E. Power Biggs plays Maple Rag on the pedal harpsichord

[vitoduval]

reminds me of Lurch playing during the Addams roaring 20s theme party

[BizzMarki]

What a big and powerful name E. Power Biggs is!

[SebSirois]

one word, wow

[RossiniSoprano]

I smiled all the way through this!  :-D

[rogelio2ify]

I sent E Power a fan letter in response to his Joplin album. A couple Christmases thereafter, I received a card from Mr Biggs, a friendly note, which I saved. He passed away not long after that.

[steelersfanhawaii]

Best organ composer in history - Bach. Best piano composer in history - Joplin. Are they related? The late Virgil Fox in a joking way suggested so....

[Amunhotep4th]

Personally I like this rendition - Biggs was always one of my favorite organists !

[OfficerRobertHall]

Where did you get all these pix of Biggsie? I especially like the one of him sitting at his Challis pedal harpsichord.

[robertgift]

Sony SUCKS. When will they remove this Youtube video, claiming the work is not licensed to be heard in this country?

They did that with Biggs' "Jig" fugue recording.

[3dwurli]

@robertgift I dont see the big recording companys point in having stuff removed from youtube when its not making them alot of money and they have ceased production on the recording, in which case, it doesnt make them any money!

[robertgift]

@3dwurli Maybe the Sony morons think they well sell a few CDs of Biggs.

I will not buy anything Sony.

When will they take this recording down?

[jeiluifang]

The pedal section of the harpsichord sound like a highly distorted electric bass, very intresting. Does each pedal happen to play two strings of the same tuning?

[PedalSteelKing]

I can tell by the heavy sound that an early Harpsichord is being used. Historical Harpsichords have a much lighter sound and a much lighter action. I have played one of these but a Pleyel. They sound great for horror film and modern composition but a modern pedal Harpsichord is far brighter and much easier on the fingers. I do love this though. If you want this sort of sound without much cost then buy a William de Blaise, although they don't have pedal-boards.

[irkibby]

According to the status, someone actually clicked dislike. What is there to dislike??!!

[robertgift]

I played this on a regular non pedal harpsichord.

Why play a piano work on a pedal harpsichord?

[64ftContraBombarde]

@robertgift Why play a piano work on a harpsichord?

[rufus888]

@64ftContraBombarde: Why play a harpsichord work on the piano?

[64ftContraBombarde]

@rufus888 My point exactly.

[JoePeterzak]

@64ftContraBombarde Because it sounds better. Duh. You are probably one of those who bash the Theatre Organ and its poplular music too. : - |

[64ftContraBombarde]

@JoePeterzak I've never played a theatre organ. Nor do I want to.

[JoePeterzak]

@64ftContraBombarde OK.  But I think you should give the Theatre Organ a try some time. The 16' English Post Horn on 15-inches of wind is "interesting" and gives a similar nasty dirty effect that the pedals of this harpsichord does. A nice change from the usual church organ Contra Bombarde. lol (joking) : - )

[64ftContraBombarde]

@JoePeterzak Theatre organs are quite hard to come by where I am! I prefer romantic Willis' etc.!

[JoePeterzak]

@64ftContraBombarde Oh my, you live in Ireland ! I understand now. (blush)

I have heard of a Father Willis in Europe in the organ building business.

[64ftContraBombarde]

@JoePeterzak There are quite a few in Ireland, and thousands in England! I play a four manual Willis regularly over here, it's magnificent!

[rottro]

@lovewithoutfear

Very true, He was one of the kindest and funniest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. During practice he would screw around, but work was work.

[sfbonedoc]

Thanks for posting this. One wishes that the entire LP would be released as a CD. The Challis sound is certainly unique.

[boringalias]

@sfbonedoc the album is available on a CD with the title Joplin: Super Hits

[HerrWarja]

To much reverb?

[oxenholme]

The sound has been transferred too loud! It isn't distorted like this on the record.

[irkibby]

The pedals sound magnificently dirty.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Brilliant rendition.  Most enjoyable.

[bipstah]

Had the pleasure of singing in 'Biggsie's" choir. He was great fun and had a wonderful sense of humor along with amazing talent.

[Diapasonic]

Great fun! Sounds like Wanda Landowska having a good time.

[JupiterIV]

Makes you wonder whether or not Joplin was originally a cembalist or not.

[KawhackitaRag]

@JupiterIV As far as I know, he wasn't, although he reportedly played guitar (and maybe other handheld stringed intruments?), and definitely was a singer (in a quartette, not sure about solo singing) as well as being a cornetist in a brass band. So his music reflects all of these influences. You can hear the brass band influence in some of his tunes like "Cleopha" and "A Breeze From Alabama", and the vocal influence, besides in the songs, is in the careful voice-leading of all the instrumentals!

[philipfillion]

@KawhackitaRag No he was indeed an organist, and a wonderful one at that!