Added: 4 years ago
From: artofmusic2
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  • I have to say I like the sound of the organ from the 1983 CSO recording a bit better

  • I just love a good organ xxxx

  • this song gives me chills.

  • I love this music but the organ here is inadequate. It should sound out over and above the orchestra. This one is feeble.

  • This organ part of this symphony is seriously the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. The notes are very simple, but their distances between each other are absolutely perfect. I am stunned and get goosebumps every time I hear it. Phenomenal.

  • Did anybody ever pretend it was a professional video????? Of course not!!!! It was recorded with a very small amateur camera!

    Anyway that organ really was very weak...

  • Wrong, professional video can record audio at 48K or even 96K. This piece was badly miced and based on the switcher effects, very badly recorded. It looks like an amateur job, if it was a professional directing, that person should hide their face.

  • Acoustics are not always brilliantly captured by video, which may account for the weakness of the organ everyone seems to think makes an original comment. That considered, I still appreciate having found this video. =)

  • @tashybellgoesrawr, isn't that an Allen digital organ? If so there's your problem right there. My university had one of those in its new auditorium, and a wonderful Zimmer and Sons pipe organ in its original auditorium. As far as I'm concerned, they should rip that P.O.S. Allen out and had it crushed. A crime against the ears of humanity. Real organs have pipes!!!!!

  • @rubycodez

    No It is NOT an Allen...Lighted draw stops most likely a Rogers

  • @JoRoAM1 , Rogers and Allen digital organ can both make a very satisfying sound, *when they are crushed!!* To hades with digital organs!

  • @rubycodez Hi

    I am not about to suggest that electronic "toasters" will ever replace a good pipe organ. They are in fact faximilies but some like Allen, Rodgers, M&O, Walker can be convincing. I have no room for 39 ranks of pipes, nor the budget,for my home organ which affords me practise very conveniently. Portability for purposes such as concerts and exposure to good organ playing in addition to budget considerations means there is a place for digital organs with good audio.

  • does anyone have a piece of this for organ or piano?

  • @momosenpai06 I got the score and notes for Organ Symphony for Woodwinds..And there is a Organ part there :) hehehehe....

  • The organ is light here.

  • Where are the organ pipes? Don't know the venue. Or is it an electronic instrument?

  • @Earlybirdmusic1 - It looks like a Rodgers organ, which if that is the case, then it is indeed electronic. Rodgers is one builder that uses the light-up stop knobs.

  • yes the organ is too weak and the percussion way too heavy....

    but I love this peice....

  • what do you expect from brussels? a non entity city and country!!!

  • I heard this last night at Royal Albert Hall, London. The organ there has 10,000 pipes and makes the entire hall shake when this piece is played. Thats what an organ should do!

  • haha i played this at a church in seabright, new jersey when I was 18. one of the better memories of my entire life, actually

  • A beautiful piece and wonderfully played.

  • BABE

  • @sannesanne1991

    THE PIG

  • Would love to hear this played on the Macy's Philadelphia organ -- the largest in the world, with over 28,000 pipes.

  • I have just about all the recordings of this symphony from Piero Coppola to the present. It's a symphony I fell in love with as a teenager when I heard it on a live broadcast from Boston's Symphony Hall with Munch and E. Power Biggs. My poor AM radio never had a chance so when it was again performed with Biggs and Munch, I got rush tickets and sat midway up the floor level in center. When Biggsy let loose, it blasted everyone. I think as far as recordings go the Myerson Organ is best for organ.

  • That'll do Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, That'll do.

  • lol

  • @angryredcom

    I lol'd so hard... lol

  • I think there is very little impact of the organ due to the recording, perhaps not to the performance. The sound on this video is incredibly pinched and I think we are lucky to hear any notes below 100 Hz.

  • somewhere, at this very moment, someone is listening to this and crying tears of joy.

  • That'll do pig. That'll do.

  • orry but for me the orgasm is too weak...

  • Ooh, nasty sounding organ!

  • Heard this at the Albert Hall not long after the organ was rebuilt. When you hear that opening C Major you almost had to have seat belts on.

