Thank you for demonstrating this magnificent instrument! It seems to be underappreciated in the DC area because of the organ at the National Cathedral. The acoustics at National City Christian Church are wonderful and the organ is well matched to them. I have attended concerts performed on this organ, but it was great to hear it stop by stop and learn about the instrument in detail. Thank you!!!
I do not know who is having more fun, me watching this or Paul Fey playing. Anyone can tell that he just totally enjoys making totally awesome music. Paul is a stellar organist!!
Quite an impressive very large pipe organ. Paul does a wonderful job of demonstrating this huge array of stops within a short period of time. Lots of power all combined. The "American organ" sound. Thanks for presenting this organ. The English handbells are very nice and unique also.
@classicfan822 Moller was a Danish organ company that built organs ranging in different styles. This organ so happened to be built and designed in the Neo classical era of organ building in America. The stops are labeled in German, French, and English. It would have been a failure on Moller if the organ sounded like a german organ and also to my organ teacher who designed the specifications for this organ. It truly is an amazing organ, but it is not German nor is the organ company.
@classicfan822 It's okay. The swell and the choir might be the only divisions that sound American since most of the pipe work was done by Skinner during the 1930s.
MP Moller emigrated from Denmark in 1872 at the age of 18, eventually built a large factory in Hagerstown, Maryland. They were known for mass production of smaller pipe organs . The factory built organs there until going bankrupt in 1992. Moller died in 1937. For a time they tried to compete against Aeolian Skinner in building larger organs.
Thank you, Paul, for yet another wonderful demonstration of this very large instrument. No doubt it can be a dream to play. So happy you had this opportunity as you continued your American tour.
I have heard this glorious organ in person many times. As Paul shows in this excellent video, it has an impressive range of sounds and colors; ranging from the very soft and ethereal to the FULL organ. The chamade trumpets are spectacular, but also blend well other stops. It can play any genre of organ music (from early baroque to symphonic) very well. Very much worth a special trip if you are in the DC area.
Wonderful! I always enjoy your videos, Paul. As an amateur organist, all of the stops on this magnificent instrument were marvelous! The Pausane on the Pedal was impressive. But the powerful Trumpet stops, including the massive Trompette-en-Chamade-were unbelievable!
*WOW!!!* That finale literally shook my house, since I have a pretty potent sound system with some 16" powered woofers.😮 What a beast of an organ.. from whisper to wide open!! Thank you Paul for an in-depth look at one of the most powerful pipe organs in the country.😍♬🎶♬👍
Hi...this is awesome presentation of the different organ stops. Novice can also understand the difference and hear it clearly. I still wonder that 64' stop...should it give some infra sounds under 16 Hz?
OMG Paul. A 64, plus Chimes and Toys. I may just have to move to the US East Coast. But here on the US West Coast we have genuine flying penguins. Sometimes I need to seriously sort my life priorities. 😀🐧
I'm picturing an animated short of these organs, depicted as giant rival monsters made mostly of pipes and with many limbs, wrapped around their respective buildings, dueling singing to one another. Either one of those Leviathans is capable of swallowing the organist whole and spitting out the bones. As a very part time organist, I find them terrifying - the largest pipe organ I've ever played was a century- old beauty in a tiny church in a tiny town, and was adorable - it had about 15 stops.
Thanks for this demo! I remember watching the organ with the ‘handbell stop’ when I was young (on a VHS tape), but never remembered WHERE that organ existed until YOU demonstrated with this video! Thanks for solving a 35 yr mystery for me and for your significant contribution to organ/church music.
Finally, one of Europe’s finest organists here among us. I hope his tour of the organs of the United States enable this superb organist to demonstrate for all organ aficionados worldwide to see and hear the wealth of magnificent instruments we are privileged to have here. Does anyone know Paul’s intended itinerary here the extent of public performance. Also, are there any American organs in the Hauptwerk company’s offerings?
What a bloody magnificent instrument! It amazing what you can do when money was obviously no object in the planning and execution of the making of this wonderful organ. I'm an English ex organ builder and I'm jealous as anything not to have had the opportunity to work on the building of,nand then listen to this very fine instrument, played by this excellent young organist!
