled "Hear My Words, Ye People" by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry. In the recording session video in the Cathedral, the choir sings "O for a closer walk with God" by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. The Stanford anthem can be downloaded as a high-quality MP3 file for only US$1.00 by finding it in the Choral section of the download site: www.mypipes.org
The organ of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, seen and heard in this video is a 1870s vintage Father Henry Willis organ, which has been maintained and well cared for over many decades by Harrison & Harrison. Harrison and Harrison's website is: www.harrison-organs.co.uk
The Pro Organo CD "Hear My Words, Ye People" CD 7208, is available from www.zarex.com/bin and at www.proorgano.com , as well as from many other retailers in the USA, UK and Europe, including www.arkivmusic.com .
(more)
(less)
Added: 5 months ago
Views: 3,849
Mark Laubach, 1984 Winner of the American Guild of Organist's national organ-playing compe
Mark Laubach, 1984 Winner of the American Guild of Organist's national organ-playing competition, performs Cesar Franck's Final, Opus 21, from Franck's Six Pieces for organ, on the Berghaus organ at Grace Lutheran Church in the River Forest (Chicago), Illinois.
The video was made concurrently with recording sessions for Mark Laubach's second PRO ORGANO CD recording, entitled "FrenchFest" (Pro Organo CD 7052). This CD is now sold out in most places, and is only available through a few sources like Amazon, Ebay and through the church http://www.graceriverforest.org .
Mark continues to record for the Pro Organo label. His latest CD release is entitled "Mosaics in Sound" (Pro Organo CD 7210). Detail on this may be accessed by entering the product code 7210 in the Search Box at http://www.zarex.com/bin .
Mark Laubach has settled in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and has served as the director of music and organist at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church for many years. Incidentally, the organ at St. Stephen's was recently renovated by the same organ-builder that renovated the organ seen in this video, Berghaus Organ Company.
This video was originally a portion of a 30-minute episode of the Midnight Pipes television series. Details on the original VHS Hi-Fi NTSC home video of this episode may be accessed by entering the product code 9008 in the Search Box at http://www.zarex.com/bin .
Due to the 10-minute maximum time limits on music videos on YouTube, and since this work exceeds 10 minutes, we have posted the conclusion of this music selection separately. It is found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge5Uh1_Giq8
(more)
(less)
Added: 6 months ago
Views: 4,082
Frederick Hohman performs the first movement of Georg Frideric Handel's Organ Concerto in
Frederick Hohman performs the first movement of Georg Frideric Handel's Organ Concerto in F, Opus 4 #4, in a solo organ transcription made by William Thomas Best, upon the 1969 Noel Mander organ located in the Christopher Wren designed sanctuary church of St. Mary Aldermanbury, which was originally located in London, and which was reconstructed in the 1960s on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, USA.
The organ in the gallery of this Christopher Wren sanctuary was commissioned from noted English organ-builder Noel Mander. The organ employs an authentic period English organ case, and the organ contains some pipework dating from the early 18th-century, during a time when Handel had been active as a musician in England.
The Winston Churchill Memorial and Library in the United States is a noteworthy tourist attraction in central Missouri, USA. In the area that originally served as the undercroft of the church sanctuary, one can find the permanent archives and exhibits of the Winston Churchill Memorial. The organ selection seen in this video is a part of a 30-minute episode of the Midnight Pipes television series, of which Frederick Hohman (organist seen in this video) was the principal artist and host. This episode was recorded in July, 1996.
The selection heard in this video is also heard on a PRO ORGANO CD recording made by Frederick Hohman in March, 1994, entitled "The English Connection." This CD is still in print and may be acquired from several retail sources, including Amazon.com. Full product and purchase details may be accessed by entering the CD catalog number 7029 in the Search Box at http://www.zarex.com/bin .
The VHS Hi-Fi NTSC video of this complete episode from the Midnight Pipes series is still available. Details may be accessed by entering the product code 9006 in the Search Box at http://www.zarex.com/bin .
Frederick Hohman was elected to become a Churchill Fellow and was inducted on 29 March 1998 at a ceremony held in the same location as seen in this video.
(more)
(less)
Added: 6 months ago
Views: 5,132
|
|
See All 18 Videos
|