  • organ is like a little yamaha - disappointing!

  • its similar to the Borodin symphonie # 2 at least the beginning

  • I have to agree - Eugene Ormandy w. Chicago Symphony is the best I've heard so far.

  • brass section is a bit flatulent

  • The organ seems electronic, the hall has a terribly 'dry acoustic' and the orchestra plays coarsely, and makes a bad error a 4.36. Surely a n affluent city can afford a better orchestra, a better acoustic - a church, say, and above all a pipe organ such as surely be in a church. This is just not good enough.

  • this is what happens when you use an electric organ... in a hall in Antwerp no less.

  • as a mand i cant cry, but this will always make me cry, with a good heart

  • Sorry ... an "appliance" just doesn't cut it for this monumental symphony!

    In my opinion :-)

    Find a good pipe organ!

  • That'll do musicians, That'll do

  • @orchi99 you made me lol at 5 am,bravo

  • @orchi99 lol

  • Comment removed

  • oh... never thought there were Organ Concertos... although... I think I still prefer the organ as a solo instrument

  • @TempoFurioso Well, it's not a concerto.

  • Awesome!

  • Interpretation is wonderful! Organ is not! They should have at least rented a much larger instrument than that tacky weak digital organ! How embarassing!

  • Conductor should have made it faster.

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  • Comment removed

  • This piece is well performed! However, the organ is too weak! The needs more pedal and more from the "great" manual. Next time, use a Allen organ with four manuals and a number of sub-woofers! Wayne from Down-Under.

  • Not the first person to suffer from a weak organ and probably not the last. :)

  • Gorgeous! Love the tinkling piano... and the regal organ :)

  • nice quality video too bad it's just the very ending :(

  • Babe ftw

  • Babe was the ONLY movie EVER to make me cry. I even saw Old Yeller and Hotel Rowanda, and Pursuit of Happyness, but Babe was the only one that had me reach for the tissues.

  • lol

  • If you don't like the mixing or volume, just purchase the cd! :-) I did!

  • Nice recording!

  • the organ is not the best part, i think the stringed arangement is what make this so awsome .33 - 1.10

  • Yes. Yes it does.

  • go horns!!

  • NOT ENOUGH ORGAN

  • It is a Symphony «with organ», no a «Concerto for Organ and Orquestra!» ...The function of the organ is like a part of the whole, but no a soloist function. (sorry about my english)

  • Yes, i took Music as a GCSE option, we listened to this as an extract, i thought i recognised it from babe, its such a good piece

  • Something's awfully wrong with the blend.. and the organ sound. The opening C major (and the last minute) of the last movement should shake the foundations and rattle the walls of the hall... Saint Seans was making his most strident statement here.. and this version is a paltry, timid whisper.

  • I agree

  • couldn't have put it better myself.

    That first opening 'C major' should blow you to the other side of the room.

  • Anybody recognize this as the main theme for the movie "Babe"?

  • @brucetelfeyan

    yup, that's it, and also some hippie folks sang it reggae style back in the 80's or so

  • @MrPaulVanRavenswaay Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley 'If I Had Words' 1978.

  • one of the best works ever, however audio on this sucks.

  • Maybe it's poor micing; can't hear the organ or strings as much but, man, you sure hear the brass and percussion!

  • Like phantom regiment from rockford plays that while marching on the field !

  • So does Byrnes High School in SC. And we do it pretty darn well, if I say so myself. =P

  • Oh, if only I had words....

  • sorry but for me the organ is too weak...

    if you have never heard this piece before, the organ MUST blow you away at the first C Mayor Chord... here you can slightly hear it -.-

  • egestus18- i agree- the organ is definitely underpowered- gets drowned out at times- it should come in like a clog-dancing elephant in rainbow armour. This version is too polite!

  • @Egestus18 love ur old post. i just came from lady gaga telephone screen...what a clmate change. discovered this in the BABE movie and started rooting around. have heard all versions...i think 1 has a stronger organ maybe the mormon version.

