I have loved this piece since I first heard it played on a massive pipe organ in a broadcast when I was age fifteen. I think I sort of adopted it as my "personal theme music," and still so consider it. I have it as the final piece in the script for my sendoff. But it will have to be on video, since there are so few pipe organs that match this South African marvel. Roucher du Toit performs the piece almost perfectly; I have heard it mangled horribly on several occasions.
one of my favorite pieces. choice of stops is nothing short of brilliant, and that organ's sound is phenomenal. i found that interpretation a bit choppy, though; should have flowed better....overall, fantastic. thanks for posting this one.
It is true that, exceptionally, I played "My favourite things" from Mary Poppins after a sermon where the pastor had illustrated his propos on happiness with a list of his favourite things! People said they remembered THAT sermon better than most because of the music.
Silence after a sermon is also a good idea!
I get the feeling that we constantly hear loud pieces at the end of services, just to drown out all that talk and chatter!
I had a fun service once, as a kind of farewell before a protracted absence (when I was to be replaced by pianists...so it was a use of the organ to a full and dramatic degree), and posted about it under a relevant video. While I always appreciate constructive criticism, I do understand liturgics well. I've played and organized for Latin masses, English masses, and Protestant services in two denominations. Believe me, I know.
Now, that being said, your advice is very good. We often have postludes which are festive and light pieces for piano and a few other instruments on occasions of joy, we have powerful organ postludes on the great feasts, and everything in between. One of the most effective postludes, in terms of the occasion and emotion, I find, is to play the Old Hundredth very grandly, but homophonic, at the end of a funeral service. That clearly, however, would not suit all occasions.
For some weddings at this church, for it is very, very small, I have found it more suitable to the humble occasion to play Gibbons' 'Preludium' on flues without pedals than to finish off with Wagner or some other Romantic thunder. I usually tend to improvise preludes, however, and often incorporate themes into them from the day's hymns. Just this last week, the pastor quoted "Lift every voice and sing" at length, and so I played it during offertory. For each service, it's own music.
However, to the original point, I did actually have reasons beyond "fun" to use this piece:
1) It was the 'featured music' week for the organ (pastor's decision), meaning that the instrument was tasked to be shown off. This piece does that very well.
2) The organ was to fall silent for 3 weeks thereafter, as I was travelling and my sub was a pianist. So I employed it.
3) The sermon was uplifting, there was no occasion for sadness, and It was fun to play and to hear!
And I for Catholic, Lutheran, Congregational, Methodist, Anglicans in three countries ;p
I appreciate your ending to funerals. My own choice is "the strife is o'er, the battle done, now is the victor's triumph won; o let the song of praise be sung".
The (imagined) words seem very appropriate to a resurrection in Christ and the music uplifting.
With you, I could tell! Me, I didn't make that clear. So the fault was entirely mine for the confusion.
That is a very appropriate hymn. For funeral preludes, there's often an old Presbyterian hymn I like to use, "Now the Labourer's Task Is O'er"...have you ever heard or read that one? It's a very serene a peaceful hymn, sets the mood as one of sombre faith, and, if they know the words, one of peace with the loss. Which countries, might I ask?
I didn't indeed know this hymn. "The Church Hymnary". sings it to REQUIESCAT by JB Dykes or HAZEL by Basil Harwood.
"Oxford Hymnal" gives BEDFORD CHAPEL by J Boyce & Harwood. But this was never intended as Ellerton, the author, was born many years after Boyce's death.
"Hymns Ancient & Modern" gives RESQUIESCAT and "English Hymnal" gives PRESSBURG ("nicht so traurig") or REDHEAD N° 76.
EH strangely attributes the text to G Moultrie, a contemporary of J Ellerton!
I'm torn...although I used this at a service today (I know, not quite appropriate, but it is too much fun to pass up), I'm still "learning" it. Anyway, I'm torn between Thalben-Ball's steady tempo and excellent hand at balancing slight speeds and slows in timing (disregard for now du Toit's pauses between sections) and du Toit's exquisite and exciting registrations, along with his ritarded interlude (the Bb bit). I suppose I'll just have to synthesise them...thoughts?
None. This is not the Catholic church; it's a little protestant church which revels in classical music, usually music with no liturgical bearing. They've done Shostakovich Romanzas, Eyeglasses by Beethoven; all manner of entirely secular things. This was too good a foray into that field to pass up, so I did it. Usually, as you're right and I should, however, I do keep the organ music sacred, if everyone else is determined to be secular about it.
Strange to say, Liturgy is not the private property of the catholic church.
In all denominations, organists should be trying to enhance the liturgy.
Even if the liturgy is a hymn sandwich, the pieces we play have no right to be a concert performance! Each one should be a commentary on what has just been heard or is about to be sung.
