☕ 10 Hauptwerk Organs YOU Should Consider Buying & WHY | My Hauptwerk Setup 

*What are YOUR favourite Hauptwerk organs? Links to Organ Recitals and Demonstrations using these organs:* *St Arnual:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EinPwoV7Fk8.html *Rotterdam Transept:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eVgrfaUTSq0.html *Alessandria:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JdP-Heugqng.html *Freiberg:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WQYkhnEQYG8.html *Essen:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NuXvInhGcuw.html *Caen:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cUQjG5op1KM.html *Rotterdam:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nMI2FxuFZyg.html *Gorlitz:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OaVP8CVcgOs.html *Haarlem:* ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-l_tm42RRNSQ.html

Hey coming to you from USA. I'm a bit diff from most of your other followers. I'm more known for my massive synth and bell rig. But I do have several and growing hauptwerk organs. Built my own custom 4man consol. It's all part of my rig. I'm liking the Rotterdam main organ. It has that... put you there ... clear sound in that church thats not mud. I play to a multi chan speaker setup so i can recreate the room well. I use it in music shows. Nothing like organ when an audience isn't quite expecting it to sound that real. Great solo stops the bring on the Tuttle. I know youre laughing now thinking I'm not serious organist. But I bring it all together in a show with lights etc. Chears

Re: The Rant. I am a listener, a pianist, not an organist. But over the years, I have found a key difference in the organists I've heard. That is their ability to 'play the hall' as well as playing the sheet music, tempo, etc. An example of this is a departed English concert organist who not only played the hall very well, but also, when it was in use, played to the tremolo - just as a singer would sing to, not in spite of their vibrato. You could tell that he was listening to key sounds boiling around in the space, as well as attending to what the composer might have intended. But I may have heard a downside: the live performances were a delight; the audio recordings not as much. Possibly because the microphones were not in the place where the audience might be. I have visited Haarlem several times, and found the church locked. Asking those that know, I was told that the congregation/support has become so slim that they could no longer afford to heat and light it, daily.

Out of these Organs my favourite has to be the Sonnenorgel in Görtitz, it has an absolutely enchanting sound

An updated video of this would be great! 😁

I am new to Hauptwerk and this is a fantastic overview of organs. Thank you Richard.

Sorry, friends, this might ramble on for a bit: Why? Well, because FIRSTLY this video has to be one of the VERY BEST tutorial-style videos produced (so brilliantly in every respect) by Richard thus far. No, NOT advertising, but a very, very, very useful and though-provoking essay' on the best Hauptwerk Sample sets. Just one complaint, before the thoughts and observations that follow, THANK YOU RICHARD for making me sit up and balk about just how much the Orme Family Purse has been made to suffer over the last couple of years, and all in the name of organ sound and reproduction perfection. From your list, I have in my 'garage' Rotterdam Transept (came with Rotterdam Package); Mercer; Alessandria (Oh ye of the mighty Tuba's YAY - totally infamous now amongst us HW noise-inspired 'sorry we can't help it' 'Choix des Trevor' registration happy little users); Caen; Rotterdam (the big one); Goerlitz (have to keep feeding the twittering and always hungry little birds) and that bank-busting daddy of them all, Haarlem. Each one has a 'special' place in my little world (mainly dependent upon what mood I'm in) and BiS (Bless you Richard for this) has a special hole-filling blob of sticky stuff lurking within the confines of the Orme Family Purse to help protect it, and 'moi', from the wrath of 'she who must be obeyed' whose sole thinking here is usually ... I want new shoes Trevor ... and a Handbag ... thanks a bundle" OBSERVATIONS & COMMENTS: Yes, HW has improved VASTLY, and I know of no other way, apart from actually being seated in the actual building (when it's empty) and having free uninhibited reign of the consoles, of being able to be totally IMMERSED (and, yes, thinking that you ARE actually right there, in the middle of the rolling sounds) in the sheer beauty, power and soul-enriching sounds of instruments, many, many of us can only DREAM about 'having a go' on. HW is, I have to admit rather sheepishly, like a drug ... I'm hooked, hook line and sinker and can't go a day without having (with headphones on) my daily dose. A dream come true. Costs be dammed, each sample set is, to me, worth A LOT MORE than what has been actually paid for it. Remember, too, that not many of us has a few million (Pounds, Euro's, Dollars, Goats) sitting around to duplicate the real thing, or an air fare slush fund big enough (Club/Business Class only please) to travel round and visit all of these instruments (usually in mid winter I have found Brrrrr). CONCLUSION: Two things sprung almost immediately to mind. Firstly, perhaps BiS could start up a fund-raiser for a Swell Oboe to be installed in the swell box (I'm sure they could squeeze it in) of Rotterdam's favourite BiS instrument. Wouldn't it be great if we could present the church authorities with a cheque (check) when we all gather there, as I know we all want to, for our first BiW fun-packed social and musically-enriching gathering (complete with a refurbished Naughty Corner), and to have a plaque placed there with BiS mentioned as the donor! Secondly: Richard, can we have MORE wonderful videos like this one (you would make a fantastic lecturer I'm sure) on differing aspects of what the best HW organs would be, in your knowledge and opinion, for different scenarios such as .... accompanying Choral Evensongs (full blown with Psalms, Settings and Anthem), Hymn Playing etc., etc. AND FINALLY, LASTLY, AND, YES, IN CONCLUSION, Great Rants. Couldn't agree more. No where is your so-called rant on letting music breath better illustrated and demonstrated than in your little 'insertion' of you playing the final few bars of dear old Widor's Toccata. How I REJOICED to see how you did it so perfectly, both in timing, speed, articulation and every other 'this is the best way to actually do it' instructional snippet ever made. Brilliant. This piece is so often RUINED by its ending ... you have to let the last two chords 'SOUND' clearly, individually, and with just the right 'gap' between them, and played with feeling for the acoustic, not rushed as if to say ... thank goodness I got to the end in one piece! Thank you again, Richard. May we PLEASE have more videos like this. Score? 10/10 (100%)

