Diane Bish - Finale from Symphony No. 1

[psyie666]

she Dances to make Great tones. awesome how its done.

[ThatMinidotCom]

Love the foot work there Ms Bish! And SUCH a sensible shoe :-)

[notredameswarrior1]

she is very good. and this organ i never have seen but i have heard but i bet it sounds better in real life. now the way she dresses. i see some comments on here. she may not dress to our taste but she s good and i listen to music. i dont focus on what she is wearing.

[DCN1234567]

To all the commenters that say, in one way or another, that this organ sounds bad, Youtube sound quality does not do this organ justice in any videos of it on Youtube. For a real representation of how this organ sounds, check out Samuel Metzger's album, "Toccata" recorded on this organ. You can hear a 30 second sample on Amazon of this piece.

[AnthonyNocket]

Her playing is definitely good, unfortunately that organ is garbage both for that space and for the piece..

[Organsk8er]

A different interpretation than I'm used to hearing, the softer sections in the middle are softer than I'm used to, but it's very beautiful, and between that, and her good, no-too-fast tempo, it really allows you to hear Vierne's beautiful harmonies in this piece.

[Thaikappatau]

So lyrical and played with such love!!

I Tthink DB is the tops!Thaikappa tau

[88washme]

i love dian bish and the way she playes,its so great,my favorite part is at the end

[88washme]

i love dian bish and the way she playes,its so great

[ThatMinidotCom]

Oi - less of the bad mouthing about her clothes. If I thought it would help me play like that, I'd wear pyjamas like that too!!!!

[cowboypainthorse]

EXCELLENT performance Ms. Bish - Thanks for sharing this with us.

I grew up listening to Virgil Fox........and I am personally glad you are here. I miss the great performances by people such as you.

Thank you

[JosephDillon57]

Diane Bish lives as we all should: ON OUR OWN TERMS.

[88washme]

how do she know which silver petal to push and how do she know how they sound?

[vinniecaruso]

i love the end of this piece! look at how she just dances right down those pedals.

[88washme]

@vinniecaruso ,maan am tellen u,now that was my most favoriet part too.

[DNSKansas]

I'd do her in a heartbeat. A lady who can play the pipe organ like that is fucking hot in my book.

[prosciaorg]

Having met Ms Bish, I can say her hobby is her clothes. Were she not a master of the organ, she'd be a master at designing women's apparel. Yes, it's a bit flashy and that's reflected in her playing as well. Unlike most of us, she excels in many things.

[vicaralan]

Diane Bish is an angel. What a gifted musician. Does she ever come to England?

I have a church with Handel`s organ at Great Witley Worcestershire.

[cjbusboi]

I love how towards the end, when they show her face, she just seems so "la de dah", like "just passing the time playing the organ on a sunny afternoon, birds are chirping" LOL. Its just so natural for her and she is truly incredible. I think I've seen her in concert 10 or 12 times, and I hope to see 10 or 12 more at least.

[willoooooooob9]

I have heard this organ live (sorry to say without Diane) and it is an awesome instrument. It's a Rufatti organ. Don't know all the specifics other and it will blow you out the door ........love it.

[belamoure]

Nobody is like her, she has a prodigious talent, a deep knowledge of what she plays, a super present genius, and is the best organist in the world. I adore her panache and brilliant toilettes a music princess with no other pretention than enchant us.

[ewokmusic]

MO GOsh!!! wat a POWERFUL piece of music!!! WELL DONE Diana!!

OOOOOOoooooooooooohhhhhhhh  so beautiful!!

[12345677396]

E' veramente brava...brava...brava...e dir brava è dire molto poco...

[crossbike]

A real star on the organ! chappeau! I wish Diane Bish will play organ one day in

Switzerland.

[takincharge]

say what you will. the woman gets to a lot of right notes everytime the blower comes on. gifted.

[willoooooooob9]

@takincharge .. I've never heard her miss a note yet. Her playing is perfect.

[TheProcopius]

Her playing is wonderful and love her t.v. program. Her clothes are delightful, a bit of Dame Edna I think. The sound in this recording isnt too good. I would like to hear more bass in the pedals. Better than most. Thanks for the music.

[jfkealey]

wow!

[milkmusic78]

My favorite recent comment is the 'some notes are slightly out of tune', showing a complete lack of musical knowledge! Thanks for a good chuckle to start the day.

[willoooooooob9]

@milkmusic78 ... I agree with you 100%. Lack of knowledge brings out the ignorance in people.  Thanks for the chuckly.

