😊 Donate: www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted... ben.maton@hotmail.co.uk. Thank you! PATREON: patreon.com/BenMaton?... 😎 Follow me on Instagram: salisburyor... Today’s Church St Thomas the Martyr, Bristol BS1 6JG
The little fugue in G minor was one of the first baroque pieces I ever had a good listen to. My childhood best friend, a pianist, played it for me on his piano when we were about 15 years old. Now, 54 years later, baroque is my favorite, and Bach, of course the king of baroque. Hearing the little fugue always takes me back to my youth and the quiet joy of friendship.
It makes me sad that an organ can be burned, vandalised and used to store Tupperware. I am amazed that it still can create such beautiful sounds. I think the pork and pickle really fired up your playing! Love your work.
The roof above the organ in our church fell down on the organ twice causing some damage but the main damage came from builders fixing the roof. There was also a small electrical fire by the console but luckily nothing was damaged. It seems that so many organs fall to the fate of fire and/or vandalism.
It’s early Monday morning here in Minnesota. A new day. A new week. I generally start them with your latest, Ben. Today was special. An ancient redundant church in a vibrant location. It was especially moving. As you played the Zimmer, I wasn’t hearing just the voice of the organ, I was hearing the voice of the building. A voice that was both pleading and demanding. It said, “I’m still here. Hear me roar! Hear me comment on the world about me.” Relevance in sight and sound. My week now begins again with inspiration and insight fueled by your explorations. Many sincere thanks.
Well.. if Anna Lapwood can play Hans Zimmer I’m sure you can Ben. I’m not sure what part of this wonderful video was more emotional for me, you bringing this wonderful organ to my attention, the fugue, I really don’t know. All I can say is you brought me to tears. For a grown man, that’s hard to admit. But there’s so much to love in this video, particularly the care and attention you give to making it a complete story. And yes, I’d love a longer recital. Thank you Ben.
yes my friend but one needs to hear the deeper message that the young can be trained to hear the spirituality of their culture, throw in a few vikings Herward the wake and a nasty history from 1066 and watch the young take it up
The acoustics, fabulous, the Bach, sublime, as you'd expect, your playing and your ability to draw us into your wonderful world of organs and music and pork sandwiches, unrivalled! Thank you Ben.... And, yes, of course, a longer concert with this splendid organ....
Despite all the adversities, this organ has an amazing sound. It has a brightness you do not hear too often. Thank you for bringing it to us. And thank you to Hans Zimmer for allowing you to play his First Step.
Precioso reportaje Ben con el nos trasladas a esta preciosa iglesia dedicada a Santo Tomás, bien restaurada y utilizada con buen criterio ecuménico por la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rumana para sus actos litúrgicos también para eventos culturales creo que es un acierto, veo este edificio con cierto aire arquitectónico clasicista con aires de arquitectura renacentista, las piezas elegidas para este magnífico órgano clásico de precioso sonido y aires de grandeza, gracias Ben por tu sensibilidad por el arte sonoro del emperador de los instrumentos. Un abrazo virtual para tí y los seguidores de tu canal desde el éste del Reino de España.😊❤
On the thought of a longer concert in Bristol, some wonderful Christian people are connected to this city like George Whitfield, John and Charles Wesley prolific hymnwriters and Hannah More and George Muller. Some inspiration for some wonderful hymnsong.
Dear Ben- the acoustic in that church is absolutely epic and sublime and the organ seems to be well up to the job ...please please do a much longer selection of music form this space... and add the modern touch...its another dynamic..why dont you organise an actual concert there... you might be surprised when we all turn up.....😊😊
Yes, yes, yes! I love watching Ben’s weekly RU-vid videos and listening to the wonderful music he creates on the ancient organs in the beautiful old churches and chapels which he visits 🎹🎶🛐🥳
I enjoyed hearing the sort of sound that Handel might have heard. To me, it's a connection to the time in which some of my traceable ancestors lived. Equally important is the experience of new music: though what I most often listen to is 400 years old or more, some new writings offer an "AHA!" moment. Your choice in the last piece you played is one such case in point. Without knowing the story behind it, and only having heard it played by two other musicians (you can guess at least one of them), I come away from listening to your rendition feeling that you have contributed something of equal value. Your delicate and sensitive approach is as powerful as hearing the same piece played on a massive instrument--yet different and utterly legitimate in its difference. Great work, much appreciated.
I would love to hear more of this organ with you at the console. I’ve followed you for quite a long time and I am in awe of you as an organist and an obviously committed Christian and lovely guy. I have to say you look younger and more handsome without the beard. You also used to look nice when you were wearing a white shirt and tie.
After all the misfortunes this church has had ... a little more love from us all could help it heal and also give it some well needed publicity ! So yes please, Ben !
Hey! Ben I've been watching your videos for more than a year now and this episode in particular was the most inspiring one. Please know that you're doing a really great job by making these video films, by showing us around village churches and their history which holds such an impeccable beauty & charm within its walls, to now showing the beauty of Bristol. I really want you to show us the churches🏛️ and pipe organs🎹 which are beyond British Isles 😊
The Zimmer piece is wonderfully mysterious, and i enjoyed hearing you play it. Please perform a longer recital--- i'd be thrilled with a whole recital of Handel! 🥺 Please?
Yes, dear Ben Maton, could we please have more music from the organ that was baptized by fire and rose from the dead and was reborn? I think it sounds wonderful.
Yes, please, Mr. Ben Maton, what a pleasure it would be for us, your lisners if you could have a chance to perform an entire concert with the organ. Be blessed Ben.
My weekly treat that I so look forward to and today was an absolute delight to visit the city of pubs and churches. The pieces you played Ben were as always a tonic to the soul. Thank you!