Wonderful demonstration I am glad that you enjoyed the "Large Moller" in DC. National City Christian Church's first pipe organ was built by the Ernest M. Skinner Organ Company in Boston, Massachusetts, and installed in 1930. The organ, Op. 824, had four manuals, 54 ranks, and 3,514 pipes. It was a true E.M. Skinner-style organ, with its large diapason stops, lush strings, and colorful orchestral reeds. While stationed at the chapel of Walter Reed Medical Hospital during the Second World War, Virgil Fox practiced and performed recitals on the organ. As one of its last major musical offerings before being reworked, this organ accompanied Leontyne Price at the state funeral of Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973. 45 years after it was built, the Möller organ company of Hagerstown, Maryland, extensively rebuilt the Skinner organ in 1976. This 105-rank instrument was created under the direction of Donald M. Gillette and Ronald F. Ellis and under the guidance of Lawrence Schreiber, Minister of Music. Skinner's organ was revoiced and divided into various divisions within this new instrument, using about 30 ranks. Only eight were preserved in their original, untouched condition (English Horn, Flute Triangulaire, Flute Harmonique, pedal Principal, Contra Bass, among others). Local and national donors contributed funds for Möller's landmark organ, which embodied the best of "American Classic" organ building. Among its highlights were its colorful flute and reed stops and 30-rank pedal division, which included Möller's signature "harmonics" stops. Recitals in the first season featured Lawrence (Lon) Schreiber, Virgil Fox, Marylin Mason, Clyde Holloway, Albert (Al) Russel, and Robert Baker. In 1980-81 a major renovation of the sanctuary caused a major affect on the organ causing a gallery organ to be built to help fill the room but also cover the ugly wall in the balcony. The Washington Post called the Trompette en Chamade "the most commanding sound DC ever heard." According to my teacher Lawrence Schreiber, the quote from the Washington Post did diminish the reputation of the En Chamade at the National Cathedral and the Pontifical Trumpet in the National Shrine. In 2003 digital additions were made to thing organ such as the 16' Diapason in the Great, and the famous 64' Double Ophicleide in the Pedal. Surprisingly, I learned a few months ago that in 1975 Aeolian-Skinner was supposed to do the work but because the stock market crashed at that time all of the pipes that Aeolian-Skinner made were sent to Saint Barts Church in New York. One stop in particular was named by Schreiber for a "theological reason" which was the Schweitzerfife 1' which is a Sifflote named in tribute to Albert Schweitzer. Same thing for the Howland Tuba, the EM Skinner Tuba Mirabilis was renamed in honor of Rev. William Howland who contributed greatly to the funding of this organ. Difference between National City and First Baptist is not really the style but it is actually the voicing. National City has a tame organ really. It is just the acoustics that amplifies the organ. First Baptist on the other hand is a BRUTAL instrument (in a good way). The Tubas are very loud, I just might say deafening. And the Contra Posaune 32' has no mercy unlike the Kontra Posaune at National City. Here is a RU-vid link of LBJ's funeral which you can hear the former Skinner Organ. (LBJ was an active member of National City and was really good friends with Dr. Lawrence Schreiber who was organist from 1960-2000) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ea-YEksYTwQ.html *Most of this information was given by my teacher Lon Schreiber who was also a metaphorical son/friend to Virgil Fox and from the November 1985 issue of the American Organist which has the cover photo of the original 5 manual Moller console.
Actually, Aeolian-Skinner ceased operations in 1972 (the expansion of the organ at the National Cathedral was accomplished by a team of former Aeolian-Skinner employees, if I recall correctly). They must have handed Moller the contract after this and Moller did a surprisingly good job! It seems that the tutti has just a bit of the harshness that I sometimes hear from Mollers of this era, but there is a lot of beauty in this instrument. Twenty years after Aeolian-Skinner, unfortunately, it was Moller's turn to go out of business.
@citylimits8927 Correct. To be more specific, Anthony A. Bufano, Don Gillette, and a few more former employees had the pipes shipped to St Barts. Don Gillette did most of the voicing on this organ, which might explain why the organ sounds similar to Aeolian Skinner Organs. To be off-topic a little bit while the National Cathedral organ work was done mostly by Aeolian Skinner, National Presbyterian Church is a better Aeolian Skinner organ than National Cathedral because all of the work was done by Aeolian Skinner.
