bach composed this piece in his early twenties, while still full of "piss and vinegar". the mechanical instruments of his day might not have been capable of supporting a performance at this tempo, but the "direct-electric" actions of today's instruments can. i propose that he would have loved it and welcome all considered responses that prove me wrong. please explain the insane tempi at which the brandenburg concerti are performed today, ON MODERN INSTRUMENTS, and why the organ is "different".
@jgraif Let me explain where I am coming from. I actually agree with your opinion that the current Brandenburg Concerti are taken at insane tempi today in performance. I don't quite know where you stand Jgraif. I can tell you where I stand. I am a supporter of historical performance. I strive in my interpretations to play as they would during the Baroque period. I agree with you that the instruments should evolve and the organ of all instruments has evolved the most.
@OrganoAeternam Its just silly to me to hear Bach's music played in a way that he would never of played it. Just because the modern instrument is capable of extreme tempi and big full reed choruses does not mean that you should use both in a Bach work. Then again, it all comes down to are you trying to recreate the past or not. I just don't see why everyone gets so defensive over it all. Its all opinions anyway.
@OrganoAeternam thank you for the considered reply. i, too, enjoy historic performance practice. without it, we would still not know how medieval and renaissance music really sounded. thank god for the new york pro musica in the 1950's. my "beef", is that with the organ, it is expected. as a result, so much organ-building talent is wasted on the construction of neo-baroque instruments. tell me, who builds baroque violins or 18th century klaviers today? no one would buy them.
@OrganoAeternam if i may add one additional point to the discussion (which is all this is), i believe the "root" of all of this is that no one can say with certainty how bach performed any of his music. what we do know, however, is that after all the rules of composition were followed and these beautiful works created within those rules (an amazing feat in itself), almost all of the performance "values" were left to the discretion of the performer. please consider.
NO ONE has offered any response regarding virgil's tempo in light of how EVERYTHING is performed at break-neck speed today. NO ONE has offered a explanation regarding the acceptance of the EVOLUTION of EVERY instrument EXCEPT the ORGAN!!!!! enough said.
If there's one thing that set Virgil Fox apart from his contemporaries it was his gut instinct for the music. He was never a slave to "authentic" performances. He followed his heart and in doing so, exposed Old Man Bach and others to audiences that would have never listened if purists had had their way.
Virgil Fox had a specific agenda. He brought organ music to a different audience than those who are the know-it-alls/musical snobs who like historical performance practice. Someone not of those two groups likely couldn't even embrace that concept. it was increasing the popularity of the organ for which he truly does have merit.
Having said that: as a trained organist, I think blazing through this piece, I think, glosses over so many fun things that Bach has already created. Why overblow it all?
@Kippsky45 As far as I know, Virgil Fox was the only classical artist to perform at Bill Grahm's Fillmore East in the 70's. He received a standing ovation from the crowd! He had quite a bit to say on how Bach's work was not being played the way it was written. It was meant to be played with emotion and a strong sense of life!
HEY, "know-it-alls", please help us solve this dilema. no one ever criticized horowitz for playing mozart on a "modern" piano. no one ever criticized heifitz or milstein for playing bach on a modern violin. why is bach's organ music NOT supposed to be played on a modern organ? why do we continue to build neo-baroque organs? it's a simple question WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN AFFORDED AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER.
sloppy playing... yeah, right. i witnessed that punk, cameron carpenter, get "lost" in this fugue and repeat the same 16 bar section THREE TIMES!!! virgil NEVER used a score and NEVER made a mistake AND his performances were ALWAYS thrilling. i find it so very interesting that the "know-it-alls" continue to defend their baseless claims 30 years after this man's death. they do the same thing with mario lanza, over 60 years down the road. god forbid they should ever admit they were wrong.
Fox was a jazz organist. That is not a corruption of Bach, but part of the tradition of classical music., in which musicians interpreted and modified the original composition. The purist camp is fairly recent, and a radical break with tradition. Oh, and by the way--nobody knows exactly how Bach originally intended the work to be performed. It's all a matter of opinion. And as Lou Reed said, opinions are like assholes; everyone has one. We don't need to see yours.
it is interesting that this piece couples a prelude considered to be one of the most difficult pieces for organ ever compsed by bach with a fugue considered to be one of the easiest. virgil made the prelude seem easy while infusing the fugue with such drama snd emotion as to make them equal. god bless him. he understood this piece like no one else.
