Jesu bleibet meine freude - improvisatie Gert van Hoef - St. Baafs Kathedraal Gent 

Wie wohltuend sind diese Klänge! Eine Musik die seit Jahrhunderten an Schönheit und Klarheit nichts verloren hat. Diese Musik auch so einfühlsam gespielt , ist Balsam in unserer verwirrten und zerstörten Zeit. Und wer den Text kennt , kann die Freude , die Zuversicht und den Trost durch den Glauben an Gott erst recht bestätigen.

It is a real joy to watch and hear you playing - the music comes first - no histrionics, no flashy demonstration of technical virtuosity, no charging through at speeds faster than anyone else - just thoughtful, astonishingly mature musicianship. That is true virtuosity.

Ce jeune homme est en complète fusion avec son instrument, impressionnnant

A purist’s worst nightmare of course, but Bach, listening from heaven, is smiling with joy at this thrilling improvisation!

One of the great improvisations ever, utterly transcendent.

I watched it again. This time I'm taken by the gentle elegance of his hands over the walking bass. I just can't get enough of this young prodigy.

Tränen der Freude und der Ergriffenheit. Wenn Musik das bewirkt, dann hier!

I have never been so amazed by such graceful music! Bach would be proud to have heard this played if alive today! Gert, bless you for your performance. May you always bring smiles to everyone that has an ear to lend and listen to you play live or from RU-vid!

Gert my cancer is a terrible thing, but your music lifts my spirits you are a most wonderful musician. I hope I have many more years to listen and watch you play

GROSSARTIG! Mehr kann ich dazu gar nicht kommentieren. Gert, Du bist ein begnadeter Organist und Musiker - thank you for your fantastic playing .....

I'm looking at the comments, and no one's talking about his insane harmonic choices that make the second half sound so amazing. Let's talk about that

To me this is proves God exists, that the musical gift is given to a choosen few, that Bach, Mozart and Vittoria are the mouthpiece of God and that we were created to to just be bathed in this sublime light that is Music. God Bless you Gert and keep that amazing talent alive for us all.

Just beautiful, Bach was a genius and this kid is a great organist.

I love this organist's treatment of "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring." The tempo is just right, not too fast as many do it. His relaxed technique bespeaks thousands of hours of work to achieve mastery of the instrument. Or should I say king of instruments. The improvisation is brilliant, but never loses sight of the original theme's harmonic simplicity. I think J.S. would be mightily pleased to behold his composition still relevant in the modern age when performed by a young master.

Einfach nur Wunderbar!!Labsal für Herz und Seele!! Danke.

Zo jong en reeds zulk een meester!

The acoustics in these great European churches are unbelievable. My cousin played in a church in Bavaria- in January. He wore a winter jacket and could see his breath and the glass of water was frozen but nonetheless the 200 yr old organ played wonderfully.

What an unbelievable improvisation of this beautiful organ work from a so talented guy ;)

Gert is nog zo jong en nu al zo geweldig! Ik had erbij willen zijn om dit life te mogen beluisteren!!

Thank you for your generosity with you God given gift

Gert's genius gives the appearance of effortless playing. Many brilliant romantic ideas woven into Bach's original - thank you for sharing this with us.

I imagine Bach hanging out in the clouds listening to this totally unimpressed like "meh, another copy of my masterpiece", but then becoming more and more curious with every minute and in the end just standing there speechless. What you did there is really, really special! It is so refreshing hearing an impro from my all time favorite piece created by someone of my generation! Keep on doing this kind of stuff :)

Wonderful! Even Bach himself would be proud of this interpretation…

I studied pipe organ from age 12 to 17 ... this is truly the most beautiful, and moving version I have ever heard ... thank you for sharing, Gary

Bach's masterpiece played by a prodigy. What a blessing to hear this on Good Friday. Soli Deo Gloria

You have such an incredible talent and passion in playing a church organ Gert. I absolutely love this music and I'm really impressed by it. Your music fills my soul with immense pleasure, and raises my spirits no end. You have inspired me to practice on the piano more now, as I haven't played on it for a long time. I doubt if I could play a church organ. Looks a bit too complex for me. Thank you so much for this wonderful music by Bach 😀

Gert is the best organist i have had the pleasure of hearing since Virgil Fox oh so many years ago. This piece along with Ode to Joy and some others send chills down my spine. I try to listen to these two several times a week. I used to go to local organ concerts just to feel the power of the ‘king of instruments’ but discovered that I could get a better ‘concert’ just coming here and listening primarily to Gert and other great organists. I have followed Gert here seeing the wonderful progress made since he was yoing. Wish I had the same talent! May God continue to bless you in your work to glorify Him and never forget who you got that wonderful talemt from.