  • @Egestus18

    Agree. The first few rows of the audiences have to be blown out of their seats

  • Comment removed

  • @godzilloid Exactly, If the first couple rows aren't utterly obliterated and the 5 behind them don't go totally deaf, then the song has failed and there is no safety reason that warrants the back seats XD

  • @Egestus18 I agree the organ is not powerful enough for this piece of music. I have heard this played by the Philadelphia Orchestra using an electronic organ and it was a great disappointment.

    But I think this is a problem, finding very many powerful organs in concert halls. I suggest this piece played on a Cathedral organ with several thousand pipes would be spectacular!

  • @Cosgarne92 There was just done a recording by JAV with Daniel Roth on the big Cavaille-Coll Organ of Saint-Sulpice... There is a short preview... and it rocks ;)

    

  • @Cosgarne92 I don't know how many pipes the Notre Dame cathedral organ has but you might enjoy it. I agree with your criticism of electronic organs. I used to think they were wonderful but as I got more involved with organ music I realised they just don't have the power to make a good impression. Anyway here is a link to it watch?v=4_9J32lV81Q

  • @Egestus18 I agree, it should be a nice powerful blast for the organ part, especially at the finale'.

  • @AdmRomulus Cant wait for Christmas... under the tree will be: Daniel Roth with his son Xavier Roth recording Saint-Saens live in St. Sulpice... The neighbours will know :)

  • @Egestus18 turn up the sound.

  • @jimbostratus I take that as a joke... turning up the sound would not quite change anything at the horrible sound of that "organ"....

    I have a wonderful (live) recording of this symphony done last year by Francois-Xavier Roth as conductor and his father Daniel Roth at the organ of St. Sulpice, Paris. I dont think there is any better organ for this piece, especially because Saint-Saens was organist at a Cavaille-Coll organ himself.

  • @Egestus18 If you have listened to that, you will never ever be able to listen to this recording...

  • @Egestus18 sorry to ask, and not trying to be rude or nasty, but are you a homosexual?

  • @jimbostratus I dont know what that has to do with this recording or why you ask... but yes I am... so what? :)

  • @Egestus18 oh it has nothing to do with anything, i just felt quite judgmental

  • @jimbostratus nice hit... ;)

  • @Egestus18 agereed...i dont like the stop selection at all, too churchy... the best I've heard this piece is on the mighty Cavaille-Coll organ in St. Ouen in Roth, France...i think the video is still up on here too

  • @javajo46 yes i know that recording, too :)

    but its a studio recording of the orchestra and a (of cause) live recording of the organ mixed together later...

    the recording mentioned by me done by father and son Roth in St. Sulpice was live... really nice ;)

  • @Egestus18 when my dad plays when he does the mayor chorch it use to proper scare me and make me cry when i were young :L xD

  • MELODY OF GOD!!!!!!!!!

  • This is just so awesome!

    We have the organ part only before the preaching of the Holy Gospels after the Allellui and Verse.

  • i get chills every time i hear this piece. it is WONDERFUL!

  • This piece is OK, every symphony orchestra in the land feels obliged to program it to give the organ some exposure. I'd much rather hear the Jongen, it is just electrifying. Virgil's performance of it here on youtube is wonderful.

  • I remember the first time I heard this piece I was driving home and it was on the radio.. I actually pulled over to sit back and enjoy it.. was so overwhelmed by it.

  • Breath-taking; I had chills running down my back the whole time. Simply brilliant and majestic! This is God's gift to man; a sample of who He is.

  • FOR THE EMPEROR!

  • absolutely incredible.. only few words can describe this song and unfortunately for me i don't know them.

  • We agree absolutely - a real organ is needed to bring this magnificent music to life.

    The soul enriching spine-chilling version on Saint Saens St Ouen, Rouen does exactly that.

    We are so grateful for Ranket16's posting of this incredibly grand version.

  • The organ in the version you're talking about completely overpowers the piece in my opinion. This is much smoother.

  • I somebody singing a song there ? Have not seen anyone

  • i meant piece genius.

  • This is awesone piece of work. Note, that the organ is there all the time but unless you have a large stereo, you can't hear it.

