Download my album (CDs sold out!) : benmaton-thesalisburyorganist... Mechanical organ at St Martin's Church, Salisbury. My website: www.benmatonmusic.co.uk
Thank you for sharing with us your most beautiful gift of organ playing!! This Blessed hymn really pulls at the heartstrings, making many listeners teary eyed, certainly me. Thanks again!
I remember the church organ as a kid. I lost the church, lost my faith, and lost the sound of the organ. When my grandmother passed, the organ brought back feelings I hadn't had since I was a child at her funeral. I lost my grandmother, but found my faith and found the organ again. Nearer My God To Thee brings me closer to Grandmother, the Church, and my faith. Someday I'll stop by Salisbury Cathedra and say hi and thank you. Peace be always with you.
Wow, what a testimony! If Ben needed any confirmation his career choice was meaningful, you just gave it to him. I have to admit I'm in a similar situation.
Whoever thinks that 'music isn't important' or 'music isn't necessary' needs to have their head examined. What a dismal, cold, and soulless world it would be without it.
When I was little, our school didn’t have funding for a choir teacher. The regular teachers decided to join together and have their own choir class, so that we wouldn’t miss out. We sat on the floor in a classroom around a piano and sang. I still remember some of the songs. It meant a lot to me.
Music is not irrelevant. In times of crisis, it is the language God uses to speak comfort directly to our souls -- and the more so when coupled with great hymn-poems in hymns and anthems. I say this from personal experience as an American pastor and long time church choirmaster. God speaks directly to the soul through music. Thanks for this utterly relevant post !!
Well put! From my touched heart in Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, where Lowell Mason was born and raised, he who arranged the tune of Nearer My God to Thee, a hymn I have loved since my childhood and to this day. And Mason introduced the use and study of music into the normal public school curriculum in America. And great king David of the Bible was a harpist and singer, a musician helping to soothe and heal ragged souls and make them more whole and encouraged . . . With love, xo . . . In English language, the words _heal, whole, & wholly, holy_ are of same root origin, are cognate.
The world would be a much harder place to be without music. You are right. Music touches the soul in ways no other thing can. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm, talent, music and performances with us.
And this is one of the greatest hymn tunes ever. When I heard this played on Titanic movie, I had always listened to every arrangements ever made for this piece
I live in Alaska, too many Churches have gotten rid of the organ, I suggest they bring back the reverence and inspiration this instrument brings to the service, Thank you Ben
Thank you, Ben. Your videos are great, the music, seeing these ancient houses of worship is a pleasure to watch. I love the Pipe Organ and you do a magnificent job playing.
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone; yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! There let the way appear, steps unto heaven; all that thou sendest me, in mercy given; angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise, out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise; so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky, sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
This was my mother's favorite hymn. I would hear her play it often on her piano. We had it in her funeral service. I still get tears in my eyes when I hear it played and you did it so well. Thank you.
This is when I feel closest to The Almighty - during hymns such as this one, played so masterfully, with such warmth and feeling. EXCELLENT job, Ben, as usual !
Gentleman, it was an honor to play with you tonight!! ....... That's what Wallace Hartley is said to have said before he sang this "last song" before The Titanic sank to the bottom of the Noth Atlantic!
@@smoothsilk47there is lots of confusion around that, some heard Nearer My God To Thee and others heard Songe D’Autaumne (butchered the spelling of the second one) but what is thought to have happened is both were played as the two last songs played in Titanic. Historians believe that I is more likely the Nearer My God To Thee was played last after that other piece. But we will probably never know because all members of Titanic’s band were lost in the sinking.
The thought occurred to me that if music is unnecessary for daily life . How about sports? People make lots of money playing sports. Music as you explained is a vital component of our emotional state. Many popular artists make a living with it. Don’t be embarrassed .
It is so nice to see a younger man interested in playing the organ. There is hope for the future. Tradition is so important. I love music and could not live without it.
Dudley Moore studied Organ at Oxford . Though remembered as an actor and comedian he would have preferred as a musician. If unaware of his talent watch on utube his parody Beethoven Sonata.
The impact of music is very real: not all reality has physical manifestations. Some of the deepest realities transcend the physical dimensions of life & music is capable of expressing this in astonishing ways. Music gives expression to feelings in the transparent reality of emotion
Sublime! there is something sublime to this! I have always admired many inventions, monuments and even discoveries, it speaks to our intelligence, as far as God has allowed us and granted to reward our efforts, but I still remember the first time I wandered around as a child in a church and found THIS instrument, this masterpiece, and I don't think I ever felt AWE until I saw that majestic organ. The complexity, the thought, the dynamics, the magnificent woodwork, and then to realize that mankind could produce such a thing! to ponder how many experts throughout the years listened and codified sounds, graded them, and replicate them in such a beautiful work of art....and then, to find such a talented musician who could not only love music but also be disciplined enough to study, peruse each aspect of it and dedicate almost his entire lofe until it was able to master it....I would shake his hand and have a beer with him rather than a rocket scientist any day of the week! I feel great admiration for REAL musicians...and gratitude for the myriad of times they lifted my spirit whether in a funeral or a Wedding Mass, it evokes solemnity and formal, yet fluid piety. Bravo young man! Bravo!!!
Catching up with your earlier posts, before I discovered your site. It is clear that you have found your true calling. Such grace and attention is brought to your presentation of the music. I especially like the graceful and confident way your feet find the organ petals. Bravo!
Ben, you play beautifully. You have a rare gift. St. Martin is lucky to have a young man dedicated to his craft. Please play some improvisations on hymn tunes. That will really show off your talent.
