Pimped Out Ride, Valkyrie Style

[banmen0w]

This is the best recording of Ride on organ I've seen and heard! Cheers to Dr Hohman. Amazing!!!

[lulu66033]

Extraordinary!

[planetery]

Sounds like a mess- no articulation of the notes whatsoever. Just a giant cloud of sound with a few smeared melodies fighting their way out..

It always amazes me that people who are supposed to be "organists" can't figure out a way to make sure the notes sound out clearly even when one is playing many of them at once.. Or why they don't realize that cascades of notes that sound great on piano sound like a stumbling drunk on the organ..

[diaphoneman]

@planetery -- Maybe you should be dissing the recording engineer instead of the organist. Poor microphone placement can and will obscure any articulation, particularly in a very large building like this. You can make a symphony orchestra, playing the same piece, sound like an incomprehensible pile of notes if the microphones aren't chosen and placed properly. I've heard a lot worse than this on "professional" recordings.

[planetery]

@diaphoneman I'm talking about the acoustic characteristics of churches, not the sound of recordings.

A real musician knows their instrument, its limitations, and how it sounds in different settings. And since church organs don't move, the latter issue is made a thousand times easier.

Anyway, the comment stands.

[NJPurling]

Why are there two consoles to this organ?

Does the original console still work?

I can understand the reason for a detached console. the player is rather hidden under the organ at the original console.

[michaelsmusicservice]

@NJPurling It was moved and altered in the early 1900s and the non-tracker console was added. You can read more in Barbara Owen's new book on the Methuen Organ. I'm reading it now and it's fantastic. You'll also find more info at mmmh dot org.

[michaelsmusicservice]

@NJPurling Oh, and I don't think anything on the tracker keydesk is connected anymore.

[kingjames8283]

I can never get enough of Dr.F.Hohman. I know I'm not supposed to talk of this but if he ever does a public concert show in Indianapolis, IN, I'd like to attend. My theatre organ friends might not understand that I do like Classical (NOT CHURCH) organ music and it's just the flip-side of the nickel. Dr Fred is an excellent performing artist and has wonderful technical expertise. I like theatre organ and classical organ, the two balance each other out though they are completely different.

[rachelmy45]

ride of the valkyries is a amazing like easter story keepers.jesus carrying of the cross i was crying all days

[neo1793]

This is simply amazing. My favorite piece too.

[angelkitty0329]

This is talent

[DanFrederiksen]

looks like a fairly expensive instrument.

with the right electronics you could probably match it with 1500$

[3dwurli]

@DanFrederiksen Hrrmm....they have spent millions on electronic organs....they are still nothing like real pipes!

[DanFrederiksen]

@3dwurli nothing magical about air vibration

[3dwurli]

@DanFrederiksen There is when you consider the work that has gone into creating the sound. An electronic/digital organ cannot match the sound of a pipe organ. Speakers work entirely differently from pipes.

Its like a digital piano doesnt sound exactly like a real piano, no matter how perfect you make it.

[DanFrederiksen]

@3dwurli I know historically synthesizers have not been perfect. that doesn't mean there is anything inherently impossible to duplicate there. look at the organ and imagine its surface as a body of water with waves on it. you just have to reproduce that wave surface if you want to be perfectly the same. and you can simplify the layout a lot and still get a sound that noone could distinguish if in the room with eyes closed

[3dwurli]

@DanFrederiksen Oh you can tell the difference between electronic organs and pipe organs when you hear them in person, fairly easily!

[DanFrederiksen]

@3dwurli sigh, you're not listening to what I say

[Justintime4math]

@DanFrederiksen I have yet the hear one, and I have heard a very high quality sample of a 32' stop and it was immediately obvious to me that a speaker was responsible for the sound. I sincerely doubt a cone speaker (even if well made and properly housed) can ever accurately reproduce the sound that an actual pipe will make in the given environment.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Outstanding, and I just love that case - it leaves nothing to the imagination.

[duanearmix]

PURE POWER. PURE PIPE ORGAN MUSCLES.

[hoegaardenzo]

oh man I wish I could listen to that in person. Amazing!!!

[Robertw51]

Look for the Thalben Ball recording from the Alexandra Palace. Brilliant reeds from Henry Willis!

[slowdog294]

5 stars. Bravo!

[kinglimochris]

WTF??? All I hear is a bunch of noise.  I could sit on that organ and make it sound better.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

@kinglimochris Not many would agree with you, I think, but it would make a great video if you did!

[DBGOGIRL]

great recording....Where was it performed?  USA

[michaelsmusicservice]

@DBGOGIRL This is Methuen Music Hall, near Boston. Impressive, huh?

[destroyer888]

love this! it all sounds so psychadelic.. especially around 0:30.. and what a mindblowing piece of music here.