@@StoreeDenson Yes, Gillett (not Gillette) had moved to Moller from Aeolian-Skinner when the latter went out of business and he was probably responsible for the success of this instrument. The St. Bartholomew's instrument and the one for the Kennedy Center were the last major A-S instruments, if I'm not mistaken, and the huge instrument for Calvary Church in Charlotte NC was the last really big one for Moller.
Thank you so much for this tutorial! It's not for the beginner, and I heard lots of ranks I've loved. It's interesting that the carillon isn't working. I love that there's an ophecleide stop. I had a couple friends who were partners. One was named Offie (family name) and his partner was Clyde. Some of my best fun was kidding them about it.
No shortage of trumpets on that organ! Beautiful flutes. The strings sound too much like principals though. The handbells are very special... I've heard them in person and wow!
Wahnsinn die Orgel und vor allem die Glocken hinter den Türen hat was geniales. Man kann die Glocken hören und dann wenn die Türen auf sind sogar sehen. Schade, dass das Video in Englisch ist und mein Englisch leider etwas eingerostet ist aber so einiges konnte ich verstehen. Wie auch immer. Klasse Video. 🎼🎶🎵🎹👍🙂 Was halten Sie eigentlich von der Orgel der Royal Albert Hall und von Anna Lapwood?
I've been to concerts and worship there and love the versatility of this organ. The handbell stop is especially cool! I understand that this huge instrument is the third largest in town, behind only the National Cathedral and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. BTW, I suspect that the carillon stop that didn't seem to work may have actually been playing outside.
I am glad to see you are aware of and not afraid to use the power of God sleeping there in His organ. It's my dream too for the revival and resurrection of the church to eternal life. Thanks. Thailand Paul
I can tell that the 64' is digital, which I figured would be the case, as I believe there are still only two real 64's in the world--the 64' Diaphone in the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall and the 64' Contra Trombone at Sydney Town Hall in Australia. Have you played either of those organs?
I love how you play Paul- Way to go !- I use to play Organ years ago But I had to sadly sell the Organ in order to get my Horse back (which is my first love Horses and then Music).
Was there a pressure gauge on the consul to keep those 62’ pedal notes in check. They probably have an independent supply to stop the main organ going flat. Always fun to see the gauge dropping when making a lot of noise!
I would love to hear Vaughn Williams' O Clap Your Hands or Handel's Zadok the Priest played on this organ. Those trumpet stops would be amazing for both of those songs.
LOVE the Handbells!! 😍 The Chamade!! 🤪 Mighty Möller! (p. s. I always played in socks (except for my senior recital LOL!!) I believe that I am hearing the artistry of the Legendary Möller reed voicer Adolph Zagic! Rocking the Reeds!!
There are only two instruments that have a full-length 64’ stop. The first one is the Midmer-Losh organ at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The second one is the Pogson organ in the Sydney Town Hall.
Paul does a great job demonstrating this organ. It is huge and has just about everything you might want. The room is good, too. But that chamade should be disconnected. It's just loud and not much else.
Those flutes are lovely but the 64' is amazing. The Americans like to do things in a grand manner- enjoy your time Paul and come to Australia one day. Bye
Wow, wow, wow, lieber Paul! Was muss das für eine Freude sein, ein solch geniales Instrument zu spielen. Der einzigartige Klang und Deine Professionalität beim Spiel machen diese Orgel zu einem wahren Erlebnis. Auch die Akustik in dieser Kirche ist atembraubend. Danke für Dein Spiel und Dein sagenhaftes Talent. Liebe und herzliche Grüße sendet Dir wie immer Steffen aus Görlitz. Bis bald.
Paul, will you ever go and demonstrate the organ in coral rigde prebisterian church in ft Lauderdale Florida, it has 5 sets of gorizontal trumpets, its perfect for trumpet tunes 😉. You can also invite Diane Bish to join in the video.