[mjd1949]

I love this woman. She's terrific and note that she's playing this from memory. Not an easy task! I love her 'Joy of Music' program and am sorry that we don't often get it in Canada. Is there anything she can't play, I wonder???? LOL. Way to go Diane!

[organistable]

Beautiful playing and technique, but those terrible pedal reeds!!

[rymac320]

love the way she plays the last three chords - really gives the piece the ending it deserves!

[jhonwask]

She's truly an artist.

[nickoicool]

Some notes are slightly out of tune. Great performance. She looks like a jewelry store.

[1948bola]

Why does she wear a suit of jewels to play the organ?

[0627nmp]

@1948bola Because she feels like it.

[theclassicrockkid95]

5:10 is incredible.

[Syniqal]

This really is a phenomenal instrument played by a phenomenal organist. I hope truly one day to be as good as this.

[oneginee2]

she reminds me of my organ teacher. I like her enthusiasm and sheer joy of playing translates to great clarity. I hope many young people will listen and enjoy

[fr3shify]

I love her last name. =D

[MacHendrik]

I like her clothes more :P

[kyj914]

thank you for this upload! i really appreciated the pedal angles, as this piece requires tricky pedal work.

[polsterj]

Good playing, but the registration... the instruction says: Fonds et anches 16'+8'4' in Grand-Orgue (Great), Poitif and Récit (Swell), and Fonds 32'+16'+8'+4', Anches 16'+8'+4'. So following it, she would have to use reeds all the time, and no Contre-Bombarde. OK, I don't like the thing with the Contre-Bombarde, but I think the reeds in the middle parts mustn't be missing! But I'm not the organist, this is her descision.

[lyndon1904]

From a purist's point of view, you're correct - but Vierne didn't have the playing aids available that are available today. I guess DB is working on the 'let's do what V would have done if he could have done it' principle. Personally, I play it in line with your observations: but this is undeniably good playing, as you say.

[polsterj]

Well, be careful with the playing aids! with his jeux de combinasion Vierne could switch all reeds and mixtures of a division off with one pedal. But I'm often critisizing the registration, because in my opinion it has a huge influence into the performance as well as the organ. I think Vierne would not have used the boring flutes in the middle part, even if he had had a modern combination system.

[0627nmp]

@polsterj This is not Vierne playing.

[ericfan20]

Absolutely amazing!

[ArtificialCleverenAI]

Christ, that looks like an absolute nightmare to play. And she makes it look easy.

[isslchen]

Oh yeah, it took me a summer holiday (which endures six weeks in Germany=) of practising until I was able to play it ... but it's a lot of fun to play it, just a awesome piece ;)

(sry if my english is a bit strange =)

[polsterj]

In der französischen Romantik ist so gut wie alles schwer zu spielen. Aber wenn man es dann spielen kann, dann ist das schon ein selten tolles gefühl. Ich glaub nicht, dass ichs mal spielen kann, das assistieren ist schon kompliziert genug, zumindest, wenn der Organist Georg Hagel heisst ;-)

[maskscraper]

and sounds really complicated too.

[bryan3550]

Astonishing hair, interesting garb, but hey why are you and I watching?

Simple answer: spectacular talent!

[1clarinet1981]

diane bish MADE the music program at coral ridge "crazy-presbyterian" church...her position was Artist-In-Residence, and for a reason...too bad so much talent was wasted on such a wacko congregation...

[OrganoAeternam]

well with an organ like that you would put up with the "crazy-presbyterian" congregation too :)

[1clarinet1981]

not necessarily?...a great ruffatti doesn't make up for a defective theology!

[OrganoAeternam]

Touche'

[OronocoJDL]

AMEN! Coral Ridge is certainly an effed-up "crazy-presbyterian" church. As a real mainline Presbyterian, I can only look at that church and its theology and shake my head. And now that Jim Kennedy is dead, there is an apparent a free-for-all underway both politically and theologically. The leadership of the PCA can't keep a lid on it! Its sad to see such things happen in the church that could, if it so chose, to powerfully profess the inclusive and encompassing love of Christ.

[0627nmp]

@1clarinet1981 Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Which is what makes this country so great. Also, if I get marked down for that I will explode.

[bunkytony]

Diane Bish is one powerful and talented lady and musician. It is so important that young people see men and women playing and maintaning the arts and performance in music and literature. This music lives on collectively over four hundred years if you go back to Johann Sebastian Bach!!

