Tagged as: Analog Equipment, Assistant Organist, Bach Toccata, Clare College Cambridge, D Minor, Fugue, Jsb, Largest Cathedrals, Nicholas White, Organ Scholar, Pipe Organs, Pipes, Washington Cathedral
Bach Toccata D Minor Washington Cathedral with Nicholas White
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful place indeed, I saw it in 1978. What was it, 100 years to finish ?
I concur, as a Church pianist who reconstructs demo arrangements on Contemporary Christian and does new interpretations of classic hymns on the fly. Disappointing that a satisfactory organ for training runs past $30k; I’ve never had that kind of money to invest in an instrument.
Subliminal advertising
Actually, an editing glitch from the old analog tapes in 1996.
What flashes on the screen at 2:22 and 2:23?
Dracula music!
Loved the music. My grandfather, Robert Lewis, was a Canon there for many years. He also modeled for a stained glass window in St. Mary’s Chapel there, and my parents were married in Bethlehem Chapel there. Many memories.
Have you really played an organ? Reading score for the organ is very difficult. I am an organist myself and know that! Mugging up music from sheet and then playing extempore is not called music redention. One looks on the sheet and plays anything instantaneously, like reading any book is called playing the music, like a professional!
Impressive and enlightning-a poetic performance–thank you!
i’ve been to this cathedral
I thoroughly enjoyed this performance – sheet music or no. This man is very gifted. I would give anything to have half of his talent.
It is not bad to use sheet music. However, when the score is in the head, instead of on paper, you tend to make a more personal interpretation of the music. It is also a sign of a real professional – at least in the preceding ers. Few organists of 50 years ago used music in recital. Today few can perform without it. Note also how few of the Modern organists play with the feeling of the old school. It is harsh, dry and very baroque,
I agree completely, I study organ at Edinburgh University and Im never without the music, I rarely actually see organists without the music infront of them because there is so many different things that they are doing, i think its just a silly thing that concert pianists do
what’s with everyone saying its bad to use sheet music? i used to be a percussionist and i knew everything pretty well but i still liked to keep something in front of me to read just in case..
absolutely amazing!!!!
I think needing the score is a sign of a true professional. Especially with the pipe organ, it is an incredibly difficult instrument to play.
I can play it perfectly without sheet music.
But I dont see the problem when you need sheet music to play it. Some people have better memories than others. The guy on this video played it well.
Good job.
when you can play it perfectly without sheet music, then we’ll talk.
Some of us have bad memories — or just need reassurance. I’ve sung Messiah maybe 40 times, & know the bass part by heart. But I still like to have that score in front of me
I never saw a serious organist,
who needed the score for THE PIECE.