I love the Melcer too - just clear and pure. 100% agree with you!

Thanks for this! I'm thinking about adding Hauptwerk to my Johannuss at church. I have ZERO clue how to get started so these videos are a great help to me.

I like your list Richard, so I think I shall make my own of my sample sets. 5. Friesach: as you have said, it really is one of the best free organs. The principals sing, the reeds thunder, the flutes are sweet. The solo stops are very good. 4. Altenbrach: with stops dating back to 1497, this is the essential baroque organ, ultimate clarity and sharpness. 3. Redeemer church: a free Aeolian Skinner and 50 stops to play with? Hell yeah! 2. PAB: now known as mupa, this organ for the longest time was the biggest organ on hauptwerk. It has everything from fantastic strings that skinner would gush over, strong principals, and reeds for days. It has both a solo tuba, and a separate division for its amazing 16 8 and 4 chamades. You will never run out of colors with this organ. 1. Rotterdam: Sonus Parodisi's masterpiece. This organ is the ultimate sample set because it comes closest to the real thing imo. I played this sample and I think I am next to real ranks of pipes. No other sample has been able to do that. Next set will be Nancy.

What a wonderfully interesting program, Richard. I learn so much from your comments and waffling on VC and during more specialized sessions like this. Hugely grateful for you and what your are making available on RU-vid.

This was a great video, so clear on the benefits of each of the organs with so much information shared as to why you would buy them (or not). I'm yet to buy my first organ (because Grabowski has so many free ones and I'm still enamoured with those), but I think the Freiberg Silbermann will be my first investment. If I win the lottery, then I'll give Haarlem a spin to see what all the fuss is about.

I’m glad to hear that someone else likes the Rotterdam transept too. I’ve been using it for years because it is so clear.

Personally been using the Albee Wurlitzer set, absolutely brilliant set, especially dry and truncated, into a good and well tuned convolution reverb. Works a treat!

Thanks Richard for sharing your enthousiasm about the organs! I can also recommend a new sample of a Dutch organ built by Schitger and Hinsz in Noordbroek. An excellent instrument for Buxtehude etc. Really, really beautiful recorded by Sonusparadisi. By the way: have you tried the Bätz-organ in the Domkerk Utrecht? Also recorded by Sonusparadisi. I think you also really like this organ.

I really enjoyed this. Bravo!! I have to admit, Rotterdam has become a favorite for me - and I was astonished to realize how "old" it is - so well recorded. Amazingly, I also did not have it in my stable prior to meeting BiS, now a year ago for me - what a great year it has been! Caen is thrilling and fills in what Rotterdam lacks - so I guess I am agreeing with your conclusions! Now we need a modern-recording of an English organ... .. ..

Extremely informative production... I’m glad I watched this. Thanks so much Richard!

Wonderful to hear so many wonderful pieces and so many wonderful organs so expertly played.

Thank you Richard for this video. I have a number of sample sets in my wish list and thanks to you, I now have a couple more.

I find it interesting that the people at Sonus Paradisi fully acknowledged the lack of a French Oboe in Rotterdam and even "thought of adding one virtually", but then did not do so. Considering what a small addition that would be to what is already there, I'm stunned that they chose not to. Perhaps if enough users asked for it, Sonus Paradisi could add oblige them at some point. Thak you for the excellent critiques in this video.