Even the Finale should sum up the mood of the service, and may well be meditative or sad on occasion.
I believe this is helpful especially in the legato playing of thirds, for the "Heel-to-toe" technique. Used more on romantic works such as this. Baroque works tend not to use that technique nearly as much.
Dr Phibes!
ZombieBlobs 2 months ago
Quite a few wrong notes there...
64ftContraBombarde 9 months ago
The pedal selection seems a bit to heavy.
Chesterbarnes1 9 months ago
Absolutely excellent. First class. Most enjoyable to listen to. Thank you and regards from UK.
adhtz21 1 year ago
I have loved this piece since I first heard it played on a massive pipe organ in a broadcast when I was age fifteen. I think I sort of adopted it as my "personal theme music," and still so consider it. I have it as the final piece in the script for my sendoff. But it will have to be on video, since there are so few pipe organs that match this South African marvel. Roucher du Toit performs the piece almost perfectly; I have heard it mangled horribly on several occasions.
shaneu1 1 year ago
A 'real' organ! And a real organist! This is 'live' at it's best. I have enjoyed this video so much. Thank you.
lokotasioux 1 year ago
You are the most talented organist I have seen perform. Thankyou. Brilliant to watch. All the bestfrom the U.K.
Andy
adhtz21 1 year ago
Roucher Du Toit is certainly the most prestigious and best organist in South Africa as well as internationally recognised.
ryankierman 2 years ago
At the 6:35 to the end, I noticed the F# pedal appears to be binding to the F.
This is a masterful performance of Mendelssohn at his most majestic!
5610winston 2 years ago
Now, that's a organ!
godzilloid 2 years ago
one of my favorite pieces. choice of stops is nothing short of brilliant, and that organ's sound is phenomenal. i found that interpretation a bit choppy, though; should have flowed better....overall, fantastic. thanks for posting this one.
nganir 2 years ago
it i a good thing we have ears an we live in not a vacuum in space, which is why we can hear music.
goodluckpeace44 2 years ago
Jip, over 6000 pipes
stefanvh123 2 years ago
Looks like a massive organ. Fitting for a piece like this.
godzilloid 2 years ago
It is true that, exceptionally, I played "My favourite things" from Mary Poppins after a sermon where the pastor had illustrated his propos on happiness with a list of his favourite things! People said they remembered THAT sermon better than most because of the music.
Silence after a sermon is also a good idea!
I get the feeling that we constantly hear loud pieces at the end of services, just to drown out all that talk and chatter!
This is not a good liturgical approach.
1401JSC 2 years ago
Believe me, I know.
I've been at my job for a while now.
I had a fun service once, as a kind of farewell before a protracted absence (when I was to be replaced by pianists...so it was a use of the organ to a full and dramatic degree), and posted about it under a relevant video. While I always appreciate constructive criticism, I do understand liturgics well. I've played and organized for Latin masses, English masses, and Protestant services in two denominations. Believe me, I know.
NihilNominis 2 years ago
Now, that being said, your advice is very good. We often have postludes which are festive and light pieces for piano and a few other instruments on occasions of joy, we have powerful organ postludes on the great feasts, and everything in between. One of the most effective postludes, in terms of the occasion and emotion, I find, is to play the Old Hundredth very grandly, but homophonic, at the end of a funeral service. That clearly, however, would not suit all occasions.
NihilNominis 2 years ago
For some weddings at this church, for it is very, very small, I have found it more suitable to the humble occasion to play Gibbons' 'Preludium' on flues without pedals than to finish off with Wagner or some other Romantic thunder. I usually tend to improvise preludes, however, and often incorporate themes into them from the day's hymns. Just this last week, the pastor quoted "Lift every voice and sing" at length, and so I played it during offertory. For each service, it's own music.
NihilNominis 2 years ago
However, to the original point, I did actually have reasons beyond "fun" to use this piece:
1) It was the 'featured music' week for the organ (pastor's decision), meaning that the instrument was tasked to be shown off. This piece does that very well.
2) The organ was to fall silent for 3 weeks thereafter, as I was travelling and my sub was a pianist. So I employed it.
3) The sermon was uplifting, there was no occasion for sadness, and It was fun to play and to hear!
NihilNominis 2 years ago
And I for Catholic, Lutheran, Congregational, Methodist, Anglicans in three countries ;p
I appreciate your ending to funerals. My own choice is "the strife is o'er, the battle done, now is the victor's triumph won; o let the song of praise be sung".
The (imagined) words seem very appropriate to a resurrection in Christ and the music uplifting.
1401JSC 2 years ago
With you, I could tell! Me, I didn't make that clear. So the fault was entirely mine for the confusion.