  • Oh how on EARTH could anyone compose this most glorious and orgasmic few minutes of music and then just piss it all away?

  • huh??

  • And your point is ....... ?

  • Sorry I was responding you uaigneach I dont know what he means by "piss it all away"

  • what the hell do you mean?

  • amazing!

  • Oh, God...

    0:32---1:50

    Possibly the most gorgeous piece of music I've ever heard. Just awe-inspiring, a music straight from God...

  • Goodness....what a dreary organist though. This piece requires an organist with... panache !! This one just looks terrfied

  • I don't know if I'd disagree with you wholesale, but consider this eunuch of an instrument he had to work with; unfortunately, even the most prestigious venues aren't willing to anty up for the spectacular investment of a fine instrument. My guess is that even Marie Claire Alain would have had trouble getting this organ to sing for it's supper!

  • A considered comment...quite unusual for Youtube...yes, I agreee entirely...I listen to this though and somehow wish that Saens Sens had been born an Italian...the start of this is one of the most brilliant (In its literal sense) ever written...but after the opening fireworks it descends into a sort of musical waffle which an italian would not have allowed to happen! There is another performance of this somewhere one Youtube which is played on an Organ in Boston and it is very different. - Peter

  • I agree that the organ part does seem to be a little underpowered compared to other versions- could be a problem with the recording rather than the performance???

  • In 1980 there was a TV documentary featuring the first streams of images of Jupiter sent back by Voyager 1. The gas bands in the atmosphere were shown racing around the planet at different speeds, in different directions, swirling about the Red Spot. The soundtrack to it all was this movement in the Organ Symphony. There could not have been a better choice.

  • The symbols' crashing in this recording is dissonant and unbalanced, adding a section where cacophony is prevalent in the otherwise assonant piece.

  • Awesome!

  • Extremely beautiful, I could listen to the start forever, musicgasm at 0:32, just epic.

  • 1:10 is good

  • 4:23 is good

  • Is it me or are there laods of empty seats in that theatre

  • I suppose it's you ;-) There were more than 1500 spectators...

  • In that case it's a 3000 seat theater cause there ARE loads of empty seats

  • Queen Elisabeth Hall

    The finest jewel in our Congress and Concert Centre. It seats 2000 in plush comfort to enjoy the show on stage. It offers a marvellous view of the stage from every angle and every single seat. Concert pianists and rock stars highly appreciate of its flawless acoustics. ...

  • Realy nice peace :-) The composer was amazing!

  • lolrofl peace

  • damn thats nice shame most of the awesome´ness was lost through the recording would have been better to have been there!

  • As Fluffzzzz noted, I first heard this melody in the 1977 song by Yvonne Keeley and Scott Fitzgerald so that's what I was thinking of when I heard the Thomas Cook advert!

  • That organ needs some actual pipes and some wind behind it. Maybe some bombarde down to 32' too. Is that a digital organ? Saint-Saens' music needs some serious, actual pipes blowing out this tune. Good playing though.

  • While it is most famous for being used in 1995's Babe, the first time I ever heard this piece was from the official film for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.

  • Oh right lol, I thought Saint-Saens was the name of the orchestra, Didn't know it was the composer's name. thanks.

  • I saw the Thomas Cook ad too! Couldn't remember where the piece was from for a few days then I remembered Babe. Who is it? Beethoven? So happy I found it, great song!

  • The video title kind of gives it away lol; It's Saint-Seans' 3rd Symphony.

    FYI: If you ever watched Jonathan Creek, the opening titles song theme was a Saint-Seans aswell. 'Dance Macabre' - fantastic

    ...Who'd have thought singing mice could pull off this theme so well? haha

  • I forgot this was on Babe. I saw that Thomas Cook advert and remembered hearing the song ages ago - I'm not really that into classical music but this really sends shivers down my spine.

    I guess I also like beethoven's 9th too.

  • organ symphony with the organ bits all but cut out! well edited.

  • when they started playin the familiar bit a tear came to my eye...its soooo beautiful

  • Nice classic for classic lovers. But for us heathens who like the Babe movie theme the melody is ace. It sort of translated it for us to enjoy it also without all the confusion of the orchestra. Every one to there own Ta for the show.