@jgraif Actually, the fuge is a harder difficulty the the prelude and is rated so by the Peters Edition of the Bach Organ Works, while I learned the prelude in a couple weeks, it took a few more to learn the fugue. The fugue is harer because, it doesn't stop, it's constant 16th notes on either manual of pedal. No matter what Virgil makes it look easy for the whole piece.
look...i don't think anyone will deny that j. s. bach composed some of the most beautiful, soft and subtle orchestral music ever, and he did so within the established "rules" of the baroque period. how then, could anyone say that he would not have fallen in love with the flute, string or even principal celestes that were developed long after his death? these "voices" gave the organ a soft side that it did not have before. every other instrument has been allowed to evolve. why not the organ?
hey...for you organists out there. the "alle breve" from the prelude is considered among the most difficult to play of all of bach's organ music. i have never heard virgil play it any less than PERFECTLY and overflowing with EMOTION. yes... EMOTION> bach had it, believe it or not and virgil captured it.
this piece was written by a YOUNG j. s. bach, full of emotion and bravura. he was a rock star during his life and was begged everywhere he went to play the "d minor" to the point that he hated playing it. oh...but we don't consider any of that when we villify virgil. the fact is, he played these pieces the way bach would have if he had access to the modern pipe organ. given the absolute beauty of all of bach's output, how can anyone propose that he would have rejected modern instruments?
@jgraif During Bach's lifetime, he was well known and respected as an organist, but certainly not as a composer. His music would've been virtually unknown to everyone at the time unless you attended his church. Most of his music wasn't even discovered until long after he was dead... It was composers like Mendelssohn who discovered his music and made him as popular as he is today.
I've read most of the comments on Virgil Fox playing this Bach Toccata, so there isn't much more to say other than I am completely OVERWHELMED with his playing and dramatics. Mr. Fox was more than a musician; he had SHOWMANSHIP! He sparkled , and had that something I find missing from most...he LOVED playing! Thank You! BRAVA!
I was impressed with the pedalwork Fox did here! At times, it looks like he is dancing a jig. The ending of the Fugue was great - what a showman Fox was. Thanks to posting this on YouTube.
Ol' J.S. would DEFINITELY approve! This is superhuman playing! Look at the frickin' ovation he got! I dare any of you "purists" to deliver a more thrilling performance than this!!!!!
Does anyone understand how frigging HARD it is to play like this?
@jazzkeyboardman thank you for this. you are so correct. bach was a rock star in his own right. i think he would have loved the ease of playing afforded by an "ago console" with a concave and radiating pedalboard. every musical instrument has been allowed to "evolve" without restriction. why not the organ? what the f**k?
Virgil Fox himself often spoke of the "purists" and would follow that by saying he would put his organ playing up against anyone; "bring 'em on." it was in the late 1940's and our church organist was a music major at the Univ. of Colorado. he
spoke of meeting Virgil Fox. he, and fellow students referred to Virgil as "Crazy
Virgil," with reference to how up tempo he would be on some of his interpretations. nonetheless, they used the term lovingly. as for me, Bravo, Mr. Virgil Fox. well done.
@shemiska interesting that today, EVERYTHING is being played at ridiculous tempi. pachelbel's "canon", vivaldi's "the four seasons" and bach's brandenburg concerti as well as every major concerto are currently being offered at tempi that only serve to highlight the performers' ability rather than the beauty of the music. in virgil's time, these pieces were being performed at such slow tempi that they all sounded draconian and BORING!! virgil made them accessible. god bless him!!
I don't want to hear Bach like this, but I admit I liked him. He is extremely honest. I feel like there are a whole buch of snobs among players and that is more problem than snobby fans(if you call me so, yes). When they play, they lie. No matter how skillful they are, they don't reach your soul. At least this Virgil Fox, doesn't lie to himself. And my love for musician like him is far more greater than the desire to criticize. I'd rather let him be, and appreciate he loves Bach.
I don't see how anyone can argue with success. There are those who do argue that Virgil Fox made mistakes. I agree, but who among us do not make mistakes? The fact is, Virgil Fox dared to go where other organists of his caliber have feared, and continue to fear, to tread. Until you have walked a mile in his shoes, no one should ever be critical of Mr. Fox.
For the dozen or so videos I have watched about Virgil Fox, people either say he's brilliant, genius and technically-skilled or they say he is awful, stale and full of mistakes. I don't know whether those in YouTube are really experts who are reviewing his playing or people who have strong views and want to give a solid piece of their mind. All I know is that Virgil Fox doesn't emphasise on maestro-like perfection and rigid styles typical of many famous organ players.
I have commented before, but I have more to say: The piece is in D Major & not just any other key because D stands for DAZZLE -- and the Prelude & Fugue is very, very dazzling. I call it the Razzle-Dazzle Prelude & Fugue.
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Liberace of Organ I presume. What a shame! This is what happens when you give 750k USD instument to an spineless imbecile that sold his soul for cheap thrill show in Nevada.
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The old man didn´t know much of baroque interpretation, nor did he have taste. With better education at a fine European organ institute in Amsterdam or Bremen etc he might have been someone.
i'm currently teaching myself this piece, i know what your talking about, our school chour pianist told me to finger it on the piano till you know it well, then work on pedaling on the organ, and it will all come together.
Billynoful, I would love to get the hang of it, I am beginning working on it. I am having difficulty :( & wish I didn't because it is my favorite piece. I am not jealous of people who can play it well -- I am thrilled for them. I wish I was one who could. I hope to learn it by Christmas.