What you do is fantastic Ben! And promoting such instrument is excellent!😊 I am lucky enough to be in contact with many organists as I sing the psalms in Mass in a basilica in Buenos Aires. So keep doing that fantastic job which you do so well. Congratulations!
And it came to pass when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. 1 Samuel 16:23.
Seeking comfort I sang along with my English Hymal by myself and felt the stirring of the spirit. Thankyou Ben, and your introductory word was a word to the wise as well! :)
Up to the age of eleven when we moved to Hull on the other side of the north of England, I had often sat with my uncle on the organ bench in our local Methodist chapel. I have never forgotten some of the hymns you play in these videos. I only knew the tunes by their names of Crimond and Diadem etc, not the actual hymn title. I might not have been inside a church for many years, weekends during my youth and beyond were always spent in the hills and mountains of the UK, but the music has always stayed with me.
It is, there’s no way this existence is random. I hope you find all the peace in knowing Jesus will never abandon you. We wish you smooth seas, the wind in your face and the sun on your back.
Ben, may I beg that the sheet music for this arrangement posted or made available for purchase? Your playing has altered my life in the last weeks and been a means of God's own grace to my family and I.
Ben, words cannot express my profound enjoyment both at your organ playing and at the associated words which it calls to mind. I’m in South Australia, yet feel a deep connection with U,K, as all my ancestors were English, & I have spent much time studying genealogy. I have also been privileged to visit Salisbury Cathedral twice. I would like to say so much more. Than you again & again!
Wait, is this true? Musicians struggle with embarrassment when sharing what they do for a living? Music is so important! To me it is the most important treasure in life. It’s truly a blessing. God loves music and desires His people to worship Him in songs of praise.
Beautiful arrangement. Thanks for the PIP showing ped work. I am learning to play in different shoes, especially penny loafers. Your black ones are super! Record more PIPs with your loafers, please.
Dear Musician, Thank you for your inspiring, uplifting interpretation of Nearer My God to Thee. During the final verses of this hymn one is rising up and moving closer to God's incomprehensible power and overwhelming love, turning our real momentary tragedy into triumph. Thank you. Also congratulations! Your interpretation is courageous, very moving, and loving. Thank you from me in S. California near the profound Pacific Ocean to you in England. Also, you chose a great English tracker organ, great for an English hymn. Well done! With loving best wishes. PDY
I'm not sure that the composer intended this, but "My heart must go on" goes well with "Nearer my God to thee" played as a "Titanic Medley" - try it some time, you might be surprised Ben. You could play that in a concert as a Titanic Feature!! Three verses NMGTT with MHMGO in between each verse.
Jonathan is one of,big not the most stunningly brilliant organists of all time and I love the way that he takes the time and effort to arrange every single piece that he plays to make each piece the very best it can be. 🙏🕊✝️🕊🛐🕊🙏
Music feeds my soul! Going without music would be like not feeding my body! I listen to and collect all kinds. I really love the sounds of a grand pipe organ, Huge choirs and orchestras, but can also be moved to tears by a solo musician or a solo voice of singer with music feeding his or her soul. When I watch you enjoying an unusual instrument just found, I feel your enthusiasm and enjoy not just the music, but also your excitement and feelings as well.
The organ remains the only pure, unadulterated vestige of my faith in the church. After priests and vicar have stripped the rest away, I no longer believe in the church, whatever denomination. The organ, however, remains the only majestic, pure and unalterable worship of the true and living God I have left.
Nearer my God to Thee. Encouraged by a sample of the first page on Oecumuse catalogue I bought Karg-Elert's Improvisation on this tune. When I got it I realised that my limited technique could only manage the first part, which I use as a voluntary. It would be better to hear the whole piece played by a real organist such as yourself... I feel sorry for J B Dykes whose fine tune Horbury has been overshadowed although it appears in many hymn books. Thank you for your inspiration.
Ben, you clean up well. Except you don't need to. When you think of all the genius and craft that went into these organs, which appeared fully sufficient with no electricity to power such a beast, with the advent of a pedal division being capable of playing all the bass line as if by the hands....... .....there are no words. A kind of news--a condescension "vom Himmel hoch"--to us Sapiens as a seal that God is real. A Being in whose image we are. A father who is x number of dimensions higher in intelligence and fatherly affect than the brightest and best of us "down here." It is a great privilege to build, operate, maintain, and play a pipe organ. You cause us to think upon this unthinkable thing, Ben. To "take it in" as best we can. The fleeting thought is at once exalting and humbling. How on earth did you, or I, or Olivier Latry, or Simon Preston, Todd Wilson, Helmut Walcha et al. get the coup de foudre, which motivates to submit to the discipline required. To practice well into the darkness on an instrument that is not our property, in a building for which we need permissions and other formalities even to enter "after hours?" IDK. ...a mystery, really.
Excellent. Thank you. Isn’t that tune called ‘Bethany’, which is American in origin. The British tune normally associated with this hymn is ‘Horbury’. The film ‘Titanic’ (which was American) uses Bethany , whereas ‘A Night to Remember’ (British) uses Horbury. I don’t want to get into the debate about what the Titanic’s heroic band actually played on that night, but as Titanic was a British registered ship, and the members of the band were all British, it seems more likely to have been Horbury. Writing this comment makes me realise that I need to get out more!
I wondered too why he played Bethany instead of Horbury which I understood was the usual tune used in Britain for the hymn. And it was the tune in the British film. Though both are beautiful, for me Horbury is more interesting. Apparently Arthur Sullivan wrote yet another tune for the hymn and there are several others as well.
Thanks Ben. I’m waiting for my new EV to charge in a remote area so I was pleased to listen to this posting. I’m an engineer but also a classical musician. I agree with you that nothing is so inspiring as music that contains meaningful words. Tom
