Olli Porthan - J.S.Bach Passacaglia (BWV 582/1). Part 1

[sherpah]

Magnifique , Merci Bach , Merci DIEU

[LindaMargaretFox]

Fantastic interpretation - much more"bite" than most of the other organ versions I've heard. But it's sounding a semitone higher on my computer. One or two other videos of this piece do as well.Others sound at the correct pitch, while at least one is considerably lower. Now,I know that old organs vary in their pitch from city to city, sometimes by as much as a third, but this doesn't look like an old organ. Is it the organ or the processing of the audio which is causing this?

[CHOLACHACAL]

Thank you for these 8 minutes 34 seconds. Each of them wonderful.

[canei1]

Well, - I'm not religious, but... - this sounds like God is talking to mankind.

Thank you so much, Martti.

I'd get tears in my eyes....

[kourosh89]

Excellent version. You can actually hear the audio unlike the Richter version.

[DiggeLibbe]

this is the best version of the passacaglia i was listening to so far

[freeshop1]

exelente interpretacion el sonido de los registros es simplemente estupendo lo felicito exelente.

[Mkamalid]

I so need the audio track to this

[Mkamalid]

hmm, I always associate this with hope and determination/ambition. I don't see much death in it. but i can understand how one would.

[loubnany76]

can we get this on CD????

[AirSea1000]

long one of my favourite Bach organ pieces I chose this as the piece to walk down the aisle with my new bride on my arm twenty one years ago - odd choice I know but so fantastic! I have all Bach's organ music and let me tell you this is brilliantly played - thank you so much l

[wnxg4nd4lf]

@AirSea1000 Odd choice indeed! This piece speaks more for death than life in my humble opinion. But then again life and death are so closely knit that we can't talk about one of them without thinking of the other. In any case this passacaglia is magnificent!

[redbrian3655]

@AirSea1000 What a COOL choice for a Wedding Processional! As an organist, I would be honored if a bride or groom would choose anything other than what they always ask me to play! (notice I am remaining quiet on this issue!!!!) Sad that "minor" = sad, death,non-celebratory. To me it represents AWESOMENESS. Hope your marriage has remained happy. Brian

[JuRo986]

This is great interpretation, I really love it. It is one of the best pieces of Bach. Very nice sound

[NesteHukka2]

Always when I get into this piece, it leads into at least hour long listening of different interpretations.

I have vinyl collection Complete organ music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Murray Hill Records from year 1967, and it has in my opinion the ultimate best rendition of this piece, by Walter Craft. Hard to believe that on 1967 has been possible to also record it so perfectly!

[dderudito]

God left from Earth when J. S. Bach died.

Heil Bach!

[ER16ANICIL]

First of all my respect to this Organist, I am organist too and I have played many times this piece. I feel a little bit "static" the tactus, and sometimes the emotional tension is not properly underlined. For my feeling I play the bass as a "lied" instead of separated ostinated bass. In any case these are technical comments, it is a interesting listening. Regards

[pidog]

This is an absolutely fantastic rendition!

[muurtalo]

Fantastic!!! Kiitos, sir.

[travelerman79]

@mspg2 Yes, but not always. In ABA forms for example. Loud-silent-loud. beside it from forte you can go to FFF or P, from P you have rather one way. Depends on many things.

[accousticdecay]

Greatest music ever... wow, those reeds have a bite.

[trespire]

@accousticdecay I think we are hearing the pipes, not the reeds. Indoor Wind organs are by far the biggest and loudest instruments, the church building acts like a sound box to amplify the instrument.

[NesteHukka]

This piece seems to be difficult to "get in" for most organists, but this interpretation in my opinion represents, what I believe, was intented by Bach considering the rhythm.

[frostzor]

nice basso ostinato

[iselldummysmacks]

Nice and crunchy bass tones. Must come with a well maintained organ I suppose. I've heard a few where you hit the low pedal key and it sounds like the pipe is gonna fall off the wall.

[coxtehude]

good interpretation. carefully chosen tempo. nice skills, too.

also very good sound of the clip, given the limits of youtube.

[organ67]

Great interpretation. Thank you.