This is my favorite piece! I especially love the part with the double running trills. I am an amateur organist, have been playing for about 20 years. I am positive that it is swell & great to play the organ. Does anyone have Peter Hurford & Ton Koopman's e-mail addresses so I can e-mail them about how much I love their renditions of this piece? Thank you. Have a swell & great day.
Virgil Fox was a wonderful organist and brilliant showman. YES, his showmanship was over the top sometimes. But he was a great interpreter of Bach. I love watching his feet fly over the pedals during the fugue section.
You purist snobs are pathetic! Oh, oh, he didn't play this EXACTLY like the manuscript had it. And why won't he play a REAL organ, with mechanical relays. Gruß Gott, people! Do you honestly think Bach played his pieces the same way twice? Do you honestly believe that Bach wouldn't love to have eliminated the fussiness of tracker organs with better technology?
This appears to be from his concert at NHK Symphony Hall in Tokyo about 1978 or so. If memory serves, he began the concert by playing the Star Spangled Banner which had all of the US Embassy personnel standing. He would intersperse the organ with some harpsichord pieces; it was great afternoon!
If Virgil Fox is such a great organist as some claim, then why didn't he play real organs, ie organs with trackers? In fact, Mr Fox referred to these as "clackers", presumably because you can sometimes hear the trackers. I refer to pneumatic "pipe organs" as "ding dongs", because their action, like a door bell, is merely on or off. No other "classical" instrument has such an insensitive playing action. I love the irony that the cover of VF Greatist Hits has a picture of the Mueller tracker.
Note perfection is a weird disease. To me more important is feeling the music. I love how Virgil plays this. Most people that are overly critical are just jealous. I like the tempo of the fugue, seems almost too fast but the music calls for it. Somehow it just makes this organ sing and I love it. I agree, he makes Bach greatness shine.
You guys are a bunch of musical snobs! Virgil Fox became famous because he explored the possibilities that modern organs offered for reinterpreting Bach and other baroque organ composers. He never presented his work as a 'definitive' interpretation of Bach or as anything but a playful 'spin' on these classics. I think Bach would approve of what Mr. Fox has done far more than he would attempts to 'protect' his work from modern 'impurities.'
@dangerfan2005 ... and let's not forget that in Bach's time, composers improvisers and performers were not quite the separate species they have become today. And compared with what the panoply of 19th century composer-performers (including Liszt, Busoni and others) did to Bach and other old masters, Virgil Fox's treatment comes across as quite mild...
@dangerfan2005 art is feeling and interpretation...Bach created a template that others work from...this is not the Mona LIsa. This is a code...to be used by whomever.
@dangerfan2005 There is no question of Mr. Fox's virtuosity. I however disagree with J.S. Bach being happy with this "reinterpretation" oh his music. J.S. was a stickler for the rules. This interpretation does not adhere to the rules that Bach would of followed. Does it make what Virgil plays wrong....of course not. Virgil took Bach's quill strokes and made this piece his own. I would simply approach Bach from a different angle. Neither is right or wrong. I just prefer to recreate the past.
@OrganoAeternam well...that is the problem, isn't it? we cannot know what bach would have thought. one thing that we DO know, however, is that whenever he sat down at the console of an instrument he had not yet played, he drew all the stops and said, "let's see what kind of 'lungs' it has." don't you think he favored the "evolution" of instruments? as for the "rules"...no one adhered to them like bach and look at all the INCREDIBLE music he created within those rules. he had soul!!
@OrganoAeternam after the passing of a year, i feel the need to address this once again, because your comments clearly demonstrate a mis-understanding of this music and the period in which it was composed. the "rules" of the baroque period had everything to do with COMPOSITION and nothing to do with INTERPRETATION. this was the era of "figured bass", where a keyboardist was provided ONLY the bass note and a numerical description of the harmony. the rest was up to the performer.
@OrganoAeternam that is why most of bach's organ manuscripts are devoid of "instruction", not because they were to be played exactly as written, but to permit the INTERPRETATION of the player. if you just prefer to recreate the past, do you think that horowitz or rubinstein should have performed the works of chopin on an early 19th century piano? i will bet that your answer is, "no". so, explain why the organ should not be allowed to evolve.
@dangerfan2005 He was AMAZING, and I was fortunate enough to see one of his 'heavy organ' concerts at the Frank LLoyd Wright designed Marin Civic Center... just before Mr. Fox passed away.... It was an AMAZING experience that I recall VIVIDLY to this day... Some say that Fox dropped acid before at least some of his concerts -- frankly i don't give a damn whether he did nor not -- his performances were once in a lifetime experiences and I'm GRATEFUL to GOD that I saw one...
mm every time anyone plays a song there always going to play it a little differently. Its all on taste. I dont like some parts but its still played very well as far as organ playing goes!!
