I was deeply charmed by the music, the clarity of the recording in Dwight Chapel (other recordings gave a muddy impression to the opening chords), the selection of angles for the video, the fact that the piece had been memorized, and the grace of the performance of Nathaniel Gumbs. This is the first time I have subscribed to an artist on RU-vid. Although I need more music education to understand and appreciate this piece, I am grateful to everyone involved in making it available.
Bravo, Nathaniel. You somehow have an insider understanding of Mendelssohn that brings this sonata to life in a way I have not experienced either playing it myself, or live, or on some 15 recordings I've listened to over the years. This is "a house afire!" As was Mendelsohn himself in his relationship to family, friends, truth, Bach, purehearted humanity, and to musicianship. The fiery-noble passions for all these roles is inscribed perhaps nowhere more immediately and personally than in the various movements of the six sonatas for organ. You tap into just his frequency somehow. And you deliver that back to contemporary people in a manner that electrifies. I got shot upward by that hand in hand collab and have yet to come down writing this. Bulls Eye, man! PS Rudolph v. Beckrath's mixtures, poetic mp reeds, ever-so "cantabile" flutes, and uniquely quinty-lit chorus reeds: same hella frequency! What a trio collab that puts rich history spanning 300+ years (Bach onwards) into the r.n.!!
On the 4th movement, I can't hear the individual notes. Carlo Curley and Virgil Fox had the voices set so that you could hear the notes. Just hopefully a bit of contructive criticism for you. The 4th movement in particular is a magnificent piece of invention from Mendelssohn.
The Dwight Chapel organ under Dwight’s choice of registration works with Mendelssohn far better than I have heard others non that instrument. I know that in his position at Yale , he is responsible for Dwight mad boy can I see why. I so hope that there will be many further recordings to You Tube.
