Widor Toccata at St-Sulpice - Scott Lamlein, organ - July 3, 2022 

Thanks so much!

Thank you so much, Marc! Truth be told, I don't always feel that articulation works, depending on the space, but here, in "Widor's room", it surely does!

You actually see this happening with the lady in the pink shirt walking outside at 0:33 behind her husband in the red shirt, and then reconsidering and staying at 0:37 gasp in awe haha

Yes it was! Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, how kind! It was an amazing experience.

Yes, this is a truly remarkable organ. One of my regrets is that I passed St Sulpice at midnight but did not return and now we are both too decrepit to to return to La belle Paree for a wander! At least I have RU-vid to remind me.

Very True listen to it on different occasions but it is magnificent...

Played on the Organ it was written on.

How wonderful, Kirsty! Thanks for sharing.

He is an incredible talent and one of the nicest people. What a joy!

Us too for our wedding. The renowned composer David Farnon did the honours.

@@Calvadoslash I do agree, it was played more slowly than even I had ever heard it played before. Nevertheless, I loved the deep rich times of this particular organ, so it didn’t worry me too much and I did enjoy that he really used the rich deep footnotes to their full extent which I enjoyed, because I feel that they really add to the drama of the piece, yet so many organists I feel, seem too scared to use them adequately. I will understand if you disagree with the comments I have made. You are welcome to criticise my comments. Yes, he could have played it a little less slowly and if it had been any other organ, particularly one not as large, I would have definitely wanted it to be brought up to the speed for which it was written. Thank you though for your comments. I appreciate your feedback. Warmest wishes Kent🙏🕊✝️🕊🛐🕊🙏

This piece is abused by a lot of Organists by the tempo they play it, which has turned it into a show piece and a demonstration of playing ability. I am not impressed by demonstration of playing ability when a composition is performed in a style contrary to the composer’s original intentions for its performance. This performance, however is an example of original conformity played on Widor’s organ.

Thank you so much, Edward! It was a thrill to play there, to say the least.

Thank you!

Thank you so much!

I totally agree, it’s plaid at the sedate pace it was written to be. I have heard Widor play it himself. This is the best I’ve heard since and I have heard so many other organists play it so ridiculously quickly, as though they are showing off. I love this one also as the very best use of the foot stops are ranked up!! Bravo.

As I have never married, I am going to have this recording and no other played as the recessional at my Requiem Mass 😊

@@kentbloxham3826 Sorry to say so but it is written faster If I read the partiture. The version You heard Widor playing was when he was 88 years old , So his hands could not match up anymore because this heavy stuff to play for an Organplayer. I agree however that alot of players play it too fast , but this one is definite too slow..

Thank you so much, James!

Thank you so much, Richard!

It was incredible and surreal to play. Thank you, Ann!

@@scottlamlein9637 Like you, I too enjoy playing the pipe organ! I've had some experience playing them! They are so much fun and uplifting!

Thank you!

Thank you, Jd!

Thank you so much! I was really tying into the emotion of being in that space, playing that piece, feeling the presence of those who have gone before me. I wanted to hear every moment...

@@scottlamlein9637 so great, it really comes across! and in my opinion, you didnt overdo it. this, plus playing so well while being this emotional, i find very impressive 👏👏👏

Thank you so much!

Thank you, Danielle!

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much, Marcia! It was an absolute thrill.

Thank you, Larry!

Thank you so much!

Thank you, Paul! It was a humbling and thrilling moment.

Actually the keyboard touch is not all that heavy. Played Dupre B Major and Widor 6 there. Not that taxing on the hands.

Merci beaucoup!

Thank you!

Merci!

You make a good point, Jeff… I never thought so many would watch this. I’ll add some info to the description about the amazing Cavaille-Coll organ at St-Sulpice.

Thank you so much!

@@scottlamlein9637 have a great week😁

Thank you!

Thank you!

It's the slowest I've ever played it - there's something very different about the work in its original home!

Thanks so much! I used Daniel's registrations, exactly, as he had put much research into how Widor himself played this work.

It is tracker action, and it is very noisy/visceral when close up and playing.

You can hear/see close up in the second half of this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-369D6LaqzYo.htmlsi=TifhEJrE4qXlXDEZ

This was filmed spontaneously by my wife with her iphone - best we could do. See the link in the description for more excerpts and rehearsal footage. Thanks for your interest.

My wife did the best she could, randomly shooting footage while I played the recital. Click the link in the description and you can see the practice session from the previous evening, with lots of shots of the organ and the time-consuming process of preparing to play this monumental instrument!

Nope, fool. This is the tempo that WIDOR himself played it at. Poor musicians play faster to cover up their poor skill and musicianship. That would be YOU.

Claude, you should listen to how Widor himself executed this work - it is/was available on RU-vid. Scott has played it here so close to Widor. I invite you to post yourself playing this, inasmuch as you feel you can do better.

@@tedcoons1264 Maybe Widor played it at this tempo, but maybe he was old when he played it. When you listen to Marcel Dupré recordings in Saint-Sulpice, when he got old he played quite slowly his own works, slower than he was younger. I got the score in the first publishing of the Widor Toccata, it is written 'Allegro 118 for crotchet' (US 'quarter note'). I am not really fanatic of high tempi (cf Virgil Fox), but this toccata can be played a bit faster than here without betraying Widor, in my opinion. Greeting.

Played exactly the way WIDOR played it himself. It’s on RU-vid if you don’t believe me. Arrogant, unknowing fool, you.

Thank you!