Beautifully played, excellently explained/described, all encompassing example of the varied sounds and flavors an organ can present with an accomplished organist to guide us...thank you for your presentation and for your years of dedication allowing you to share this with us... thank you...(David)
That was fantastic! Best demonstration of all the various stops, sections and ranks of a pipe organ I've ever seen. Back in my youth I seriously considered going into organ building, I've always been interested in the "King of Instruments". I couldn't even play chop sticks on one but love listening to them.
Our just departed organist, Jerry Mead, who just received his master's in organ from Indiana University Jacob's School of Music, played a brilliant recital on this instrument back in May. The video is on the Friends of the National City Christian Church RU-vid channel. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rcQB8EU7S6o.html We were both fascinated by the Handbells and the interesting story behind them.
I now have listened to the last 20 minutes of this video - again and again - for well over an hour. Wonderful instrument. I hope you get to experience the instrument at the National Cathedral (Episcopal) in DC. Tschüss!
The one time I was in DC I was not able to visit the cathedral much to my regret. I would give most any thing to be able to visit while Paul was doing a concert. The organ is a magnificent instrument. Enjoyed the tutorial. Would like to know what the stops down on the pedals do. Also the buttons above the manuals.
Ich wohne in Washington und habe das Instrument schon oft bei den Freitagskonzerten zur Mittagszeit gehört. Schön, die Register einmal einzeln vorgestellt zu bekommen. Haben Sie das für die Austin-Orgel in der First Baptist Church auch gemacht? Und wenn ja, planen Sie es hier zu veröffentlichen? Wäre fast noch spannender, weil man dieses Instrument eigentlich nur im Gottesdienst hören kann.
@@PaulFey Grossartig, ich freue mich sehr auf die Veröffentlichung! Wenn Sie mal wieder in DC sind, sollten Sie Monica Czausz Berney kontaktieren und die herrliche Schoenstein-Orgel in der St Paul's Church an der K Street ausprobieren. Kleiner zwar als die Instrumente in der NCCC und in der First Baptist Church, aber sehr bemerkenswert und eine wichtige Vorstufe für das große Instrument der gleichen Firma in der First Plymouth Church in Lincoln NE. Bis dahin ist hoffentlich auch die Orgel in der National Cathedral wieder komplett in Schuss, dort sind ja leider im Moment ganze Werke (z.B. das Solowerk) nicht spielbar...
It'd be cool to have the camera pan over to some of those massive pipes! I've seen photos of the workmen crawling inside some on that surreal folly in Atlantic City.
Wunderschön, die Register einzel zu hören! So kann ich die Klänge der Orgel viel besser schätzen. Besten Dank Paul für die sehr ausführliche Darstellung!
I have a question. I know that you playd organs in different countrys, so my question is that how do you contact and where do you contact anyone for the organs? I thank for your replie in advace!
33:53 Some of the 32' reeds are way too harsh for me. Even when mixed with other stops, it sounds hideous in my opinion. Some 32' reeds I actually kind of like, and pretty much all the 32' flues.
As with all organists, the art is to choose the most musical registration for the performance. I suppose you might choose not to use ones that you do not particularly like -- as would most organists ... yes?
@@aBachwardsfellow I liked the 32' contrabassoon and the 64' double ophicleide. I don't hate all 32' reeds and lower. I actually quite enjoy some of them. I just don't like all of them. Even the ones that actually do sound "good" to me, I will blend them in with other stops because they sound good when they are used in big combinations with other stops. The 32' posaune, for example, was way to abrasive. If I had the choice to demonstrate this organ, I would only use the 32' posaune to demonstrate what it sounds like for informative purposes and not to use for a song on this organ.
@@bradycall1889 - understood - a wise choice :-) That is the beauty of the different instruments and builders -- and rooms. That 32' posaune may have worked better in a different room. And it could certainly be voiced differently. And, to be sure, there are 32' posaune's that are -- I'm sure if you looked around you may be able to find a few instruments that have very suitable one's
Hans gelukkig spreken de meeste orgels een fijne taal als paul ze bespreekt daar moeten we wat taal maar me doen dat is voor mij als Nederlander nog best te volgen dank voor het mooie geluid vrg