No doubt the Fox cultists will react to this by screaming abuse in the usual way, but this is so mechanical and unexpressive, nasty stabbed staccotos, no subtley at all. I'm amused by the posting below that reckons that we have made such 'progress' in organ building since Bach's day. By comparison with the fabulous organs at Naumburg (designed by Bach) or the Court Church in Dresden, this nasty five manual monster is just a ugly and unsophisticated toy.
actually, I am not totally surprised people don't like your comment, perhaps because of how it was phrased. Nonetheless I don't think you are off the mark. It takes a lot of concentration and deep understanding of the profound meaning of music to realise that the old organs are of higher quality compared to modern ones. I suspect that kind of trained ear is in short supply nowadays, unluckily. No one's fault, music is facing serious trouble as an art, lately...
But you have to understand - this is US-showbusiness, there's nothing left of tradition. He doesn't play really well, as you said, it's too mechanical, and the zero-acoustic concert house makes it even worse. But this is far better than other american interpretations of bach, the best example is carpenter
I love Fox's playing. He's so energetic and athletic, and he clearly loves the music. Sure he misses a bunch of notes, but I still love it. Bach greatness emerges in many different interpretations.
The registration was quite well, it's sad that he ruined it with the Cresdcendo in the Prelude. He performs quite well, but he Acoustic of the concert hall is no good for Bach's organ works.
I'm not usually a fan of Fox's playing but I have to say I like this rendition. Though, maybe it's just me, but the stops he's chosen sound really rough...
Je ne sais pas quoi penser de Virgile Fox... mon souhait aurait été de le rencontrer et de lui parler ! Il ne reste de lui que quelques vidéos pour pouvoir juger directement de sa technique musicale.
He made a recording of this piece many years ago when he was much younger, and he absolutely nailed it. Never was there such clarity and logic of the contrapuntal voices and such punctuation of the rhythm. He took the final pedal run like the ascent to Parnassus, and there wasn't the slightest fumble. In this video his age is apparent, but the dynamic spirit is still there. He liked to say, "I play the organ as if it's a musical instrument."
I saw Virgil 35 years ago and will never forget that concert. I fell in love with Bach that night. That fugue is just on fire. Bach was just amazing.All the fugues have their own character. I cannot play like him, but I love this music like he does. Critics like to tear him down with these comments about how easy the music is, forget that. If you enjoy it, enjoy it.
Enjoy Virgil Fox's interpretation and the music, more power to you. I fell in love with Bach's music 40 years ago. Fox's major critics (not on youtube)said that his stop choices were anachronistic; these were the Back to Baroque or historical informed cadre. Bach on a Period Harpsichord instead of a Modern Piano. I wrote in response to another stating this wasn't the most demanding piece of Bach or for the Organ for that matter. On some pieces VF style works, on others it leaves me cold.
I feel that he played barogue organ music the way that the composers meant it to be played...with a spirit of the joy of life and all that it contains, not some morose gothic dirge that only reminds one of the futility of life.
I am no muscian, so if he did make mistakes, I didn't notice them. All I can say, is bravo!
When Virgil Fox came to Dallas years ago I got to attend the concert at the Music Hall - - the place was packed to the teeth. I think in one evening there he thrilled all of us who love/loved the organ deeply as well as creating in many others a lasting love for the king of instruments that they never knew they had before. It was as incredible to watch and see Mr. Fox perform as it was to hear and experienec the music itself. Bach was certainly alive and well once again that night.
utterly magnificent!!! this is what bach would have sounded like playing alone in leipzig cathedral at 3am when no one was listening when he was playing for God and no one else...
dont get me wrong i love virgil and he has an unbelieveable talent. but he seems to concentrate so much more on his showmanship that as a result he ends up making so many mistakes in his playing and it really detracts from the beauty of the piece when you make countless mistakes which just get magnified 100 times in organ playing. i notice that on tons of songs he plays. a great inspiration and talent though. sad that he's gone
they are just sporatic throughout his pieces. not all his pieces. just slip-ups that with his talent could easily be avoided. but hey no ones perfect. its just a pet-peeve of mine lol i guess i have no room to talk though ill never be as good as him
- This organ is VERY unappropriate for Bach's music;
- i think that the US maestro was technically excellent, but very emotionless and without a propre understanding for this SACRED LUTHERAN masterpiece. "Look at me, how good i am!" and he is not, hi's sometimes wrong!. Remember the Cantor: SOLI DEO GLORIA.
- Please see the version of J.S Whiteley at Jacobikirche Hamburg. Much better.
So Bach would have said : "No fellow! THIS organ is not for my music! wont play it, an' you wont neither! NIX DA!" haha c'mon fellow :) There is no Bach-instrument. Bach can be interpretated on any instrument, if one's good enough... This reveales new aspects of his music, not only to try to play it only on silbermann ass originally as possible... Bach + organ are phenomenons that do look and always looked forward , never backwards or static!
You are wrong i think. On a 4-5 manuals instrument you can technically play everything, BUT what is the most important to an organ is the sound. Nobody cannot know the Cantor's opinion about this particular instrument, but judging the style of his most beloved organbuilders (at least we know some names and sounds) we can imagine...
