One last time
No conversation on organ music is complete without a mention of Ms. Diane Bish.
No conversation on organ music is complete without a mention of Ms. Diane Bish.
On The Organ Trail in Manhattan
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norgeway
Well-known member
I
like a pipe organ....BUT I LOVE a Hammond!
like a pipe organ....BUT I LOVE a Hammond!
A hammond is perhaps good for hymns, but is certainly unsuitable for classical music.
Two great performances and then Diane Bish. Perhaps I'm biased, but until now I haven't seen and heard a video on Youtube with her that I liked.
Two great performances and then Diane Bish. Perhaps I'm biased, but until now I haven't seen and heard a video on Youtube with her that I liked.
Oh, Diane Bish. A friend of mine in college used to watch her every week on some cable show or another, and we were mesmerized by how campy the whole experience was. The clothing, the dramatics, the audiences who had never seen anybody move their fingers that fast!! What was all that?
There’s no doubt she has technical skill, but there’s something about her work that is mechanical rather than musical. The organ invites a mechanical approach, not doubt, but the best organists coax something more out of the machine. And I’ve never been fond of her choices in registration. They are not creative, and are often kind of clumsy-sounding assortments, which lead to a certain lack of clarity in the voicing. And I don’t really like her improvisations, either. But I’m sure she’s a lovely person.
[this post was last edited: 7/7/2015-14:52]
There’s no doubt she has technical skill, but there’s something about her work that is mechanical rather than musical. The organ invites a mechanical approach, not doubt, but the best organists coax something more out of the machine. And I’ve never been fond of her choices in registration. They are not creative, and are often kind of clumsy-sounding assortments, which lead to a certain lack of clarity in the voicing. And I don’t really like her improvisations, either. But I’m sure she’s a lovely person.
[this post was last edited: 7/7/2015-14:52]
She was organist at Coral Ridge Presbyterian under D. James Kennedy, a right wing homophobe. She ate a lot in her car while going from one place to another and she told a former colleague here that the car had roaches.
Other than that, she plays too damn fast. She would be great driving a fire truck or an ambulance, but if you want to savor the colors and textures that the notes paint in the music, don't go to her. With her it's all one color of polyester flying off the loom and onto the bolt.
Other than that, she plays too damn fast. She would be great driving a fire truck or an ambulance, but if you want to savor the colors and textures that the notes paint in the music, don't go to her. With her it's all one color of polyester flying off the loom and onto the bolt.
norgeway
Well-known member
Re Hammond not good for classical!
You are exactly right, and classical music is something I cant stand!,,LOL
You are exactly right, and classical music is something I cant stand!,,LOL
lordkenmore
Well-known member
>A hammond is perhaps good for hymns, but is certainly unsuitable for classical music.
Could be a problem in some churches... I know some will occasionally play baroque or classical era music sometimes during the service.
Then, of course, churches--at least in my area--sometimes have organ concerts, which tend to be classical repertoire.
Could be a problem in some churches... I know some will occasionally play baroque or classical era music sometimes during the service.
Then, of course, churches--at least in my area--sometimes have organ concerts, which tend to be classical repertoire.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
A Bach quote. IIRC, I think I heard that he'd been complimented on his organ playing or some such thing:
"There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself."
Yeah, right. Easy for HIM to say! LOL
"There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself."
Yeah, right. Easy for HIM to say! LOL
whirlaway
New member
My Favorite Ethel Smith
She put a hammond in every house!!!!! She could really play the organ,in Ester Williams movies and for Disney in several movies.She could really swing South American songs,that old Mammond would really go to town! Bobby
She put a hammond in every house!!!!! She could really play the organ,in Ester Williams movies and for Disney in several movies.She could really swing South American songs,that old Mammond would really go to town! Bobby
Praise band
is the major reason I will not attend services at the church I belong to.
is the major reason I will not attend services at the church I belong to.
Moller - 1958/1991
Here is one of the last Moller's at our church. Originally built in '58 it was revised and added to in 1991. We are Opus 9201 and they came to ours right after finishing the Calvary Grand Organ down in Charlotte -- that's the one that helped bankrupt them. Some of the work that was done in the revision was not great but passable. It is a very fine instrument but could sincerely use a complete rebuild to make it 100% perfect. This has 3 Ranks of Festival Trumpets and a full length 32' Contra Bombarde.