I once saw a sketch of Bach playing an organ in the late 1600's in Germany. This was obviously before electrical power was available. Five assistants made the stop changes and four bare chested work men pumped!!

[ProfMoose]

Some spiteful comments on here. Yes, her clothes and hair are different. Her style might not be to everyones taste BUT.... she has made the organ and its music accessible to an aweful lot of people - which can only be good.

[cjbusboi]

@ProfMoose ... Amen!

[tman8077]

@ProfMoose I AGREE!

[1BODGER95]

D major?

[claviergoren]

Bravo!! Diane Bish makes any organ

piece sound easy. She has inspired me

to find my score and relearn this piece.

The world is a better place because of

wonderful artists like the great Diane

Bish. Thank you!

[1BODGER95]

It must be really hard to play with those shoes on. Well done Diane.

[mortson978]

No, those are organ shoes. They are designed to make playing easier. They're also really expensive.

[34045]

Why does Diana Bish always look like a mobile christmas tree?

[daltonwalters]

When you can play like her you can look like whatever you want.

[ewokmusic]

@daltonwalters ahahha, i agree with u 99% ahahah,, i wear sandals to church,,,with jeans while the rest of organists wear proper attire...

cos i play with barefoot to get a good feel of the pedals...as my foot are too big, will usually hit 2 pedals with 1 foot, ahhahah

[YoungOrganist]

@ewokmusic I have ExACTLY the same problem....see my vids as prrof:D

[cjbusboi]

@daltonwalters ... well said! To me, its just all part of her whole package and is what sets her apart from all other organists. Without ever forgetting her devotion to God, she puts on a true show for her audiences and helps this current generation stay enthusiastic about the organ...which is so needed.

[tman8077]

@daltonwalters I AGREE WITH YOU ALSO!

[dyspnoe]

More like a happy silver onion in brokat...-but me likes it.

[brandon10175]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLL­LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLllll­llllllllll thats so funny cause its tru

[bradhorn14]

same with Fox... lol

[Audinos]

I greatly admire her musical ability, but she is most definitely the female (and straight) reincarnation of Liberace or Virgil Fox. I don't know how anyone can play with all the rings she sometimes wears.

That being snarkily said, this is one of the most tonally-expressive versions I've heard of this piece. Although it's a pity that Coral Ridge has such dead acoustics, most recordings of Vierne are done in gigantic French cathedrals where the intimate parts are lost in the ten-second reverb.

[bachprofessore]

When you don't know which stops to take, then you shouldn't play this piece!

It must be registrated powerful from the first tone to the end, and the middle part in the swell.

Please, play it with less Mixtures and Flutes, with many reeds and 8'-stops.

And get a church with something you could call acoustic!

[patagiarius]

Sei mal nicht so streng. Das ist ihre "Heimatorgel" mit einer nordeutsch-barocken Disposition. Da muss man bei anderen Epochen Abstriche mache. Sie spielt ausgezeichnet, wenn ich mir das Thema auch deutlicher wünschte. Und zur Akustik bedenke die Bedingungen in USA. Kirchen mit guter Akustik wirst du bis auf wenige Ausnahmen dort vergebens suchen. Wie ja auch viele Orgel dort zwar völlig überdimensioniert sind, aber klingen wie ein Keyboard von 1980. Diese Orgel ist wohl eine der Besten.

[rabbit8312]

Diane plays this piece with incredible feeling,interpretation and technique.After playing for over 35 years on more church organs than I can count,excuse me if I don't call for a study session.I also dropped my AGO membership years ago due to comments like this.I've never had the pleasure of being able to study the original manuscripts and sit beside him as he gave such interpretations as so brilliantly described,so of course many of us less fortunate couldn't know such intimate details.Loved it

[polsterj]

Also, der Mittelteil gefällt mir wegen der Registrierung gar nicht. "Dieses Flötengepiepse.... Nimm mal ein paar ordentliche Register", hätte mein Lehrer gesagt!

[Gball223]

For some reason the clip is locking up on me intermittently, but I have this recording on old VHS tape, and it's awesome. The Ruffatti trompette-en-chamade or whatever the nomenclature is (horizontally-mounted, high pressure trumpet) is awesome on the final cord. Sounds like a freight train's five-tone airhorn (not to disrespect the organ). This Final by Vierne seldom has this much power. Diane Bish ROCKS!

[organmaster2101]

Does Her show still come on?

And if so what channel.

[SCCMMGT]

PBS CHANNEL 13

[BuffaloCookiebaker]

EWTN. Sundays at 2:30 Eastern time. Unless they preempt.