Finally and very pesonally, again with real respect for all opinions, Mr. Fox is very poor and emotionless comparing with... Ton Koopman? HUT AB!
youre right, Ton Koopman is superb. He applies the old technique, its vers authentic and interesting. Right also for Fox interpretation. Its rather show and tempo orientated. Nevertheless, Bach didnt really have a large choice on what organ he may play his music. Playing it on a silbermann, Formentelli or Cavaillé-Coll alows very different approaches to his music, an that makes the beauty of it. Boring if you don't allow yourself to play it on a non authentic instrument.
There is never only ONE way for interpretation. Finally, notes are notes, but the music is the fantastic combination between the notes an the influence of the interpreting musician. i respect those who want to hear bach music only on historical organs, but its said because they will never open up for other aspects of the richness of Bachs music.
Please read Bach's Biography. He was very concerned about the quality of the organs and very demanding with it. Bach was always complaining about some lacking of stops and many many other things ...
What a showman he was! To play that piece from memory with such obvious comfort and flair! Wow. I'm an organist and I know how long (and how involved) that piece is. I've never really been a fan of Virgil fox, but this interpretation of the D Major Prelude and Fugue is very inspiring to watch! Hope you're playing the big one in the sky, VF!! :-)
To claim that Bach would have played like Virgil Fox is so stupid that it doesn´t even require an answer. You are very ignorant of the fact that a good performance becomes even better if it is played in the correct tradition. Bach is the eternal great master and Virgil Fox was a stupid clown.
I did not say Bach would have played like Fox, i said if Bach had the posibilities that a organ has today he would used them like Virgil. In my opinion is a trditional interpretation only possible on an instrument which is build or rebuild in one kind of style. That concertorgan does not allow to play the traditional way. Why do so many people say Bach is the great master? He has realy done alot of beautifull things, but he had to do this to get money.
RIRIKUKU´s interpretation is boring. Virgil´s has dynamic and a lot of ideas. Bach woud have even played the same way, if he had the possibilties. Music is art for the moment! And not a trying of duplicating something nobody could have heard.
I suggest that you listen to Ton Koopman or an organist with modern knowledge of baroque intrepretation - and musicality and not an interest in merely showing off.
Well I have some capabilities but that´s totally irrelevant. I don´t pretend that I am a professional player. Since he pretended to be professional he must accept criticicm based on facts. I am sorry that you don´t accept that.
Terrible intrepretation, he knows absolutely nothing about baroque interpretaion, but he is mainly interested in showing off, not making fine music. Besides the organ is bad.
It's music. To sit there and demand that it only be played one way (coincidentally, your way) is preposterious. I suppose you hate what Stokowski did with Bach as well.
The musical world at large has forgotten the organ since Virgil died, and little closed-minded Nancy boys like this work hard to see that it is a closed-door society sort of thing. I'm glad I knew Virgil, and heard and saw him.
Say what you will about this man, but Virgil Fox was one of the greatest. He brings life and vitality to Bach's music. We are all the better for it. God Bless his memory! Amen!
He plays with such conviction. Bach is rarely played with this much brightness. I am neither a musician nor critic, Virgil Fox rivals Gould in his perfection of Bach keyboard composition.
oh brother -- some of the pomposity and arrogance of those who criticize mere technique and fail to grasp the sheer joy and mastery of this profoundly great artist!!! what oatmeal/pablum such people spread, while listening and watching virgil fox just have a great time eliciting masterful music for the ears of God.... shame on you!
Virgil Fox was a Great master of the instrument and I'm glad to see so many people posting the truth of that in appreciation for all that he did to further the cause of Bach and the pipe organ. R.I.P. Great One!
Fox blows Koopman, Whiteley, Richter, and the guy who posted that brilliant Toccata and Fugue in d-, clear out of the water. Too much rubato? Is it possible to play Baroque music with too much rubato, especially when combined with unmatched virtuosity and pure exhibitionism? But those are the pillars of all Baroqoe art from Donne to Carravagio, including Bach and his organ. Theatrics, theatrics, theatrics!
Woah--don't flame mein meister und dirigent Karl Richter. Careful study will reveal that Richter's bach is as revolutionary as Fox's; moreover, Fox referenced Richter--and Ramin, et. al--the spiritual "sons of Bach"--in his masterclass notes.
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Hi,i am looking for a fugue speciallist to tell me what is that chromatic fugue:
youtube.com/watch?v=yotypIIavlQ&list=HL1326399726&feature=mh_lolz
I found it as notes and then i made it with a music notation program
Enlightenment82 1 month ago
Wow! Fascinating! Even if I didn't like Bach (which mostly I do), I would be inspired. Fox really brings it to life!
matavidya 3 months ago
Right on Mr. Dangerfan !
cullmurr 4 months ago
the organ is the king of instruments , and virgil fox is one of the greates of today . gs
7329690653 4 months ago
The organist is great but the sonud of the organ it's terrible.
