I pump the bellows for a pipe organ in SE Cornwall at a parish church that is over 750 years old and has never had electricity and is still lit only by candles, a truly beautiful and inspiring space to be in. It is an honour that I first started in 1987 according to my own graffiti beside the pump handle and bellows lead bob!😊
What a lovely contribution! I certainly think that Ben is wrong (love him tho' I do) that 'presumably choirboys' pumped the bellows - they would have been singing in the choir! I remember reading that, back in the day, the 'pumpers' were the only participants in church services that got paid in (a little) cash for their efforts. Well deserved!
When I was in the choir (several decades ago!) there was a power cut one Sunday morning and myself and another choirboy were despatched to man the pumps!@@michaelpatterson5811
I grew up in a smallish town. Our church had an excellent that often was used by a chapter of the American Guild of Organists. I went to college not too far from this church. I walked to that church during the week to study or play piano, I would listen to the organist and director of music (James Musolf) play. He was a U of Michigan school of music organ grad (masters in organ) and could sight read amazingly well. He had absolute pitch and said out-of-tune organs could be problematic. I would enjoy hearing the organ music as I studied. He said he became a Christian later (maybe in graduate school) and discovered that he hadn't played Bach correctly at all. Bach wove the Trinity in the different voicing that he only "saw" after he became a Christian and learned how Bach tried to compose within a Christian framework. He came to understand Bach's music at a deeper level. I haven't gone to a church in decades that has pipe (or other) organ. I did a sabbatical at Oxford over 10 years ago. I friend of mine who teaches physics at Oxford showed me some Anglican churches near the university. I went to one that was a very young congregation. Sadly, they set up a stage in the middle of the space with a nice grand piano and a drum set. At the far end was the pipe organ which, I was told, "We don't use." Their musicians were quite good and talented, but the congregation never used the pipe organ. That was a huge miss. Thanks for keeping alive great organ music.
Well played and well done! Personally, I don't "see" the organ as having a quality of horror, au contraire, it's seemingly disembodied voice gives it an ethereal, heavenly feeling. Glad you found what could be your great(x) grandmother's grave; being an American it's hard to imagine living in the same place for five decades, let alone five centuries.
Hearing “…killed in action at Ypres” reminds us of that terrible, senseless war - but I’m sure the corporal would be impressed to have such a beautiful piece of art dedicated to his memory.
A tea time treat! We know you are grounded in Salisbury, but seeing the 18thC family memorial shows how deep the roots are. You have a wonderful sense of place and history. Very good to hear the Boellman Toccata from the Suite Gothique, it sounds so well on the William Hill. The video reminds me of a Friday summer evening when I visited the church at Patrington in Yorkshire. The vicar was finished a wedding rehearsal and when the couple had gone the organist launched into the Lefebre-Wely Offertoire, and all the stone carved grotesques seemed to be enjoying themselves in the evening light!
Ben, you are a superb organist, and you really know how to capture the moment with your engaging presentations and videos. I absolutely love pipe organs and while not classically trained, I try to play any organ I find on my travels. You completely nailed it when you spoke about the mystery for the listener as to where the sound is coming from. Indeed, even for the organist at times. The building itself is very much part of the organ and your church is a great example of that. I’m gradually working my way through your videos, having recently discovered them, bringing much enjoyment as well as some valuable musical education!
Well played! Of course the organist needs a comfy chair beside the bench. That’s where you rest your back and, unobserved, read the newspaper during those lengthy sermons all of which you’ve heard before 😉.
One of my favourite pieces of organ music. Our Organist has played it a few times after Sunday Morning Mass. (St Augustine of Hippo Grimsby. A Forster and Andrew’s of Hull instrument.
Thank you for sharing something of your lovely church (which I'm pleased to see maintains its Catholic tradition!) and for playing one of my favourite pieces. Blesings.
Ah, the ever majestic Toccata from Suite Gothique Op.25 by Léon Boëllmann - played wonderfully Ben. As always. Sounds fantastic on the venerable Hill in your beautiful church! Bravo!! 👏 👏 👏
Another wonderful and informative tour of this beautiful church. Great organ playing from you as always. I’m so glad I recently discovered your fantastic channel. So enjoyable to watch and listen to. Well done and thank you Ben!
I SIMPLY LOVE WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THIS BEAST OF AN ORGAN PLAYED BY YOU, BEN. YOUR PROGRAMS ARE SPECTACULAR AND WE ENJOY WATCHING THEM. BLESSINGS FROM TZANEEN, SOUTH AFRICA
This is the only video so far where Ben comes across as a bit of a mad man. Interesting. Stunning organ, and so much history there. The editing is wonderful.
Well done Ben, another great video demonstrating your skills and knowledge of the church organ. So good to see a young person with a true passion for their interest.