Here is one of the last Moller's at our church. Originally built in '58 it was revised and added to in 1991. We are Opus 9201 and they came to ours right after finishing the Calvary Grand Organ down in Charlotte -- that's the one that helped bankrupt them. Some of the work that was done in the revision was not great but passable. It is a very fine instrument but could sincerely use a complete rebuild to make it 100% perfect. This has 3 Ranks of Festival Trumpets and a full length 32' Contra Bombarde.
mjg0619
Well-known member
Saint Patrick's Cathedral in NYC is my home away from home. A very dear friend works in the music department there and has let me play the organ during Mass and a few times "after hours".
Have also played at Saint Mary the Virgin, "Smokey Mary's" when I was 16.
Here's a few pics from Saint Patrick's. I can't find any pics from SMV.
Have also played at Saint Mary the Virgin, "Smokey Mary's" when I was 16.
Here's a few pics from Saint Patrick's. I can't find any pics from SMV.
michaelman2
Well-known member
Organ at Spivey Hall - Morrow GA
Emilie Spivey was a grande dame in Atlanta and was the organist at The Temple on Peachtree Rd and several other religious institutions. Her gift to our area was Spivey Hall and the recital hall was fitted with an Albert Schweitzer organ that is really the pièce de résistance.
Not only are the acoustics and organ wonderful the programming is superior as well.
Emilie Spivey was a grande dame in Atlanta and was the organist at The Temple on Peachtree Rd and several other religious institutions. Her gift to our area was Spivey Hall and the recital hall was fitted with an Albert Schweitzer organ that is really the pièce de résistance.
Not only are the acoustics and organ wonderful the programming is superior as well.
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www.spiveyhall.org
Hammonds and pipe organs-like BOTH-but remember pipe organs and Hammond or any other electronic organs were made for different musical purposes.Hammonds were made esp for popular music-litergical and classical organs for religous and classical music.Diane Bish-can agree here-she plays TOO FAST--slow down the tempo,please Mrs Bish.You sound like the player organ where someone set the tempo control to max speed.She plays well-but needs to slow down.
Moller-they used to be the primary gov't pipe organ supplier and maintenance contractor.They supplied the wonderful organ at the Navy Chapel in Annopolis,Md.Seen the organ in person-sadly it wasn't being played at that time-and same with the organ at West Point.And something interesting-the Moller factory is next door to the Fairchild -Grunman Aircraft factory where the A-10 "Warthog" tank killer planes were built.Remember seeing them flying South to Eglin AFB in Ft Walton,Beach Fla for test and deployment.As with the Moller organs had a fascination for the A-10.
Moller-they used to be the primary gov't pipe organ supplier and maintenance contractor.They supplied the wonderful organ at the Navy Chapel in Annopolis,Md.Seen the organ in person-sadly it wasn't being played at that time-and same with the organ at West Point.And something interesting-the Moller factory is next door to the Fairchild -Grunman Aircraft factory where the A-10 "Warthog" tank killer planes were built.Remember seeing them flying South to Eglin AFB in Ft Walton,Beach Fla for test and deployment.As with the Moller organs had a fascination for the A-10.
xraytech
Well-known member
Very fascinating article, while I do not personally know Paul Jacobs, he is originally from my area of Pennsylvania, I know people who are parishoners of the prish he played for as a teenager, Immaculate Conception. I know Pauls mother, and late maternal grandmother, I recall how proud she was when he won a grammy for his organ work. I do hope to attend his concert the next time he plays in Pittsburgh. I am most fond of a recording of him playing the beautiful Von Beckerath organ of St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh.
As for organs I prefer the sound of a pipe organ, sadly I have never had the chance to play one, but I may be lining myself up to enjoy using one at a local church(I assume it to be old and a smaller organ)
In my parish we had a small Moller pipe organ built in 1952, but sadly in the mid 90s a new organist who came with the priest assigned at the time insisted it be removed, she played a 60s Rodgers while the old Moller console was converted into a "Custom" digital organ, she then proceeded to manage to have the choir loft removed, altar enlarged and organ located to the altar, much to most peoples dismay.
Attached are pics of the Moller Console after modification, it is fitted with a mix if Rodgers and Walker electronic components[this post was last edited: 7/26/2015-20:04]
As for organs I prefer the sound of a pipe organ, sadly I have never had the chance to play one, but I may be lining myself up to enjoy using one at a local church(I assume it to be old and a smaller organ)
In my parish we had a small Moller pipe organ built in 1952, but sadly in the mid 90s a new organist who came with the priest assigned at the time insisted it be removed, she played a 60s Rodgers while the old Moller console was converted into a "Custom" digital organ, she then proceeded to manage to have the choir loft removed, altar enlarged and organ located to the altar, much to most peoples dismay.
Attached are pics of the Moller Console after modification, it is fitted with a mix if Rodgers and Walker electronic components[this post was last edited: 7/26/2015-20:04]
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