Gert... you play this piece with such grace and beauty!...Bach would only be so proud...what perfect music for the soul!!!..I love it!!...thank you for sharing your gift!..🙏❤

What an amazing talent Gert has.Listening to him during the coronavirus lockdown has been an inestimable blessing.

Jean-Sébastien Bach comme tant d'autres et moi vous remercie de cette improvisation géniale. A Dieu seul, la Gloire. J'en ai les larmes aux yeux

Once again Gerts mastery of not only the organ but of the music shines through. He has taken one of the simplest of Bach's works and made it complex, and majestic. He ropes you in with his artistry and suddenly you find yourself wanting to shout in praise of his talent. Once again I thank Gert for sharing his music and his wonderful talent with the world.

Sehr gut gemacht Gert van Hoef. Man merkt, dass er sein Handwerk beherrscht. 🎵🎹👍🎶👍❤

The special thing about Gert's improvisation is that it sounds very melodic. This is certainly true for a large number of visitors to his concerts.

I love this one..One of my favorite from Bach...He would be proud to watch a young prodigy like you playing to his works...Your brilliant music sooth my tired body n soul as I'm recovering from 2 hour surgery...Pain has been great but listening to masterpiece like this ease my mind..May you always achieve all the success ! You are an incredible musician!

Sehr berührendes Orgelspiel. Vielen Dank.

Wow!!!!! Just Wow! What a Brilliant Improvisation!

The Greatest Organist I will have ever Known, here on RU-vid and in Person. Golden Performance, Gert.

Hartelijk dank voor het kijken naar mijn video!

Ich kann mich nicht"satthören" an Deiner Improvisation. Noch einmal ganz großes Können. Danke.

Breathtaking... The improvisation is unbelievable. Using the organ to the fullest...

Gert, how come you make me get tears in my eyes? I'm hardened by life, nothing else does...

You have big eyes:) and I thank you and all the other organ musicians for helping me with depression. How can I be sad when I see and hear such beauty?

I've listened to this many times...so beyond wonderful ...just stunning!!!

Une œuvre de Bach sublimée ici par un génie de l'improvisation

Danke!!! Mein Herz weint und ich bin erlöst

Marvelous! He got anointed in the midst of this. Great adlib!

I find it amazing...looks like they have ripped you out of your bed, put you in front of the organ, you start to play and suddenly you get inspired and you just get it spot on.

You're a true artist! com'on man... that was one of the most amazing things I have ever see... Loved your playing! God bless ya!

GOD BLESS YOU 🙏. My greating from North Carolina.

Old Bach is not dead he still lives in this young man!

Just discovered Gert's talent, the day after my 65th birthday. A belated present! My late father introduced my to the King of Instruments many years ago. he would have loved this. What a talent you have and thank you for sharing it with the world.

Blijft een genot om naar te luisteren,dank!

Very well done indeed! Complex, technically extremely difficult, but played with sublime mastery, Gert has a talent no doubt about it! After the improvisation phase of his progress comes composition.....then watch out, the sky will be the limit for this gentleman I think!

GRAZIE DI QUESTA MUSICA MI FA TOCCARE IL CELO.TI RINGRAZIO DAL PROFONDO DEL MIO CUORE.TI SCIVO QUESTE PAROLE MI COMMUOVE SEMPRE SENTIRTI PERCHÈ LA MUSICA E VITA AMORE DOLCEZZA SPERANZA GIOIA E TUTTO.CHE DIO TI BENEDICA SEMPRE SULLA TUA STRADA DELLA NOSTRA MUSICA.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! ***** If i had more thumbs i would give more but BRAVO! TWO THUMBS up. Absolutely climactic, Superb tact with expression and stop control as well as outstanding control with the swells. The expressed power you pulled from that organ Made it sound Grand to its most highest threshold and even at Full Grand organ settings It sounded Colorful, as though it spoke in many tongues. You are amazing and Keep up the Excellent Work and continue our art.

It takes a consummate prodigy to pull off such an improvisation, sir! You are he!

What a magnificent Organ and you play it so well .And all from memory your amazing God bless you .

Самое душевное и красивое произведение Баха. Герт как всегда на высоте!!!

Music for the soul.

Stundenlanger Genuß, Balsam für die Seele.

Gott ist mein Licht und ist mein Heil - wer kann mir irgend böses tun auf dieser ganzen Erden? Bachs Musik - auch gerade wenn so wundervoll interpretiert - spricht das göttliche, den Funken den Gott in uns als Seele hineingelegt hat an. Zumindest geht es mir so und ich hoffe bald selbst wieder am Instrument sitzen zu dürfen, wenn auch mit weitaus weniger Fähigkeit, wenn diese Zeiten der "Pestilenz" vorüber sind!

Niemand spielt, mit soviel Herz und Gefühl, wie Sie. Danke!