[latribe]

This is really superb. Very lovely sound. Thanks for posting it. It's nice to hear the detail of this music without a long reverberation time. Hugh Potton performed it last year on the organ at Hammerwood Park in England to good effect, following with Vierne II this year and we're looking forward to hearing Jeremy Filsell play Vierne III in October.

[praisethelord333]

she has a good stil to play. not to much movements like cameroon or virgil vox. she plays real edukated and very exactly in rythm and performance. very good work! respekt.

[ihadaralf]

In a work that can sound horribly indulgent and sentimental, especially in the hands of an American organist, whom I feel favours lashings of rubato, it comes across as rather a decent performance apart from the last few bars, which should be imposing and forceful, not curt and abrupt.

Although as ever, the whole thing's let down by the Amercian shed like acoustics.

Is her hair real?

[Fozzymaple]

No one is quite sure about Ms. Bish's hair, nor are they sure where she gets those clothes. Virgil Fox may have dressed strangely, but not this strange.

[vinniecaruso]

ive been curious about her hair too its always different. she designs her clothes herself actually. at least thats what she says. check out the interview with her (part 3) they talk about her gowns and shoes ect.

[tomasz1641]

Really, what has this got to do with her organ performance? Please!

Comments like this remind me why I dropped my membership in the AGO years ago...

[jsarnett1965]

If you took some time to read up on her, you'd find that organists at the time Diane was studying tended to wear just a simple short dress and Mary-Jane type shoes, neither of which were comfortable to play in. She took the style of her dresses with the pants underneath from those of Vietnamese women largely. I personally love her flashy dresses and her hair...well it's hair....big whoop! I met her once after a recital and had the chance to talk an hour...she has a wonderful personality!

[frater09]

She dress like a very expensive Christmas tree ornament. :)

[rtworincinerator]

hahahahaha

[davbear221]

Its so nice to hear a educated thoughtful performance of this work. I did my graduate work on the 6 symphonies of Vierne. Diane, you are magnificient!

[GJ1986]

She obviously forgot to turn the switch to 45RPM in stead of 33RPM :P

Nothing but respect though, she's very skilled!

[davbear221]

Its the room...large space requires tempered tempo.

[asham2]

She is my all time favorite organist and has inspired me for years. I've been to several concerts and watch her show every week.

She makes the organ at Choral Ridge SING.

[KE5RHD]

Wow, I just happend on this happenstance. Back in 2003, I was finishing a capstone in film. I wanted to do more than the usual snuff films done by my fellow students. I opted to hire a guild organist and do a multi-camera recording session. He presented his favorites and we parted ways. This selection was the finale. I wanted the project to have the look and feel of Joy of Music. I had no idea she had performed this piece. I got an A and went on to television production, go figure.

[vernon361970]

why cant you all say thank you diane i only came to love the organ through exposure of ms. bish's program joy of music those of you who like to complain can you do any better?

[TexMark550i]

WOW...despite what you think or her or her clothing, she can play the heck out ANY organ,,,ANYWHERE!!!

[remineur]

Superbe performance en effet! Cette dame est merveilleuse de simplicité - je ne parle pas de ses costumes un peu glamour mais de son style. Une organiste hors-pair, techniquement irréprochable et tout entière dévouée à la musique française que j'adore puisque je suis Français. Merci Madame! Merci!

[ARFRC1]

I am Diane's biggest fan, I have been watching her since I was 15, I am not 28 and this woman whether she is still alive, I don't know but is my role model. She is supperb and for these other idots to make such rude comments about her is absolutely rude. I would not want to make the same remards as some of you have made at your concerts or recitals. This woman has traveled all over the world and played at nearly every church. I would love to be her apprentice as I am an organist myself.

[Nosteratees]

I hope you've never sent her a fan letter. It would take a few hours of her doubtless valuable time to figure out which language you've written it in.

[ARFRC1]

First off I am 28, I am widely known in Montana and also with the American Guild of Organists. I also perform with the Westpoint Military Academy in Westpoint NY.

Diane Bish has been my mentor and let me tell you, you may think she is the worst person alive, but as a 34th degree mason of Lodge #22 we are taught to respect one another. If you had a concert or recital I would never say any rude or downgrading remark about you. I might say you were playing flat when you should play sharp

[Nosteratees]

Apologies. You seem to be having an argument with yourself. I'm sure Diane is a wonderful lady and is obviously very talented.