  • My favorite recording of this is still old old Columbia recording w/Bernstein conducting. I hate to hear it played fast.

  • this piece is amazing, if you really want too hear it played with balls listen to Phantom Regiment(drum corps) playing it, if you dont know who Phantom are look them up on the DCI website or their own websitem, it will blow you away :-)

  • i think this is a beautiful yet undderated piece, i've been trying to find it on itunes, however it's not amongst their classical musicians. i am obviously not searching hard enough, however if anyone knows where i can get a copy of this piece please say.

  • You can indeed get it on iTunes - type in 'Babe - Symphony No. 3 Organ Finale' and it should come up.

  • lol. I should've known. A friend of mine (knowing nothing about classical music) and she yelled 'OMG THIS IS FROM BABE!'. I'll be checking itunes with those tags.

  • beautiful orchestration. however i agree

    with other comments about the c major chord.

    the paint should have been coming off the walls

    on the downbeat!

  • A chamber organ just doesn't cut it for this piece, which is why it only works in Cathedrals/chapels.

  • The first chord that the organ plays (C major) is far to weak which continues through out I'm playing this next year on a cathedral organ and the chords have a great importance to carry the piece through. When the main part of the organs tune is played here the brass and percussion almost blow the organ away!!

  • Muito Bom! Mas resalvo que o Timpano está muito alto, expressivo por demais.

  • Weak! The organ should just come out and ring that C and G major chords!!! What a shame!!

  • yea.. it should be all about the organ here ! :O

    ..

  • Yeah. But even few professional orchestras manage to get that awesome balance between the orchestra and the organ. Munch's interpretation (I video-response-d it) is one of those rare ones.

  • if in doubt, go with the original. ive watched so many totaly screwed pop versions of this song, its really depressing that such a beautiful melody can be tortured to such an extent, not naming names here (*cough* westlife *cough*)

  • what did westlife do with it?! shit i havent heard about that!

  • WOW beautiful...

    just beautiful.

  • anybody know where i could get keyboard music for this song?

  • Who would arrange a symphony for keyboard? That's completely immoral.

  • It's sort of like covering Bob Dylan; completely sinful and a crime against music, but sometimes, very rarely, it just works.

  • Not any more immoral than this organist seemingly wearing some kind of hawaiian shirt (around the 1 minute mark). It must be remembered that we don't live in a perfect world... :(

  • And the organist is playing on a tiny little Deep South chapel organ.

  • Before radio and the phonograph, it was common to have arrangements of many great symphonies and tone poems arranged for piano, 2 - 4 hands. So, you can probably still find reprints of this somewhere. Try Patelson's in NYC. But don't overlook your local library either!

  • Well, Liszt, for one.

  • I actually played in this concert, and I'm absolutely amazed at the number of hits and comments the recording has received.

    To be fair, it doesn't do us justice. From where I was sitting, the Saint Saens sounded good and felt marvellous, and the audience of 1500 seemed to enjoy it too.

    We will be performing it again - with a REAL ORGAN!!! - at Eglise OLV Ter Duinenkerk, Koksijde, on Saturday 25 October at 20h. You're all welcome (though NB the church probably doesn't seat 25,000 (-:)

  • Lots of horn fluffs and an electric organ to boot. The brass is so loud and out of tune it seems the symphony has become re-titled the "Brass" symphony.

    Strings ARE excellent though.

    Waste of a post.

  • The Organ is a total piece of shit, You cannot perform a piece like this with such a tiny small sounding organ. And having mentioned the orchestra, it it is not even nearly able to perform any piece like this, intonation and sound is horrible. First of all in the brass section!!

  • I like the balance between organ and orchestra in this excerpt. Many performances and recordings of this piece use a voicing on the organ so loud that the orchestra is overpowered. Same with other symphonies with organ; take the Mahler 8. If you look at his registration the organist uses nothing like the full works. The balance is a deliberate decision, and there would have likely been someone in the main body of the auditorium during rehearsals to make sure the levels were correct.