That is a very appropriate hymn. For funeral preludes, there's often an old Presbyterian hymn I like to use, "Now the Labourer's Task Is O'er"...have you ever heard or read that one? It's a very serene a peaceful hymn, sets the mood as one of sombre faith, and, if they know the words, one of peace with the loss. Which countries, might I ask?
NihilNominis 2 years ago
England, France and Germany.
I didn't indeed know this hymn. "The Church Hymnary". sings it to REQUIESCAT by JB Dykes or HAZEL by Basil Harwood.
"Oxford Hymnal" gives BEDFORD CHAPEL by J Boyce & Harwood. But this was never intended as Ellerton, the author, was born many years after Boyce's death.
"Hymns Ancient & Modern" gives RESQUIESCAT and "English Hymnal" gives PRESSBURG ("nicht so traurig") or REDHEAD N° 76.
EH strangely attributes the text to G Moultrie, a contemporary of J Ellerton!
1401JSC 2 years ago
"9 KILLED HER, 9 SHALL DIE!!"
livingElvis 2 years ago
DUDE DR. PHIBES!!!! :)
mortvia 2 years ago
I'm torn...although I used this at a service today (I know, not quite appropriate, but it is too much fun to pass up), I'm still "learning" it. Anyway, I'm torn between Thalben-Ball's steady tempo and excellent hand at balancing slight speeds and slows in timing (disregard for now du Toit's pauses between sections) and du Toit's exquisite and exciting registrations, along with his ritarded interlude (the Bb bit). I suppose I'll just have to synthesise them...thoughts?
NihilNominis 2 years ago
What liturgical significance are you hoping to bring to bear with "War March of the Priests"?
1401JSC 2 years ago
None. This is not the Catholic church; it's a little protestant church which revels in classical music, usually music with no liturgical bearing. They've done Shostakovich Romanzas, Eyeglasses by Beethoven; all manner of entirely secular things. This was too good a foray into that field to pass up, so I did it. Usually, as you're right and I should, however, I do keep the organ music sacred, if everyone else is determined to be secular about it.
NihilNominis 2 years ago
Strange to say, Liturgy is not the private property of the catholic church.
In all denominations, organists should be trying to enhance the liturgy.
Even if the liturgy is a hymn sandwich, the pieces we play have no right to be a concert performance! Each one should be a commentary on what has just been heard or is about to be sung.
Even the Finale should sum up the mood of the service, and may well be meditative or sad on occasion.
1401JSC 2 years ago
I've loved this song since 1981. It was played at my graduation and I love the lower parts.
EtanPete62 2 years ago
The pipe organ is the most complicated machine ever designed for operation by a single user.
I had never noticed before that organists appear to wear high-platform heels.
winston5610 3 years ago
I believe this is helpful especially in the legato playing of thirds, for the "Heel-to-toe" technique. Used more on romantic works such as this. Baroque works tend not to use that technique nearly as much.
Cindermakers 2 years ago
A man with a jolly nice organ oooh errr!!!
scroatweavil 3 years ago
I'm sure he has a reason for the tempo being as it is.
jazstar1 3 years ago
Becuz Hes playing Musically Its not just all the way through
nerakalove 3 years ago
A bit faster with a bit more verve would be good. Not bad though.
invention13 3 years ago
Certainly the best organist in South Africa. International Standards. His website says it all!
brynvanwyk 3 years ago
it's the opening them played by Dr Phibes, my favourite songs
luxdrphibes 3 years ago
Weet jy by eenige kaans waar die grootste orgel in Suid Afrika is?
advisorC101 3 years ago
This is the biggest church organ in South Africa.
stefanvh123 2 years ago
What about the Cathedrals in Johannesberg?
If there's anything I've learnt its that the small churches don't look after their instruments.
But this organ is beautiful.
advisorC101 2 years ago
This is just super awesome! I love the pipe organ. I remember they played these as the prelude at my graduation.
johnmartinez123 3 years ago
a bit slow in places and a few wrong notes too, i said a few as it got a few more! lol
hartnell114 3 years ago
That's why it's called a march.
stefanvh123 3 years ago
Yeah, i think its a bit slow in places like the beginning with not enough pedal stops.
Certainly not the best performance ive heard.
I have not tried playing this though!
organist12345 3 years ago
The CD on his website unfortunately doesn't have War March of the Priests.
eswyatt 3 years ago
This is the only version I've heard that surpasses the version used in The Abominable Dr. Phibes!
eswyatt 3 years ago
i'm according with you!!!!
luxdrphibes 3 years ago
Roucher is one of the best if not the best organist in South Africa!
stefanvh123 3 years ago
Is there a recording I can get?
eswyatt 3 years ago