How truly lovely. Such a grand old instrument. And to start with the Bach fugue. I'm afraid my poor old hands have become much too arthritic but my mind and my heart plays on with your performance. A blessing for you.
The Hans Zimmer was amazing… I wonder who came first - Zimmer or Glass? I do hear great similarities in sparseness, aura and melody between this composition and some of the earlier Glass pieces from the 70s and 80s. Anyway, a beautiful rendition of a beautiful organ piece - thank you Ben.
Lovely 😊 video again Ben loved the st Thomas organ and I hope you can go again and thank you for sharing your story’s about the church’s you visit you always make it so special bless you
Many fugues by other composers sound good despite being fugues. Fugues by Bach sound good because they are fugues. His "Little" fugue in G Minor is one of the greatest fugues of all time. This was a beautiful performance of that masterpiece. The whole program today was full of soul; celestial harmonies.
Loving the history that you obviously spend time researching for these videos. And, yes, please, a longer recital. And as someone else requested, some baroque, please, and thanks.
One of your finest programmes to date that I have had the privilege of watching. Thank you very much - in the bright winter sunlight (more like an English mild summer's day!) of South Africa your deep insight and love of the organ shone through even more brightly.
Just beautiful! As a trained singer, I know "Where'er You Walk" like my name! Also, the Fugue in g Minor by J.S. Bach is one I played many times over the years. Thank you, Ben, for sharing your mastery of, and love for music!
Wonderful! I played that instrument in 1983 when it, and the church were in a bad way. I’m delighted to hear it in such good shape in your hands. I took on the displaced church choir in 1983 (renamed The St Thomas Singers) in their new home at Cotham Church where I was organ scholar. I wonder if they are still going! I enjoyed the Interstellar piece - it’s quite the thing at the moment.
What a beautiful sound this organ has. And yes of course to more music from this church. And so nice that it is still used by the Romanian community as a working church.
Ben, I do enjoy your playing,and have watched many of your videos-I am from London,and am a church-going Christian,and know a lot of Organists !! I am aware that you seem to enjoy doing this,and it’s nice to see you gaining permission to enter and play at the various churches,that you do !!
Ben, thank you again for a great video. The sound from this organ is indeed wonderful. The base notes listening with headphones gave me goose bumps. Yes please play his organ again. I need to keep my beard as it's winter here in the south of Oz. David.
The Lord must love music as beautiful as this to be played in these churches I think heaven is full of these wonderful and beautiful compassions man of which were written for his glory these are short and a longer playing time would be great but it’s the free time to listen to them if longer
Well Ben. That was really wonderful. I loved every second. Even the racket of the city reminded me that I am happy I don’t have to listen to it very often. That church is lucky that it has been rescued. Maybe if you play there more frequently, someone will throw all that junk out. The music was perfect. I will take as much of it as you offer. And I’m glad we have the old you back too! Thanks for your wishes for summer. My younger son and my granddaughter are coming for supper. It’s 13 degrees so I doubt we will be eating outside.
Meanwhile, in NW Ohio, the prediction is for 7 days in a row of heat index readings of 105 F. (40.5 Celsius). Remind me to revise my will to include Ben and Friends of Friendless Churches.) 😓 😸
@@lizwilliams14 There's just no end to the weather tricks we're seeing of late. What's next here? I'm hoping it's "only" cicadas. (Although I confess to wanting to hear them just once, since I've read that they can reach 100 db!)
Ben, I’ve listened to nearly all of your episodes, and I think this one may have been the best in terms of story, organ sound, and quality of recording. Truly magnificent. Thank you, Ben!
My husband and I really enjoyed this episode. Are you planning a concert there? I would love to listen to one from this church. You can tell just from this video that the acoustics are amazing. It would be so lovely to have the locals and visitors come and enjoy this church. Thank you for taking some of us to places we will likely never visit. (From Chicagoland)
Hello, Ben. Wonderful to see you smile again 😉 In answer to your question, yes, please; longer concert at this church would be greatly appreciated. The sound of the organ was beautiful.
Beautiful. I’m amazed at the conservation of old churches throughout England. Of course there are none so old in the USA, but sadly, very few here have been preserved at all.
The restoration of the organ at St Thomas the Martyr is celebrated by Where’er you walk from Handel’s opera Semele played by Ben, thankfully no longer looking like Rasputin. Today I heard another organ much admired by Handel with sharp keys white and other keys black, with a chimney flute stop, very different from Ben’s beloved open diapason.
Thanks Ben, for showing us such a great church and beautiful organ. Shame the Goblins got at it and that it had to be rebuilt, but at least it's still playable. Nice to see the church is still being used for services, even if not by the Bristolians. At least the Romanians appreciate it. Enjoyed you choice of tunes, including the modern piece. That keyboard looks like it needs a good scrub. Yes, a return visit would be appreciated, with an extended episode, if possible.
That is a beautifully played Bach Prelude, Ben! That organ does it justice. The sound of those pipes shimmers with a brilliance but oh so sweet! Thank you for taking me on such a wonderful journey of these historic churches and organs. Bless you!
Beautiful sounding organ, you mentioned its a tracker, I'm in California and the oldest pipe organ on the west coast is in St Pauls Episcopal church in Sacramento CA. The previous organ blower blew up one early Sunday morning back about 1915 and they bought a 1870ish tracker out of Philadelphia and installed it in the church. Its also a very nice sounding pipe organ
What an incredible organ. And the acoustics seem to be extraordinary. It would be great to hear an entire concert played by you at this location. A portable organ. Can`t wait to see and hear it.
If only I was closer> You are providing a valuable service to all those that came before. Composers and organ builders alike. Thank you for your efforts.