I was simply taking the piss out of your English.

[ARFRC1]

I appologize for being defensive.

I have watched, learned and attended many of her concerts, never meeting her in person. However, if I never would have seen a recital on Joy of Music when I was a Freshmen in high school, I think that I would have never become as renown as I am today. She may have some eyesore outfits, but setting all aside, she is very remarkable.

[vinniecaruso]

i agree with you but i have to say its awkward you say you're her biggest fan yet don't even know if she's alive haha but just for your clarification, she is.

[ARFRC1]

If you have read any previous comments that I made, I really did not know that she was still alive.

Ever since I left SLC and went to College and University and now holding a Doctorate in Music, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy and Theology, I never knew. Thanks for the feed back.

[joeyboi87]

shes dressed rather horribly

[Nosteratees]

You're not wrong. She looks like she's been dipped in glue and hurled through a charity shop window.

The woman can certainly play an organ though.

[Fozzymaple]

Agreed, her wardrobe looks dreadful, but she can play the organ much better than most people. My only criticism is that she kind of loses the theme, especially in the quiet section. She also mispronounces Cavaille-Coll (phonetically reproduced she says Cahveeya-Coll, when it should be Caviya-Coll).Oh well, what are you gonna do?

[orgnst044]

If she's so bad why don't you get up there and play for her.

Enjoy your stay.

[organboi]

this is WAY WAY WAY too slow. Vierne would be horrified. and then it keeps getting slower. i thought diane bish was supposed to be a virtuoso great organist. i guess not. i also heard she charges a fortune to give a concert. why? i've heard so many others play infinitely better all around. it sound like she's practicing slowly. it's hard to believe this is a performance. and her Liszt "ad nos" on youtube was awful. she couldn't keep a steady beat even in the last measure. i'm so dismayed.

[Reesman95]

what an awsome/HUGE sound

[missionaryorganist]

Fantastic...She plays so well and makes it look so easy. This a fantastic performance, but I also think about the composer. Vierne was blind. He wrote such fantastic music.

[trogastieplas]

yes but her playing is boring....

[alankrishna108]

I went to the high school run by this church and got to play his organ often. It is a pleasure to hear it again, now I really appreciate what a great instrument it is. Bish has great technique, I wish she would have recorded more. Notice how she focuses on the music and does not flail around the bench and almost fall off like many young recitalists today She does have some bling though, always her trademark!

[RDW1935]

DIane Bish is such an artist! Who could possibly keep up with her, except Cameron Carpenter maybe. But to watch Ms. Bish

play on THIS organ reminds me of what it must

be like to Pilot a 747 Airliner!!

HOW does she do such a superb job!!

What fantastic coordination she DOES

have!! Wonderful Organis. One of the

best in the world! I could listen to her

for hours & hours! Many thanks Ms. Bish!!

[kgs202]

This is a showpiece of organ music.....played from memory by Diane...another one of her many talents...she is aware of what she is playing...she LISTENS to the music she is creating...and thus, it draws the listener to enjoy the performance.

[organboi]

she didn't create the music, Vierne did. and if she doesn't know this piece by memory then something's wrong. but all the youtubes show her using music. and who cares if she memorizes or not. every organist memorizes everything pretty much. i'm surprised she's not a great organist. and this is one listener she's not drawing in with this way too slow performance.

[vinniecaruso]

you must not listen to her very much. if anything she plays a lot of her pieces way too fast.

[latribe]

This is a superb performance, just right for the acoustic of the building. The acoustic is part of the instrument. If you are playing on an electronic in your back room or small chapel, then you need to play faster to cover for the lack of continuity for the building. In a big acoustic, fast performances are lost and lose the grandeur intended.

[goalie7927]

Too slow?? Way way way too slow?? Latribe is exactly right. The room is as much a part of the instrument as the manuals are. To play this any faster at CRPC would create acoustical mush. Also, to even comment on her use of music shows a complete lack of respect for the quantity of music she plays and plays well. She is most definately a virtuoso. But what would you know organboi. You're too busy pasting the same ignorant comment three or four times!

[brestull]

Okay...it would not create an acoustical mush. I've heard it performed faster than this at Saint-Ouen and it is clear as a bell. And I guarantee the reverberation at the Abby Church is 5 or more seconds longer than at CRPC. Check Jeremy Filsell's recordings of Louis Vierne's Symphonies.

[pipeorganist]

I would love to hear her version of the coronation march !

[vinniecaruso]

she has such amazing and perfect technique