Great video Richard. It’s amazing how 3 years can change things a lot. Still don’t want to be a sampler???😜🤣

Thank you for the great presentation and advice ! I'll keep these in mind

Richard: What is your favorite organ for playing the French baroque repertory? Do you use the St.-Maximin organ?

A fascinating discussion. I certainly enjoyed the Silbermann recital and using a totally untechnical term, the organ 'sings'. To me as a listener, rather than a player, this is what is important. Is the organ in question a musical instrument? Many are not! When Chaplain at Bedford School, someone described the chapel as the best stop on the organ - what looked on paper nothing special punched above its weight because of a gallery position and sympathetic acoustic when the chapel was less than half full. I was lucky enough to hear the Haarlem organ in September 2017 on the Open Monuments weekend which allowed the public to visit the console to see and hear the instrument. It was a revelation - this was a baroque instrument and not a neo-baroque instrument. The wealth of foundation stops and colours meant that this was a very musical instrument. I expressed astonishment that you could play Howells on it (provided you had an army of registrars!). I thought this came out so clearly in the Trio Sonata - there are mutations which can be added but variety of 8' and 4' stops gave clear voices which did not grate on the ear. One wonders in a few years, if we just have a few surviving pipe organ of merit and these sampled will replace organs in many churches. I am not sure what I think about that!

Thank you for playing the first song (bwv552) of Clavier Übung 3. It's one of my favorite songs and I usually listen to it. I was very happy.

Don’t ever intend to be a sampler… That changed, and I think we’re all glad!😊

Very interesting and helpful video. Funnily, every organ seems to be your favourite.

Very interesting video! Great Job Richard and as Dutchman a bit proud your opinion of three organs from the Netherlands in your top 10 list! Now I would like to request something. Can you make a top 5 or top 10 from the free available samplesets? 😊

Very interesting even to a non organist

In your travels, have you experienced any chimes in the various sample sets? I prefer chimes in certain liturgical situations.

Greetings Richard, I enjoy listening to you play as well as many other organists, I plan to buy my self a organ that looks and sounds like Notre Dame De Paris, If you know where I may find such things please let me know, send links if you can. Thanks! 😁

LOVE THIS CHANNEL BRO!!

I would get these samples but they are quite costly for me especially Rotterdam Hoofdorgel. But these are perfect also can you try the Domkerk Utrecht sample set please.

Aha! 21:20 the lack of an Hobo stop.... also very much wished for by the organist in Rotterdam (Hayo Boerema)....

I don't know if you own it, but I would be very curious to hear some pieces on the Casavant in Bellevue, Washington, also by Sonus Paradisi, as well as a review and your thoughts on it. I own the organ but I would be curious to hear impressions and repertoire from somebody who is infinitely more skilled than I. :-)

I want Haarlem so bad!

Good info. Will donate a like to every video in which you actually wear organ shoes. 🤣

OMG tulips on your organ 🤣😜😂

Excellent!! Thanks!

The costs of the sampled sets are tiny compared to the detached house you need to buy with a large enough room to fit the console and speakers. I'm new to these set ups annd haven't quite figured out how it all works. For example what to do with a sampled set with more stops than what you have? Or more manuals, and the names of stops are different.

I still adore Llandaff as my favorite

thank you soo mutch

_"...I'm not an organ sampler and I don't ever intend to be..."_ ... 2 years later ... *BOOM!* Now you are 😀

I love the Mascioni in Giubiasco, Switzerland again a free instrument from Piotr Grabowski

These are some great organs. If I may ask, what are your thoughts on the 1741 Hinsz Organ of the Bovenkerk in Kampen, The Netherlands as sampled by Milan digital audio?

Richard - are there any UK Hauptwerk organs you've tried (and enjoyed)?

Loved the video. Very informative. I do have the Father Willis 1877. I mix everything with several synthesizers and a 12 stop home pipe organ which doesn’t really blend at all but it’s fun to play. My system is windows 8.1 with 16 Gig ram. I’m still running Hauptwerk 4.2. Everything seems to work well. Is it worth updating to windows 11 and Hauptwerk 8x ? Thanks

Richard, thank you for this video giving a brief glimpse of the wonderful instruments you have at your disposal. I heartily agree with your comments regarding Haarlem, it really is a superb sample set. I very much enjoyed the recent Bach recital on the Freiberg Silberman, it just goes to show what wonderful results can be obtained on a smaller organ. Personally I find it a great shame that the seem to be no sample sets of english organs in surround, but we live in hope.

Hello Richard thank you for this usefull video. I am considering to buy Hauptwerk but first I have a (technical) question about this. I have a Johannus Opus 910 organ (dutch brand) with 2 manuals and pedal. All manuals and pedal have a midi-connection. My dream is to buy Hauptwerk from the Cavaillé-Coll organ in Caen (France) which has originally 3 manuals (Grand Orgue, Positif, Récit). However I'm missing 1 manual. Is it possible to switch from manual (from Positif to Récit for example) in the Hauptwerk software? Thank you in advance!