TheNautiluss 6 months ago
bach composed this piece in his early twenties, while still full of "piss and vinegar". the mechanical instruments of his day might not have been capable of supporting a performance at this tempo, but the "direct-electric" actions of today's instruments can. i propose that he would have loved it and welcome all considered responses that prove me wrong. please explain the insane tempi at which the brandenburg concerti are performed today, ON MODERN INSTRUMENTS, and why the organ is "different".
jgraif 7 months ago
@jgraif I think you are right,right and right.!
I
DavidSnyderLumierist 2 months ago in playlist Virgil Fox Heavy Organ David Snyder Lumierist
@jgraif Let me explain where I am coming from. I actually agree with your opinion that the current Brandenburg Concerti are taken at insane tempi today in performance. I don't quite know where you stand Jgraif. I can tell you where I stand. I am a supporter of historical performance. I strive in my interpretations to play as they would during the Baroque period. I agree with you that the instruments should evolve and the organ of all instruments has evolved the most.
OrganoAeternam 2 months ago
@OrganoAeternam Its just silly to me to hear Bach's music played in a way that he would never of played it. Just because the modern instrument is capable of extreme tempi and big full reed choruses does not mean that you should use both in a Bach work. Then again, it all comes down to are you trying to recreate the past or not. I just don't see why everyone gets so defensive over it all. Its all opinions anyway.
OrganoAeternam 2 months ago
@OrganoAeternam thank you for the considered reply. i, too, enjoy historic performance practice. without it, we would still not know how medieval and renaissance music really sounded. thank god for the new york pro musica in the 1950's. my "beef", is that with the organ, it is expected. as a result, so much organ-building talent is wasted on the construction of neo-baroque instruments. tell me, who builds baroque violins or 18th century klaviers today? no one would buy them.
jgraif 2 months ago
@OrganoAeternam if i may add one additional point to the discussion (which is all this is), i believe the "root" of all of this is that no one can say with certainty how bach performed any of his music. what we do know, however, is that after all the rules of composition were followed and these beautiful works created within those rules (an amazing feat in itself), almost all of the performance "values" were left to the discretion of the performer. please consider.
jgraif 2 months ago
I don't remember the day,i saw Virgil at the Northrup Auditorium with the light show and the dry ice.Does anybody remember when that was?
garebear1015 7 months ago
@garebear1015 I saw him with the Pablo Lights show in Austin around 1971 or 72
MultiEpowell 5 months ago
@garebear1015 Some of us do. Thanks for being thee and remembering.
DavidSnyderLumierist 2 months ago in playlist Virgil Fox Heavy Organ David Snyder Lumierist
NO ONE has offered any response regarding virgil's tempo in light of how EVERYTHING is performed at break-neck speed today. NO ONE has offered a explanation regarding the acceptance of the EVOLUTION of EVERY instrument EXCEPT the ORGAN!!!!! enough said.
jgraif 8 months ago
If there's one thing that set Virgil Fox apart from his contemporaries it was his gut instinct for the music. He was never a slave to "authentic" performances. He followed his heart and in doing so, exposed Old Man Bach and others to audiences that would have never listened if purists had had their way.
SuperOldandSlow 8 months ago
Virgil Fox had a specific agenda. He brought organ music to a different audience than those who are the know-it-alls/musical snobs who like historical performance practice. Someone not of those two groups likely couldn't even embrace that concept. it was increasing the popularity of the organ for which he truly does have merit.
Having said that: as a trained organist, I think blazing through this piece, I think, glosses over so many fun things that Bach has already created. Why overblow it all?
Kippsky45 9 months ago 4
@Kippsky45 As far as I know, Virgil Fox was the only classical artist to perform at Bill Grahm's Fillmore East in the 70's. He received a standing ovation from the crowd! He had quite a bit to say on how Bach's work was not being played the way it was written. It was meant to be played with emotion and a strong sense of life!
ChuckDeFuque 3 months ago
@ChuckDeFuque .
Super to hear from someone who was actually there.You were a part of history. Thanks for rememebring.
David Snyder,,Lumierist
Creator of Heavy Organ Touring Productions
DavidSnyderLumierist 2 months ago in playlist Virgil Fox Heavy Organ David Snyder Lumierist
We were lucky enough to see the Virgil Fox light show in St. Paul, MN. Of course, we don't have any cell phone videos of the performance!
WillCaud 9 months ago
We were lucky enough to see the Virgil Fox light show in St. Paul, MN. Of course, we don't have any cell phone videos of the performance!