[navy7700]

Is the original console of this instrument still connected? You see it very briefly during the video..

[miekka968]

he is SO talented!!

[getreadytowiggle1991]

Is that Fred Hohman??

[michaelsmusicservice]

@getreadytowiggle1991 How'd you guess? :)

[yamaho5]

Marvelous playing of a marvelous piece on a marvelous organ. I have played many of the great ones, and I still think this is without a doubt, the best organ in the world. What a great gift to our music world. Bravo! Thank you God!

[bachandefi]

Absolutely incredible. Thankyou.

[kakompo]

wow. takes a lot of skill to play with all fours. nice

[DrEpicPhD]

Gotta love organs. BTW, how many players does this song usually take?

[TheAndyman75]

Frederick is a genius!

[MrsAlexisClyde]

did the methuen receive a new auxillary console?

the style is different, i think.

[MrsAlexisClyde]

Wow, the methuen speaks this piece with such authority.

[quinn244]

racist or not he was and amazing composer!!! This videos evidence to his amazing ability to generate awesome music!!!! I absolutely love this song!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've only played the organ for not even a year and even I can tell that this is a true master piece!!!!!

[Organist61]

Also of possible interest - the original Casework for the Tabernacle organ in Salt Lake City was inspired by this (German inspired) organ - I don't recall if the present casework was installed by Austin or an earlier builder, but it is certainly NOT the work of Aeolian-Skinner.

[peewee2627]

This was filmed/played at Meuthuen memorial music hall in Meuthuen,MA,USA. I went to a couple of concerts there in the summer of 2009. It was breathtaking. Such awesome sound, especially with the low notes. Inside of the building is really something to see! I can't wait to go back in 2010!!

[PerfectlySatisfied]

Thanks for the info! Next time I'm up in the NE, I will DEFINITELY plan to make a "stop!" ;) Hopefully, there will be a wonderful "performance" happening. Did not know of that venue; so, thanks again! That (the) instrument looks (but more importantly) SOUNDS spectacular! Cheers!

[PerfectlySatisfied]

Fantastic! Anyone know where this was performed/filmed, i.e., what church/venue? The organ casing (as well as the organ itself) is SPECTACULAR!

[RayGettings]

That organ is truly a thing of beauty

[ryorgan]

I've played the organ for some 50 years and am so impressed with the casework of some old European organs. BUT I think this one takes the cake. This is why, among other things, the organ is called the KING of instruments. I don't know about you fellows but I have felt like a king on a throne at some organs. Just look how small he is in relation to the organ itself. That's power brother, real "POWER",

[JustinHEMI05]

@ryorgan Very well said.

[dking70]

@ryorgan Personally I feel organ builders of these's days are not capable of designing such admirable case work. They don't build them like they use to thats for sure........

[Keysmusic]

Read the article Das Judenthum in der Musik written by Wagner. Rest my case.

[ZeromusChom]

Beautiful music nonetheless.

[ZeromusChom]

Better than anything you could make... WAGNER LIVES!

[michaelsmusicservice]

Read up on Wagner's life to learn to real story. You may not be old enough to remember that the music of the Beatles was, for a time, disparaged widely because of an ingracious comment by John Lennon. Nothing to do with the music, really.

[Classicalytrained]

Wagner was not a Nazi he was dead about 40 years before the Nazis even existed as Nazis, Also It is not Actualy fact that he was a racist, and yes hitler did adore him... Becuase he was a German Composer that wrote fantastic Music that sounded like war themes.

[Raberuji]

too much for one men, but very good

[PiedPuyper]

Do you know the atonal version?

[JustinHEMI05]

It doesn't really get any better than that. Thanks for the chills!

[colin909]

cant believe its been 2,5 years since I last saw this. Its beautiful. Thanks

[tactilex]

Wouldn't it be interesting to have the original Walcker instrument as it was originally built? I think that the harshness of the upperwork, however, can be attributed mostly to the recording. It isn't GD Harrison's fault that he was the golden boy and everybody hired him to take their Walckers and Hooks and EM Skinners and Aeolians and make them into his own "modern" organs. But what a pity, nonetheless.

[tactilex]

Yes, Steelers, originally this organ (the case, actually since the musical part of the instrument is not the original) was in Boston. The Mormon Tabernacle organ case drew its inspiration from this.

[JohnStumpOrganist]

There was/is an LP recording of Anthony Newman playing Wagner Transcriptions at St. John the Divine n New York City. made around 1974/75. I don't know if anyone has remastered it to CD, but I would enjoy hearing it again if were available.

[benenoit]

Is it his own transcription?

[michaelsmusicservice]

No, it's by Edwin H Lemare, city organist of Portland, Maine, for many years. In the music I publish, there is a fine article by John Henderson, Hon Librarian RSCM, which tells about his music and life. The title is "Andantino."

