Pipe Organ Improvisation Gerre Hancock St. Thomas Church NYC

[billiondollarpips]

RIP Gerre Hancock the world will miss a great musician

[sdidovich1]

rip  gerry

[chaoticjesus]

RIP

[DesireeDeFete]

Requisat in Pace...we have lost the greatest

[poohbeau1978]

He will always remain in our memories through his recordings. Heaven will now have someone to plan Evensong forever.

[judymusick]

Am weeping as I listen. So glad he can continue touching our lives through all the great recordings.

[ellenlinn7]

The world has lost one of it's greatest organists. Rest in Peace.

[eurhythmicfritz]

Rest in perpetua

[eyetheinkknot]

Rest in peace, great one!

[TheMysticalOrgan]

I'm sorry but, even speaking as a Francophile, Hancock could improvise Cochereau off the map. David Briggs can, at his best, also surpass Cochereau. Hancock was an absolute genius - I regret that I never met him. Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

[LouisBowerBannister]

Even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Requiescat in Pace.

[originaltommy]

Requiescat in pace, Gerre.

[mrstevecbournias]

The chancel organ was rebuilt 1956 by Aeolian-Skinner;prior to that it was rebuilt in the 1940s by Skinner7Son and Moller;The 1976 organ was half Aeolian-Skinner and half Gilbert Adams; the gallery organ was Adams but had recycled pipes from the Riverside Church's 1955 Aeolian-Skinner and Moller pipes from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel organ

[jason1angel]

By the way, I was referring to the sound as recorded here in 1976 ... and restoring the best of Skinner. That might be difficult if many ranks have gone elsewhere. But, I know of an E. M. Skinner that suffered that fate and great efforts recovered the original pipe work and the organ was restored.

[jason1angel]

The artist is wonderful and the great G. Donald Harrison Aeolian-Skinner organ is a masterpiece. I, too have heard that there are some that want to pull this organ out and put a new one in. That, in my opinion, would be one of the greatest travesties in music history. The organ is world class. What needs to be done is for it to be totally and meticulously restored and preserved. Replacing it with a "modern" organ would be akin to covering all the arches and vaults in the church to modernize it.

[TheMysticalOrgan]

@jason1angel - the reality is that the St Thomas organ has been badly bashed about and is pretty much beyond restoration. For instance, what organ has 4 manuals and over 100 stops but only one enclosed department? St Thomas is the only one. I think the original chests have all gone too. I understand that the new organ will re-use as much Skinner pipework as possible, along with the case, while another case is to be provided on the opposite side.

[dwarrren9]

I head they are trying to find the money to get a new organ built. Hopefully they can find the funding to do that.

[kphag]

You can't listen to one improvisation and determine that Gerre Hancock is a genius. You have to listen to many. Not just recitals, either, where the odds are in his favor. Services too, where things go wrong. Gaps to be filled because the procession isn't there yet, or communion is still going on. Service after service, holiday after holiday, Sunday after Sunday.

Having done so, for a good number of years when Gerre was at Saint Thomas, I can say with some authority: the man is a genius.

[MrLocal21]

I was also in the choir 88&89,hearing this is wonderful.

[kontrahylian]

Pipe Organs= Musical Joy

[phatl87]

i used to sing for this man when i was in 6th grade. i'll never forget his genius. thank you for all the musical training dr. h i'll never forget you. may your legacy live forever.

andrew

[Holmsa01]

What is the title and composer of the first piece in this video (0:00 - 1:15) and the specific title of the remaining Hancock improvisation?

[MrJIMMY3009]

I was a choir boy under Dr Hancock in the 80's. He was amazing back then; still is!

[ny1news]

Like Cochereau -always the same piece with different melodies. Just another trickster

[spacesongs]

I disagree. I heard him this morning and tonight, and the pieces were totally different, and both genius. There was a fugue in the one he played for the postlude tonight after evensong. A little kind of jig fugue...very bouncy! But he proceeded to deeply mysterious, huge Messaien-like chords, finally ending triumphantly and uber-satisfyingly. The choir never sounded better, either!!

[johnbpullin1]

@ny1news Do I sense a little pipe envy here? There aren't many organist that can play a hymn like Gerre. Most of them that do studied under him. And yes, he is a most gracious person.

[TheMysticalOrgan]

@ny1news - Cochereau could be predictable and bombastic, but Hancock was never as you described.

[yoelbenyehuda]

Dr. Hancock is still one of my favorite organists... along with Louis Robillard and Anthony Newman. And Dr. Hancock is the finest organ improvisation performer there is!!!!

[bombarde1701]

I have this improv...its on one of the CDs which one is it?

[plattman02]

yup i was a choirboy directed under him 5 years ago before he left...hes awesome haha

[theover2]

What a great bass notes, those people must have rocked out of the middle ages into protestantism!

[flyurway]

Hey, I met this guy! He did a recital here (Rochester, NY) about 15+ years ago. He then invited anyone interested back the next day for a 1 or 2 hour free workshop...not to imply that my brain could absorb any of it. He's as cool as he is talented...and his talent was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

[Silverdaddy101]

Not so bad, sirs

[jerryg260]

Working with Gerre was a joy,to hear him play was the best time of the day or evening to be at work at St.Thomas Church.Many Thanks Gerre.From Jerry G.

[a55b47]

I have yet to run across anyone who's been associated with Gerre who didn't think he was a prince. That's kind of a nice legacy to have, isn't it? When you add that to his skills as a performer & improviser & choir director, he's a pretty impressive guy.

[ccwailes]

Hi Jerry - You and I knew each other when I was on the St. Thomas usher corp. To those who find Dr. Hancock via this post, know that the man's musical talent is at a level which can and does change lives. I worshiped at St. Thomas from 1987 to 1994 and I can tell you first hand that there are moments, whether directing the world's most magnificent boys' choir or improvising on the organ, that you hear the voice of God.  As one parishoner told me, "It's like actually going to church with Bach."

[bj3377]

I remember watching Gerre play in Cincinnati at the Chuch of Christ when I was 12. He was and is the greatest pipe organist I've ever seen or heard. E. Power Biggs... eat your heart out (lol)

[a55b47]

And a really nice guy, too (not that Biggs wasn't ;-)

[MonsieurOrgue]

I can't believe that I'm the only person to comment on this video!!! Indeed, a genius!

[a55b47]

Gerre Hancock: the greatest improviser America has ever produced. If you can find any of his recordings, buy them.  The man's a genius -- and a really nice guy, too.

[ccwailes]

There are several recordings of Dr. Hancock's improvisations available through the St. Thomas Church music office, including a most astounding 45 minute improvised Christmas symphony. It will leave you awed and reverent.

[MonsieurOrgue]

This is wonderful improvising! Never heard of this guy until now - what a discovery!