[danielkirk1]

Why do some people come here and act like a music professor? Just shut up and listen to what the organist is playing. And to the guy who mentioned "baroque practice", stay out of the grounds you were never in.

This performance is beautiful thank you.

[abcdefgh6719]

Passacaglia on mielestäni Bachin hienoimpia urkuteoksia ja yleensäkin hienoimpia urkuteoksia maailmassa.

Amatöörinä kiinnostaisi onko tuon soittaminen vaikeaa vai erittäin vaikeaa. Pystyykö sen soittamaan kuka vaan koulut käynyt kanttori Suomessa vai tarvitaanko "oikea urkutaiteilija" ?

[LadyofMetal16]

you don't understand Baroque performance practise, otherwise you wouldn't say that

[psykulor]

I've always seen the progression of Bach's Passacaglia as a breaking down more than a layering of different sounds -- I feel that Richter's soft start detracts from the performance. Still, to each his own.

[LadyofMetal16]

The music itself unfolds. No need for fluff i.e.adding and subtracting dynamic ranges. It's all THERE!

[elinitalatvia]

Super! that's one of the best interpretation of Bach's Pssacaglia that i've ever heard! A good example for me how to play this work :))

[florin11bv]

It is very often said that the people of Nord are cold and emotionless. Listening you, Sir, i disagree again and more poverfull such stupid idea. You are playing in such a ...warm way, fantastic.

Can you say something about this organ, please?

From Finland i know only some image with the instrument from the Finlandia Hall.

My deepest respect!

[squigglycircle]

@florin11bv I am not the organist, but this organ is in the church of Kotka (south coast of Finland). It was manufactured quite recently, in 1998, by Martti Porthan organ builders (brother of the organist, Olli Porthan). Google "kotka organ" for more, the Kotka International Organ Competition has plenty of info on the registration and a 360 degree image.

[florin11bv]

@squigglycircle

Thank you so much!

[peteacher52]

@squigglycircle Thanks for the information. The sound of this organ is magisterial; clear and authoritative.

[tjmikko]

write at google:

kotkan kirkon urut

[attenka]

Bachin aikana tosin koristeltiin ja improvisoitiin mutta ymmärtääkseni Bach kirjoitti suurin piirtein kaiken 'ulos' eikä näin ollen jättänyt teostensa esityksiä sen varaan, että soittaja taitaa tai ei taida onnistuneen koristelun. Niinpä Bach toimii tietokoneversioinakin. Kaikki on jo ajateltu, riittää kun toteuttaa sen minkä säveltäjä on kirjoittanut. Porthan tekee sen tässä. Kuulijan osaksi jää vain se, mitä nyt kukin abstraktista musiikista ymmärtää.

[MeinnameistDreck]

Outstanding interpretation! Such precision and flawlessly executed. You have my deepest respect!

[sithlord1012]

haunting

[not4nothing1982]

this is how to play the Passacaglia, you have my estimation, Olli Porthan! best wishes! MAX

[mcvanby]

Meravigliosa intepretazione di una delle più straordinarie opere che l'uomo abbia mai concepito.

[sthra18]

pinchi rola este con madre

[Urkumusiikki]

Aivan samaa mieltä, erinomainen esitys kaikin puolin. Jaanip-parka - epäonnistunut musiikinopiskelija purkaa turhaumiaan...

[Jaanip]

Jotenkin väsähtänyt esitys. Virheetön, mutta ilmeetön.

[tuberman91kills]

Ehkä hieman, rekisterit kuitenkin just kohdallaan o.o

[Music1970Lover]

Esitys on kaikkea muuta kuin väsähtänyt! Kyseessä on erinomainen tulkinta, jossa kaikki on kohdallaan, niin tempo kuin rekisteröintikin.

[marpibal]

Veramente eccezionale, straordinaria interpretazione.

[tuxedomoon]

The absolute organo pleno perfomance,very good

[organcomposer]

Vous jouez tres bien.

Aimeriez-vous jouer et noter mon prelude en Mi mineur ?

Vous play very well. Would you like tu play and rate my prelude in E minor ?

[fritte12]

Exelent!