WillCaud 9 months ago
This work must be felt...not just heard. Great music right here!
sqcomp1 9 months ago
HEY, "know-it-alls", please help us solve this dilema. no one ever criticized horowitz for playing mozart on a "modern" piano. no one ever criticized heifitz or milstein for playing bach on a modern violin. why is bach's organ music NOT supposed to be played on a modern organ? why do we continue to build neo-baroque organs? it's a simple question WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN AFFORDED AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER.
jgraif 10 months ago
sloppy playing... yeah, right. i witnessed that punk, cameron carpenter, get "lost" in this fugue and repeat the same 16 bar section THREE TIMES!!! virgil NEVER used a score and NEVER made a mistake AND his performances were ALWAYS thrilling. i find it so very interesting that the "know-it-alls" continue to defend their baseless claims 30 years after this man's death. they do the same thing with mario lanza, over 60 years down the road. god forbid they should ever admit they were wrong.
jgraif 10 months ago 3
Sloppy playing.
organmaster1969 11 months ago
Fox was a jazz organist. That is not a corruption of Bach, but part of the tradition of classical music., in which musicians interpreted and modified the original composition. The purist camp is fairly recent, and a radical break with tradition. Oh, and by the way--nobody knows exactly how Bach originally intended the work to be performed. It's all a matter of opinion. And as Lou Reed said, opinions are like assholes; everyone has one. We don't need to see yours.
Thangodin 1 year ago 2
Virgil,what is the purpose of your art? I know it has always been to praise GOD
garebear1015 1 year ago
it is interesting that this piece couples a prelude considered to be one of the most difficult pieces for organ ever compsed by bach with a fugue considered to be one of the easiest. virgil made the prelude seem easy while infusing the fugue with such drama snd emotion as to make them equal. god bless him. he understood this piece like no one else.
jgraif 1 year ago
@jgraif Actually, the fuge is a harder difficulty the the prelude and is rated so by the Peters Edition of the Bach Organ Works, while I learned the prelude in a couple weeks, it took a few more to learn the fugue. The fugue is harer because, it doesn't stop, it's constant 16th notes on either manual of pedal. No matter what Virgil makes it look easy for the whole piece.
rspantikow 1 year ago
look...i don't think anyone will deny that j. s. bach composed some of the most beautiful, soft and subtle orchestral music ever, and he did so within the established "rules" of the baroque period. how then, could anyone say that he would not have fallen in love with the flute, string or even principal celestes that were developed long after his death? these "voices" gave the organ a soft side that it did not have before. every other instrument has been allowed to evolve. why not the organ?
jgraif 1 year ago
hey...for you organists out there. the "alle breve" from the prelude is considered among the most difficult to play of all of bach's organ music. i have never heard virgil play it any less than PERFECTLY and overflowing with EMOTION. yes... EMOTION> bach had it, believe it or not and virgil captured it.
jgraif 1 year ago
this piece was written by a YOUNG j. s. bach, full of emotion and bravura. he was a rock star during his life and was begged everywhere he went to play the "d minor" to the point that he hated playing it. oh...but we don't consider any of that when we villify virgil. the fact is, he played these pieces the way bach would have if he had access to the modern pipe organ. given the absolute beauty of all of bach's output, how can anyone propose that he would have rejected modern instruments?
jgraif 1 year ago
@jgraif During Bach's lifetime, he was well known and respected as an organist, but certainly not as a composer. His music would've been virtually unknown to everyone at the time unless you attended his church. Most of his music wasn't even discovered until long after he was dead... It was composers like Mendelssohn who discovered his music and made him as popular as he is today.
drakettwill 4 months ago
I've read most of the comments on Virgil Fox playing this Bach Toccata, so there isn't much more to say other than I am completely OVERWHELMED with his playing and dramatics. Mr. Fox was more than a musician; he had SHOWMANSHIP! He sparkled , and had that something I find missing from most...he LOVED playing! Thank You! BRAVA!
kasha1932 1 year ago
fox loved magnificent music,and he loved playing it-obviously
garebear1015 1 year ago
can you imagine? my ex wife didn't like Bach-i went to see Fox at Northrup auditorium circa 1975?-light show and smoke
garebear1015 1 year ago
fox preferred the pipe? organ but he toured with the electronic to share Bach's music with us
garebear1015 1 year ago
was he pressing wrong keys on purpose? Is that a way he shows how he understands Bach's music?
kknots 1 year ago
@kknots what silliness
dangerfan2005 1 year ago
I was impressed with the pedalwork Fox did here! At times, it looks like he is dancing a jig. The ending of the Fugue was great - what a showman Fox was. Thanks to posting this on YouTube.
Doc10Nemo 1 year ago
Ol' J.S. would DEFINITELY approve! This is superhuman playing! Look at the frickin' ovation he got! I dare any of you "purists" to deliver a more thrilling performance than this!!!!!
Does anyone understand how frigging HARD it is to play like this?
jazzkeyboardman 1 year ago
@jazzkeyboardman thank you for this. you are so correct. bach was a rock star in his own right. i think he would have loved the ease of playing afforded by an "ago console" with a concave and radiating pedalboard. every musical instrument has been allowed to "evolve" without restriction. why not the organ? what the f**k?
jgraif 1 year ago
Virgil Fox himself often spoke of the "purists" and would follow that by saying he would put his organ playing up against anyone; "bring 'em on." it was in the late 1940's and our church organist was a music major at the Univ. of Colorado. he
spoke of meeting Virgil Fox. he, and fellow students referred to Virgil as "Crazy
Virgil," with reference to how up tempo he would be on some of his interpretations. nonetheless, they used the term lovingly. as for me, Bravo, Mr. Virgil Fox. well done.
shemiska 1 year ago
@shemiska interesting that today, EVERYTHING is being played at ridiculous tempi. pachelbel's "canon", vivaldi's "the four seasons" and bach's brandenburg concerti as well as every major concerto are currently being offered at tempi that only serve to highlight the performers' ability rather than the beauty of the music. in virgil's time, these pieces were being performed at such slow tempi that they all sounded draconian and BORING!! virgil made them accessible. god bless him!!
jgraif 1 year ago
Pure magic!