Thank you so much for this demo of a brilliant organ ... ah, what dreams are made of ... love the Toccata from Boelmann's Suite Gothique at the end! I WILL play that ... one day! (Still fighting with Prieur du Notre Dam) ... would enjoy some Vierne sometime on that beast 😉... pretty please 😆
Writing as an American cleric and Church choirmaster, let me commend your excellent video as an historic and aesthetic, as well as an inspiring musical experience. Many, many thanks! ( P.s.: the Boellmann piece is a great demonstration of both your skill and this marvelous instrument!)😢
Oh Wow Ben, another superb presentation. What a beautiful church and organ. You are one of the best organists I’ve listened too. That must be very moving seeing the tribute to your Great Great Grandmother (?) so special. Well done mate 🤗
What a treat to hear you play with your distant mum or auntie listening from heaven. Love your respect for the instrument and environment in which you play. Rgds from California.
I visited St Martins a few times in the late 1970s when I lived in Waterloo Road close by. I wasn't quite ready then for the 'High Anglican' style of worship. Since then I've come to the Baptist Church in Brown St where my wife and I now make our regular place of worship. Really enjoy your videos - although I don't play the organ I've taken it upon myself to get to grips with an old electronic keyboard I have during the Covid lockdown, still a lot to learn. It's always useful and interesting to pick up on what various musicians such as yourself are playing.
Goodness me! Another gem so well done. I had not noticed the Maton connection on the memorial stones. Maybe I should update my book on the 'Organs and Organists of St Martin's Church'? Much appreciated man. Thank you.
Marvelous playing - and that is some superb organ. You obviously know it well too! Very good video too, plenty of the church itself. Well done Ben - good luck in the future - John
What power and beauty! Thank you for this presentation, and the possibility of Elizabeth Maton being an ancestor. Most fun, however, is your cheese and pickle sandwich and your flask of hot tea! I hope your VW Golf has survived all the assorted roads you have put it on, and that your trolly serves you well as it provides our getting more video of these remarkable organs and churches. It would be lovely to have you respond to comments through the RU-vid reply protocol. Thank you!
All the comforts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a bit of rum, or scotch, might be necessary in some circumstances,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I remain a loyal subscriber :) Widor's Toccata #5 seems to be appropriate. Thanks for the vids, $$$ coming soon !
Organ Hill & Son, wonderful organs of the romantic period...I remember the wonderful sidney town hall organ made by Hill which has the only one real heareable 64' stop worldwide starting at pedal C with 16 Hertz frequency...soul shaking
you have to celebrate this xmas with a concert honouring the centenial of St. Martins choirboys B.Hawkins and D.Warren 5:39. maybe one of them is still alive and treading on...
Nice Demonstration of this instrument by Hill. I was wondering if the pedalboard has been altered. Is it an Audsley-Wesley concave radiating pedal board? I have played the 1870 Hill organ (tubular pneumatic) in St. John's Tuebrook, Liverpool and I think that the pedalboard was changed at the turn of the century.
You should write a book - if not.. Narrator for audio-books as a side-job :o) - Purchased your digital-files.. I enjoy them.. and btw.. J.S.B. would have loved that Victorian Lady too.. Mechanical action beats its electrical counterparts by far. It's simply something different to hear and of course play the great masters of the Baroque on almost "contemporary" instruments.
Bravo Ben! And the photography is brilliant. But your viewers would like to know what you are playing on the mighty organ and Mrs Elizabeth Maton would like to know too.
Magnificent tour and playing! No PIP for pedal board. However, this is ok this time because I caught a glimpse of your white sneakers. Please every time possible, show PIP in your loafers. I watch and learned techniques in street shoes. , such a outside of foot in appropriate portions of the pedal board to avoid sounding two adjacent pedal notes. Knees do not need to be together as some teacher insist! Agree with you on that. Excellent writer and videographer! Thanks for all your work.
'Just discovered your channel, this being as yet my first sampling of yourself and your talent, of which both I admire. Equally striking is your seeming severity of demeanor. Is this feature yours consistently or, might you feature a humor-sense? Whichever might be the case-actual, I do hope that the latter proves as it. Likely it is that many of your veteran commenting admirers have wondered about that but, naturally and too shy/polite to inquire, as I am not either one. Please, if you would, share with us the truth of this matter? Thank you.
What an inspiring sounds ! 't Must be a delight to play here. It makes me think of the gorgeous Hill in All Hallows, Gospel Oak: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8qxLh6T48Vc.html. Btw, can you also make some episodes with the gentle sounds of 18th / early 19th C. instruments? Or are those not / no more to be found in/around Salisbury ?
I have come to realise why listening to pipe organ music becomes boring after a critical amount of time. Perhaps a better-informed person than I can persuade me otherwise. I have modest pianistic ability, and my printed music is well-appointed with dynamic marks for crescendos and diminuendos, ff's, and pp's. How can such be accomplished on a pipe organ where a constant amount of air produces a constant level of sound? Although the piece played on this video was anything but boring.
@@SalisburyOrganist Thank you. I will atune my listening ears more finely. Thanks for nurturing a niche channel, which I suspect will not be a niche for too long because it ticks many boxes-not only among your fellow English but, from the remarks, from far afield across oceans. Best wishes and good luck.
Has to said Ben but you seem to be quite and angry soul with perhaps a patience issue. I see some of myself in you. I too am a musician You might like to smile occasionally. Having said that I do enjoy your videos and your playing. Just trying to help. God Bless you.