Gerte, jsi velký muzikant, závidím ti tu lehkost, s jakou hraješ a improvizuješ. BRAVO

Браво музыканту!...Музыка - космос!..Улетаешь в далекие миры!....Релакс !......

I have no words at all to describe the amazingness of this video! It is very nice when it starts quiet then builds up throughout the piece! I really loved the glances towards the camera and the trill with your feet near tge end of the piece, it really gave the piece character! Thank you Gert

WOW...just sooo fulfilling. A few chills in the last half too. LOVE the very gradual crescendo, all your flourish and registration. Just perfect to my ears, mind, heart and soul. Wonderful playing, interpretation and improvisation.....Thank you Gert. And I would have lifted my hands at exactly the same time as you.

Wel gedaan Gert. Hou van jou streelende misiek. Luister gereeld,jong man met soveel talent.

Gert listening to you is joy joy joy, your music uplifts the spirit. Your talent is amazing.

Gert, if I had to confine to one word this performance, it would have to be " Angelic " spectacular was a close second runner up. I have been known to tear up due to the beauty of a piece of music, this is one of them ! It is kind of hard to type through tears, but I am trying. Good luck on Your wonderful engagement I hope that You will be blessed with a wonderful life together. I pray that Your Children will inherit both of Your musical talents, They would be superstars ! God Bless. Kevin

I've never heard anyone go off into an improvisation on this time-honored and so well known choral prelude. It was an interesting departure and competently done. It's a new take on it which does a respectful job of giving us a new angle from which to view.

Well bedankt ❤🕊 ...danke für dieses unbeschreiblich(Gott) schöne Geschenk!!! Grüsse aus Bonn/Germany👋🏻🌻🌳🌺

Absolument sublime, ce jeune homme a un talent fou.

Es klingt absolut genial! Best improvisation ever! Die Orgel erstrahlt in ihrem vollen Glanz.

So noble and well-paced. I appreciate you not rushing this and the pedal is wonderful, and adds body to the melody. So unlike what others do.

This guy sounds Baroque no matter what he plays, I just love him.

Having just been at one of the regular Thursday organ concerts held in St Baaf's Cathedral through July and August each year, I would love to have been there to hear Gert play. The space is huge and the organ massive (126 ranks 90 voices) with the pipes spread in galleries high up over the front third of the church. The sound seems to come from all around you. Truly a great experience if you ever get the chance to go.

Bravo bravissimo!! Ich mag sehr ...😍👏👏👏👏

amazing!

The most amazing Jesu Joy I've ever heard.

Герт Ван Хоф вы гений! Благодарю за доставленное удовольствие слушать и созерцать ваш талант!

So beautiful, so powerful, so amazing! You create such an emotional impact.

Superbe interprétation ! Une des plus belles mélodie classique.

What a magnificent improvisation!

The grace and fire of Gert... makes for one hell of a performance. Congratulations Young Titian and thanks for the all the chills.. !!!! CVD

This is the BEST rendition I've ever heard. Way to go !!!!!! I greatly enjoy ALL your videos. Thank You so much for sharing your talent with us.

Fantastyczne, przepiękne wykonanie. Brawo !!!!!

Got goose bumps from this! never heard someone play like this

That Bach pieceis one of my favorites, I like that improvisation over it. Congratulations you are an excellent musician.

Dziękuje za niezwykle piękne wykonanie .To bardzo wzruszające chwile ,kiedy mogę usłyszeć i zobaczyć Twoją grę na organach.

I think Bach stands behind him, touches on his shoulder and whispers: "Well done, Gert."

I know nothing about organ playing, but that is just fabulous

Bardzo dobrze zagrana improwizacja...jak zwykle piękne wykonanie z cudowną lekkością a zarazem powagą.Dziękuję i wielkie brawa!

Gert, another wonderful 'warm-up' impro, as at Geraardsbergen. This one, though, soars and will become a classic. You obviously enjoy being 'on the road', which is great news for those of us in faraway places. William and Elena Evans, down under

Van Hoef meets Bach. Fantastische improvisatie. Hij was in Wapenveld ook mooi.

Envoutant, fascinant

In a poll of professional musicians, this melody "jesu joy of man's desiring' was voted the best tune ever written :-) Bach wrote it at age 38.

When I listen this I cry !! It's just wonderful !!!! You are a great composer !!! a big thank you for this gift!

Wow. I'm speechless. Never heard anything like that. Thanks.

Gert, you are a pleasure to listen to.

I WISH WE HAD GERT AND AN ORGAN IN MY SYNAGOGUE!! THEN WE WOULD TRULY HAVE THE CHIEF MUSICIAN OF KING DAVID'S COURT. SHALOM FROM A CANTOR IN FLORIDA