Hi Richard, thank you very much for your fantastic channel! I just got a new laptop today and bought the Hauptwerk software - do you have any advice for good forums on set up as I am experiencing some lag between key going down and sound! Thank you in advance!

I loved it!

Based only on this video and my smart phone listen, Haarlem is the clear winner with a close tie for second between Melcer , Laurenskirk (sp?), and Rotterdam main. In other words, I like clarity and distinctiveness of tone and timbre without harshness. Not sure I will have anything more than headphones for a while so more details such as dry/wet recording, bit depth of samplings (44 vs 48 vs 96k) and how they sound when played in stereo vs surround might be nice if you ever redo this video. PS no need to pop viewer front to side, it's kind of distracting from the conversation illusion that you are talking to the viewers. One of those ideas that's seems good in theory, but really has no benefit and costs time and effort for you. Thanks for the excellent overview. PPS Was Haarlem the organ famous for being played by Mozart?

Hello Richard, this was a very interesting video about your favorite Hauptwerk sample sets. One question I have for you is during this video, when you're demonstrating a particular sample set, I am presuming that the audio of the organ I'm hearing is the sound of the organ coming through your particular set of speakers and amplifiers in your room - am I correct? Thanks for such an interesting review of some of the major sample sets.

Have you also your opinion about the MDA Cavaille-Coll Metz sample set?

I prefer 8 speakers per division and 4 subs Love Polk Audio with Crown amps

The 32'Reed In Haarlem is actually a 19th century addition......It wasn't there in the original.

The recently renovated organ at York Minster would be ripe for Hauptwerk inclusion??

No transposer, and so sustain feature (Bell like fading away effects). Allen organ has both features available, sustain and transposer.

Thanks Richard, a really useful and informative video. It’s a shame that, at the moment, samples from Piotr Grabowski are not available in the UK due to Brexit. I know he is trying to sort this out and hope it doesn’t take too long! Alessandria could well be the one for me as it sounds amazing and is within my price range. Anyway, thanks again for demonstrating and talking us through these wonderful organs, Richard, I really enjoyed the video.

Too bad that they haven't sampled the Franz Caspar Schnitger and the 1511 Covelens organs in the Laurenskerk in Alkmaar. Or the 4 manual Arp Schnitger in the Jakobikirche in Hamburg

Richard Thank you for this - when you load a 4 manual organ to nplay on your 3 manual console what do you find is the best arrangement to make? I have Hereford and I have set the solo to play on the Choir manual but I wonder if there is a better way to arrange it? Peter Barrie

I was forced to abandon HW after they changed the whole system in the recent version a year or so ago and I lost my advanced license with many purchased instruments (the HW4 I had has not been supported by my new OS). I really miss it but I’m not sure if I will ever be able to go back and put again more money into it. Moreover, it looks so complicated to me now with the iLok etc. :(

How about links on where to purchase these sample sets?

Where is the location the sample sets are installed to? I can only find the stock locations which are less than 1GB so can't have any sets installed there.

Dear Richard,....I hope you can see my complete answer

Any follow-up on English HW options?

thank's

As an Englishman, you cannot recommend any English organs that were sampled? Also, no organs by Organ Art Media were recommended. His sampling is really tops. For Buxtehude and N-German baroque music, Stade is perfect, and for Reger, Annaberg or Berlin by OAM would be better suited than Gorlitz. Also, you don't' play any French baroque music? You said in the beginning of the video that you were going to reveal another C-Coll in the works, but I didn't hear about it at the end.

I new to all this . Where can I bet more information on gear .

Organ is my favorite instrument powerful and the sound of what church is meant to be old hymns are better than modern Christian music and the voice of god in the instrument I call it the instrument of god

What is this small screen at 16:52 for?

Why no English ones?

obviously, this is not priced for the hobbyist. ; )

I fell asleep due to the time difference and couldn't listen to the live performance. I'm sorry.

DO NOT BUY CAEN (yet). Wait until Piotr Grabowski releases his sampling of the Nancy organ, which is a full CC 4 manual organ, it will be legendary. Also there's no way the Nancy organ will be even close to the price of the Caen one, so another reason to wait. Then, when you try both, you can compare the two, and make your decision.

no english; not your fault, but sad !

This is incredibly disappointing. While it's "truth in advertising" -- what Mr McVeigh likes -- all of the organs are limited to the North German sound. An Italian organ that sounds North German, a concert organ that sounds like, well, Haarlem, a French organ that can play Bach not Franck. I was hoping to hear the best English Cathedral Willis, the best American Skinner, etc. This is so limited!