[benenoit]

Did the transcription can be buy somewhere?

[michaelsmusicservice]

Sure, just Google it or ask at your local music store. All of the music I have restored (and I have not yet restored this title) is available on my website michaelsmusicservice-dot-com. It is also available through many libraries.

[GJmusique]

@benenoit

I believe this piece is a transcription by Edwin H. Lemare

Bardon Music has it in their catalogue. Good luck ;)

[michaelsmusicservice]

@benenoit It's nearly ready! Visit michaelsmusicservice . com and sign up for my email or Like michaelsmusicservice on Face book to get the announcement.

[twboi75]

HOLY COW!!!! BRILLIANT!!!!!

[eameece]

Don't miss Louis Vierne's First Organ Symphony Final, another thrill ride inspired by this one.

[1401JSC]

Check on George Thalben Ball's interpretation from the Alexandra Palace in 1931.

[1401JSC]

Those dotted rhythms are really tricky, eh?

Even for orchestral players.

[OliverKahnNr1]

Not really (I can play the brass theme on piano in time with a metronome or another reference). Of course everyone needs a steady beat (and a conductor to watch, if applicable).

[1401JSC]

To be more precise, i wanted to say that for the 1/16 note to befound half way between the beats and for the third (upbeat) 1/8 note to be found exatly 2/3 the way between beats is extremely difficult.

Here the organist has a tendancy to play one 1/8 note followed by two 1/16 notes as if the beats were ordinary 1/4 notes.

[OliverKahnNr1]

Yes. My teacher always advises me to count the eighth notes (which of course requires a slower tempo, because no one can keep up counting 300+ bpm for 5 minutes). As confidence grows, the rythm will come easier. Personally, I find that yes, intonation and articulation as well as mood shape the performance, but what good is it with a doubtful and "not-so-confident" rhythm. Thanks for pointing it out; I probably would have never noticed it myself.

[peewee2627]

AWESOME!!! I can't wait to go there next month! ( Methuen,MA,USA

[geod5]

then one of the huge pipes falls and hits him on the head

[TsarWilliam]

!!!WINNER!!!!

[virginiaorganbuilder]

OK, spelling and grammar aside, this IS an awesome video. It's been years, but I've been to Methuen many times, and what an organ! And I don't think I ever heard it played this well. Amazing! (no doubt about it...)

[virginiaorganbuilder]

"Doughts"? I can see you're not "spellingmaster328"...

[OliverKahnNr1]

Great performance! Dr. Hohman ought to try it on the renowned Davis Organ in the Edmonton Winspear Centre. I dips tickets if he comes! ;)

[todamushroom]

So retarded. Why do people in Youtube think that EVERYTHING but I mean EVERYTHING is fake? Ugh. you people annoying. It's obviously NOT fake, dumbass.

[gopher2x]

fake

[Brandotuomikoski]

you wish you could play 1/30th as good as he can.

this is not fake. how can you think that, no one knows.

[Raphael89ita]

40 stars! best video on youtube!

[EdwardPack1988]

I love that awsome powerfull sound of an organ.

[flugel76]

sigh....organists, like pianists...have absolutely no sense or rhythm...

Having said that, it's a neat arrangement...I can imagine The Phantom playing this below the Paris Opera House...

[casavantlover]

You're right about the screaminess. This was a great German romantic instrument.....until G. Donald Harrison destroyed it in 1947 with his stupid "American Classic" crap.

[steelersfanhawaii]

Isn't this the organ that the Salt Lake Tabernacle was built to replicate (and expand further)? BTW, what is your problem with G. Donald Harrison - he is the one who was tonal director for the famous Skinner at Salt Lake Tabernacle.

[Heyde1979]

wonderful preformance

[kinura26]

sheesh who opened te toes on the trebles in that organ its really screamy that cant be original. excellent playing thou love it !!

[cmminskid]

I saw Dr. Hohman perform "Finlandia" by Sibelius tonight. unbelieveably what this man can do with an organ!!!

[lee1984yate]

It's not a song, it has no lyrics. This is a 'piece' :-)

[michaelsmusicservice]

I follow you, but in this case the original most definitely had lyrics. The Valkyries is the second opera of Wagner's Ring"

youtube . com/watch?v=1aKAH_t0aXA

[ApsisApocynthion]

It's still a "piece" because it is not in "song" form and it is not titled as a song. We would call this an arrangement, a piece, or a section. You could also, I dunno, call it by the real name: Die Walkure Act 3 Part I.

[organpipe8]

W-O-W !!! Awesome, What a Gifted Organist - thanks for posting.

[karlwurtz]

great organ, great song, great organist!

[91DreamTheater]

Wich church is it?

[michaelsmusicservice]

Not a church -- Methuen Memorial Music Hall. It was built to house the organ.

