If you’re a fan of the harpsichord concerti of JS and CPE Bach as I am, this is a fun organ transcription of JS Bach’s Harpsichord concerto in D Major, BWV 1054:
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Very much enjoyed that. All 17 minutes of it. He seems quite comfortable with the instrument as
he playfully rolls his fingers on the keys and even crossed his feet around each other and used them to accent the notes at around 13 minutes in…
The video does a great job at demonstrating the complexity of the organ too and really explores
the spaces of the church several times throughout…
Could have used a bit more cowbell though 
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Hmmmm … cowbells… then you need theater organs:
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Cool! I didn’t catch the cowbell but that one sure moved faster, especially at the 2 min mark where it really switched gears! Less emphasis on the footwork but, yeah, it was pretty neat. Was in the middle of Tom and Jerry when it popped up and it shared the same vibe.
Cowbell thing was just a joke as per usual Doc. It’s an old Saturday Night Live skit with Christopher Walken. “I need more cowbell”
Thanks for the post. Helped me wind down for the night
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Always glad to share some music. Hills is one of the best theater organists out there (an art that very nearly died out along with the instrument itself). By the way, that organ was a real “Mighty Wurlitzer”. They’re hard to find in restored condition, but a blast to play. And yes, they DO have cowbells, pistol shots, cymbals, tambourines, pianos, slide whistles…
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You can begin to appreciate how real tough that organ is to play.
You’ve really got to be on your game!
Unforgiving instrument.
Probably whyl its music is unparalled, in comparrison to others.
Besides having to be built beyond; what most people are even aware of.
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For sure Robert… it’s the king of instruments, as Mozart said.
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I really enjoyed listening and viewing the playing of this music. I was struck by how energetically this instrument (organ) can be played! Beautiful church as well.
A nearby town, Downers Grove, IL has a Wurlitzer organ at its Tivoli Theater. It’s played on Friday evenings before the movie presentation.
I’m an audiophile and I enjoy listening to some of Jean Guillou’s recordings that I have. I also have a double lp album of Ormandy’s Bach’s Greatest Hits which I love.
My favorite organ piece is the Saint Seans Symphony No. 3. I have several versions and so far my favorites are the Paul Paray (Mercury) and Ansermet’s (Phillips), both available on cd.
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THE best St Saens Organ symphony is the Chicago Symphony under Daniel Barenboim, and Gaston Litraize on a Cavaille-Coll (a powerful instrument, and of the type played by Saint-Saens himself). Other performances do not do the instrument nor Saint-Saens’ vision in that awesome final movement justice.
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Thanks much for this information, I will certainly try to obtain the cd. From an audiophile perspective I do prefer the instrument to be powerful and evocative.
I take it that this is the performance you are referring to?
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Yes… you can listen to the performance of the finale movement here:
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That’s a magnificent piece … I don’t have a big sound system at home, but was in my car one day when our local classical music station played that piece and I sat in the parking lot, volume up on the car stereo, surrounded by that grand finale, almost too big for words.
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It really DOES sound good in a nice sound system… Saint-Saens wrote that he had poured all he had into that entire symphony, and it shows… the two fugues in the finale are proof… In my opinion a vastly underrated composer…
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Wow, that was fantastic. The power of the Chicago Symphony with Gaston Litaize seems to be perfectly matched. I’ll add this to my collection for sure.
My brother was a music major (trombone) in the mid seventies at DePaul University in Chicago. He raved about the CSO and Solti and has many happy memories. He’s also bonkers about the Berlin Philharmonic (I think it has to do with their strong horn section😀) and has a podcast subscription for their performances.
Thanks again and,
Happy listening!!
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