Joy to The World! Tim Brumfield plays the Great Organ at St. John the Divine

[cyberdaytona]

Wonderfully played, Tim Brumfield! You were always amazing back at EKU ... but you've continued to improve and develop into a master musician! Blaine

[adzeuph5]

wish i could him play this! awsome!

[wpiv926]

That 6 second reverbaration at St. Johns is really something to hear, especially in person. Literally takes your breath away.

[CathedrlCarillonneur]

Those State Trumpets are amazing. I imagine wigs go flying when those fire up.

[stormkingfan]

The State Trumpet is always awesome, but when Tim was using it in the beginning, has anybody noticed that the Zymbelstern was on? At first, I thought it was left on by accident, but now I'm not so sure.

[SweetSounds4u]

@stormkingfan Good ears stormkingfan! Tim used the Zymbelstern in this piece with the idea of the bells adding a more joyful, Christmas-like sound to the arrangement (he never does anything by ‘accident’ at the console!). Though inherently subtle in the context of the full force of this incomparable instrument, its actually one of my favorite stops on the Great Organ, and I certainly think it achieved what Tim intended it to in this quintessential Christmas favorite.

[radketim]

@stormkingfan noticed it right away

[Sesquiltera]

@stormkingfan - those are snowflakes :)

[justcallmejosh]

This is insane! Wow, the organ is incredible. And the structure itself is so over the top. Where can I find online footage of the puppets in procession found in this video at the 1:32 mark? I've never seen anything like it.

[emilewyn]

Words cannot describe!!!!

[PipeOrganDaniel1881]

I love the sound of this Organ, and yes, the organ sounds even better being there, it is a pure surround sound event , It is breathtaking to actually to be in the building with the sound , Words cannot describe it !!!!

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Splendid!! I can never get enough of this organ's State Trumpet stop.

[JDWP254]

this takes my breath away! Is there a CD of this??

[SweetSounds4u]

Glad you like! There is currently no CD with this recording, but Tim has been considering including it on the re-release of his Christmas album, 'The Lights of Christmas', scheduled for Christmas 2010. I say it's an absolute must that he include it!

[oldchik]

this really puts me in the christmas spirit! Tim Brumfield is amazing and the sense of soaring through the cathedral that u get from the video is the perfect touch wow

[2468HOTROD]

Wow, I just love this organ and this place. Now if you could just get the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, to sing with the organ. lol Probably would be over the top???? Thank you for these videos!

[SweetSounds4u]

Over the top? I think it would sound heavenly! Actually, Tim had the opportunity to play the organ at St. Paul's while on tour with the Choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine back in 2001, and by all accounts, that sounded pretty heavenly too! Wonderful voices in great, unique spaces, with a fine player at the helm; if that's over the top, then bring it on!

[2468HOTROD]

I say 'amen' to that!

[trompettechamade1]

@SweetSounds4u The sound and the photography were both excellent. You captured the resonance of the cathedral, and also the two (architecturally) separate parts; The Romanesque choir & sanctuary and the high gothic nave. Very well done indeed!

[haleylovesmusic]

This is absolutely amazing! I can't believe I actually know the person creating that gorgeous music. If I ever make it to New York, my first stop will be to hear Tim play in person. It would be a dream come true.

[tapeboy20]

Wow. This is just incredible. Is he still at the Cathedral, because I keep waiting to go there on Sunday, but I keep missing him. This is just the most amazing arrangement of one of the most amazing hymns on the most amazing organ in the most amazing city. Wow. Did I mention that it was played by the most amazing player? I'm definitely going to go back and try to catch him.

[SweetSounds4u]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that like myself, you're a Tim Brumfield fan-lol. Actually, he's no longer the organist at the Cathedral, but is now concertizing, composing, and arranging full time. As much as Tim has accomplished thus far in his career, I can't wait to see where this next leg of his musical journey takes him. He never ceases to amaze me.

[livzdave]

Who and when was this great recording made? Tim always knows how to make 150A sing!

[SweetSounds4u]

The audio was recorded in 1998, using one microphone. Its a testament to the the unique acoustical environment of the Cathedral that just one properly placed mike can capture such a real sense of being there, as with your videos. I shot the video during Christmas/New Year of 2004/2005, which was the last time the whole Cathedral was in use, prior to the cleaning, hence, the gloominess. Editing was a breeze, given all the beautiful transitions that Tims arrangement gave me to work with.

[livzdave]

Makes sense on the video part - Christmas Eve 2004 (I recognize the Christmas trees by the High Altar, of which I helped to decorate and install). The 2004 10:30PM Midnight Mass service was the last recording I made of the temporary Allen digital organ, but the audio is so horrible I don't want to post it here....No where near the sound of the real deal!

[SweetSounds4u]

Nice job on the trees-that's my favorite clip!

[livzdave]

On second thought, I just listened to my 2004 recording, and I'll be uploading a clip of the best sound the Allen could muster back then - under the expert hands of Tim Brumfield!