[91DreamTheater]

Thought so...It don´t look like a church :D

That organ i really amazing!!!

[AllenJBlodgettJrmota]

I beleive that the organ used to be in the Boston Music Hall...

[michaelsmusicservice]

Right you are!

[quadrelatera]

kinda muddy in the beginning 4 STARS

[Tuttiplaya]

wow this guy is great! he has alot of fun :)

i love this place- methuen is so cool. and i love when he throws his arms up in the air :p

[poopingeneral]

good gracious listen to that bass, this is one incredible organ!!!!!!!!!!

[quinn244]

I agree

[0OoFACUoO0]

Lots of coordination!

This is awesome...

[Chesterbarnes1]

I've never heard of this musician until today, and never seen his playing. I thought Vigil Fox was dead. If Virgil was alive today he had to say Wow! Who is this Dr. Holman? Incredulous!!!!!

R. L. A.

Virginia

[totallyamused]

When he walks off stage on this video it reminds me so much a the late Virgil Fox.

[enriquem90]

Fantastic but the registration could be better. FANTASTIC

[eelgar1857]

Fantastic playing, on an organ which I've heard is quite difficult to play, due to sound delay at the console.

Bravo!

[TheMadLutist]

Now what we really need is an organ arrangement of the fanfare from Act III (?) of Lohengrin. That would be amazing. You thought this was amazing? Naw...

[michaelsmusicservice]

I've published a great arrangement of the Intro to Act III from Tannhäuser (michaelsmusicservice dot com) and I've got some stuff from Lohengrin in the works. WWII really put the dampers on people hearing and playing Wagner, but current generations are more interested in what he offered.

[TheMadLutist]

God, I'm glad that the WWII anti-Wagner thing has been put down. I actually talked with a Holocaust survivor who loved Wagner, and was so happy I could have cried.

But if you're publishing an arrangement of the fanfare ("Heil König Heinrich!" in Act III, I think?), definitely drop me a line when it's ready.

[totallyamused]

This is the best organ recording on youtube...even if G.B. Shaw agrees with me...LOL

[Organgrinder010]

Does the old console still function? I wonder how they linked the trackers?

[michaelsmusicservice]

No, sadly. It hasn't been a tracker organ for a long time. You can see the original console in the middle, behind the current one. Info at mmmh dot org.

[pvcol0707]

Superbly played, Bravo...

[psychowolfman]

That is him playing idiot! Though it be better on a Wurlitzer Theater Organ that has percussion in it

[Addyb686]

It's a shame because the pipes sound a thousand times better in person. I can only imagine what it sounded like live. Bravo guys.

[bunkytony]

Having been a fanatic of pipe organ music for thirty years this is fabulous! Most people don't realize that the pipe organ exceeds the range of the symphony orchestra on both the low and high ends.

Especially those huge thirty two foot contra bass pedal pipes.The organist is like a pilot at the console of a 747 flying the audience on a sonic journey.He or she must not only know the music but all the controls at their hands and feet.

[NihilNominis]

I'm an organ student and didn't realise that I alone had more range than an orchestra! That is a fascinating bit of information.

'Tis also an amazing performance.

[Brandotuomikoski]

WOW! That is the biggest organ I have ever seen!

[bunkytony]

You should see the console of the Atlantic city Convention Hall organ. It makes this look about a quarter of the size. That organ is a MONSTER!

[pipeorganDUDE]

if it had pipes think how many there would be

[MeZZosOpRaNOz]

by the way folks, i am pipeorganDUDE, i have just changed my name to MeZzOsOpRaNoz, as u can see

[Brandotuomikoski]

sorry i pressed the wrong butten and gave you a negative rating. the atlantic organ has pipes doesn't it?

[tjugofyra]

Yes...But only 33.114 pipes. And over 450 ranks:P

[acchos]

the atlantic city organ has 449 ranks, 33,112 pipes.

[tjugofyra]

Okey about 449 ranks, but it still has 33,114 pipes

[michaelsmusicservice]

Well, sure. I hope to post some of my ACCH video soon. This Walcker was made in 1863 versus 1932.

[superkulak]

Capperi! Beautiful organ and execution!

[organistboy]

oh what a wonderful video!! i also play the organ, and its very difficult to play it!! ive benn looking for that score for many days, but i havent found it, do you have it¿?would you send it to me please¿? thanks!! bye!!

[cornwallthedragon]

Wow, what a ride!

[mastra]

very good version, i've never heard it played like this

[michaelsmusicservice]

This is the transcription by Edwin H Lemare. Fred is a specialist in his music.

[andrerendeiro]

Wonderfull! Where is this organ located?

[michaelsmusicservice]

Methuen, Massachusetts, is near Boston.

[badon20]

I have this DVD!!! Midnight Pipes! He is awesome!!