Thanks Howard - really appreciate your kind words. Do check out my website for my cool audio cd and new theatre organ music book :) www.tomhorton.co.uk Tom
Absolutely FABULOUS introduction to theatre/cinema organ registration -- surely most useful to those who wonder what sounds we're hearing as these instruments are played!
Thanks - lots of people have found it useful, so I'm pleased you did too :) Tom ---------- Like my videos? Support my channel today: www.patreon.com/keyboardskillspro
This is SO fascinating, how just a few subtle changes in stops make such a big difference in the mood, brightness, etc., of the sounds. I'm a HUGE silent movie fan, and I think of examples of similar sounds as you've demonstrated in various settings and moods (sad, funny, pensive, etc.). Just wish I could play around with these: heck, you'd never get me off the bench! :-) Thank you!
I just love the sound of that Wurlizer organ. I played el-organs and keys almost my hole life. Maybe someday I can play one of them. Big hand for Thomas` teaching and playing! It very rear opportunity to learn theather organ registrations and playing styles. I think changing sounds is very challenging while playing.
As an enthusiastic listener (only) of all types of organs, I really enjoyed listening to this. With regard to classical organs, surely many of them do have tremulants over at least part of the organ (maybe gentler) even if some organists seem reluctant to use them? But I'm only a listener so happy to be corrected by all pro musicians! Again, a very enjoyable video, thank you.
Thank you so much for the positive comments David. Yes many pipe organ have tremulants but they are normally avoided by pipe organists. They can be used to good effect with Solo reed stops like Oboe etc Tom
I hate the tremulants. I don't want an instrument to sing like an opera singer, or sound goofy (like a haunted house). That is the my biggest peeve and turn off with these and electric ones (with the Leslie, designed to do what's in the video). It's amazing that they can be played without them. Just the diapason alone, as all that's needed.
Just an extra little thought. If you are lucky enough to have a Brass saxophone rank, I'd say it's best thought of as a brighter Vox Humana, with a bit more of a wail. The sound is somewhere between an orchestral oboe and a vox, and can be a good substitute for either.
Another great video/ tutorial. Really appreciate your efforts, bud! I learned several things from this, and it made me go fire the organ up at 12:15 at night so I could hear these registrations in person. Nice!
I've been trying to learn theatre organ and balancing the registrations and your video has been fantastic help and given me some good starting points! Thank you. :D
Tom, many thanks for an informative and very well put together video. I enjoy your playing very much and can highly recommend your CD "Strike Up The Band" using the lovely Cotton Wurlitzer (featured on this video) to fellow theatre organ fans. All the best Keith
Thanks Tom, not so bad thank you. The CD is great, with a varied programme that makes full use of a very fine Wurlitzer. I hope to be able to hear you play live soon, all the best for the future. Keith
Gday from Oz... really really appreciated... I have the chance for some time on a three manual Christie in the next few days and this has given me a really good head start on figuring some registrations before I go.
+Dave Mac pleased to hear that Dave - thanks for the positive words. Have fun on the Christie! I have family in the Port Macquarie area but have yet to visit the land down under! More theatre organ videos coming soon! Tom
The music featured in this video is: As Time Goes By A Nightingale Dang In Berkeley Square Polka Dots and Moonbeams Feel My Love (Bob Dylan/Adele) Five Foot Two What’ll I Do (Irving Berlin) Unforgettable That’s Entertainment All other music is improvised.
Hi Not all did - draw stops remain the staple design. Hope jones applied his tongue shaped stops to his pipe organs, which then transitioned into theatre organ consoled.
Well said. Classical organist and jazz pianist here, there's very little you can't do with a church organ. That said, I had a first play through Thomas Trotter's 'Sleigh Ride' arrangement today and it's crying out for a second touch!
Good question. They tell which chamber the pipe rank is in. In this case there are two chambers: MAIN & SOLO The main chamber generally contains less theatre organ style pipes i.e Diapason, strings, trumpet etc. The Solo chamber contains more theatre style ranks such as Tibia, Vox, Kinura plus the traps and percussion Thanks for watching - please subscribe!
Keyboard Skills Pro thank you! I was wondering that for a year. Your videos are very helpful for people who only play church organ and mever played before a theater one.
I read a marvellous old book from the library THE CINEMA ORGAN BY REGINALD FOORT . I learnt all the basic facts and how Reg used to record the organ using a van connected to the POST OFFICE telephone lines. If you accidentally dialled that line you heard his music !
Difficult one to use as it is such a quiet stop. You could try it as a solo stop perhaps bolstered with a Flute @ 8ft. Try playing the RH melody in the Tenor area of the great/solo I.e octave below middle C. With a very quiet Accomp the Vox can sing out!
I really liked the subject & the information was really interesting, BUT that weird random thumping noise in the background really gets on my last nerve... (I don't know what it is, but it sounds like somebody thumping an empty cigar-box at odd moments every few seconds-very annoying & distracting.) Apart from that, very interesting & informative video.
Thanks Paul The sound is the organ stop action as the mike was on the console! Early video days so have learnt about mike placement plus invested in better equipment :) Tom