GoobieDoober 1 year ago
I don't want to hear Bach like this, but I admit I liked him. He is extremely honest. I feel like there are a whole buch of snobs among players and that is more problem than snobby fans(if you call me so, yes). When they play, they lie. No matter how skillful they are, they don't reach your soul. At least this Virgil Fox, doesn't lie to himself. And my love for musician like him is far more greater than the desire to criticize. I'd rather let him be, and appreciate he loves Bach.
ttwiligh7 1 year ago
I don't see how anyone can argue with success. There are those who do argue that Virgil Fox made mistakes. I agree, but who among us do not make mistakes? The fact is, Virgil Fox dared to go where other organists of his caliber have feared, and continue to fear, to tread. Until you have walked a mile in his shoes, no one should ever be critical of Mr. Fox.
PrecicyJax 1 year ago
For the dozen or so videos I have watched about Virgil Fox, people either say he's brilliant, genius and technically-skilled or they say he is awful, stale and full of mistakes. I don't know whether those in YouTube are really experts who are reviewing his playing or people who have strong views and want to give a solid piece of their mind. All I know is that Virgil Fox doesn't emphasise on maestro-like perfection and rigid styles typical of many famous organ players.
jtingyz 1 year ago
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Awful. Disgusting.
luszauer 2 years ago
@luszauer Hi there, I'd love to see your personal interpretations of Bach sometime should you ever upload any videos. :)
TheVOC 1 year ago
@TheVOC To be honest I don't want to argue about interpretations of Bach within
this context. Some other time, some other place.
luszauer 1 year ago
@luszauer cool, then perhaps it may help some people to leave better comments that consist of more than 2 basic words. :)
TheVOC 1 year ago
I have commented before, but I have more to say: The piece is in D Major & not just any other key because D stands for DAZZLE -- and the Prelude & Fugue is very, very dazzling. I call it the Razzle-Dazzle Prelude & Fugue.
VivaceSubito 2 years ago
SUPERB! Ton Koopman can kiss my ass!
Sesquiltera 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Liberace of Organ I presume. What a shame! This is what happens when you give 750k USD instument to an spineless imbecile that sold his soul for cheap thrill show in Nevada.
midiborg 2 years ago
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The old man didn´t know much of baroque interpretation, nor did he have taste. With better education at a fine European organ institute in Amsterdam or Bremen etc he might have been someone.
Modernmanx 2 years ago
i'm currently teaching myself this piece, i know what your talking about, our school chour pianist told me to finger it on the piano till you know it well, then work on pedaling on the organ, and it will all come together.
billynoful 2 years ago
Billynoful, I would love to get the hang of it, I am beginning working on it. I am having difficulty :( & wish I didn't because it is my favorite piece. I am not jealous of people who can play it well -- I am thrilled for them. I wish I was one who could. I hope to learn it by Christmas.
VivaceSubito 2 years ago
This is my favorite piece! I especially love the part with the double running trills. I am an amateur organist, have been playing for about 20 years. I am positive that it is swell & great to play the organ. Does anyone have Peter Hurford & Ton Koopman's e-mail addresses so I can e-mail them about how much I love their renditions of this piece? Thank you. Have a swell & great day.
VivaceSubito 2 years ago
Virgil Fox was a wonderful organist and brilliant showman. YES, his showmanship was over the top sometimes. But he was a great interpreter of Bach. I love watching his feet fly over the pedals during the fugue section.
saurus1963 2 years ago 3
GO VIRGIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
organdude2001 2 years ago 3
You purist snobs are pathetic! Oh, oh, he didn't play this EXACTLY like the manuscript had it. And why won't he play a REAL organ, with mechanical relays. Gruß Gott, people! Do you honestly think Bach played his pieces the same way twice? Do you honestly believe that Bach wouldn't love to have eliminated the fussiness of tracker organs with better technology?
mwdiers 2 years ago 2
i thought it was good, i would like to play that piece. i guess some people are jealous cause they cant play it like Virgil. would like to learn it.
billynoful 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
awful preformance
ydraj 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
An amazing piece of music RUINED
sdgwebb 2 years ago
This appears to be from his concert at NHK Symphony Hall in Tokyo about 1978 or so. If memory serves, he began the concert by playing the Star Spangled Banner which had all of the US Embassy personnel standing. He would intersperse the organ with some harpsichord pieces; it was great afternoon!
Reznicek 2 years ago
Der hat aber kein klassisch romantisches Gemuet!
lefekir 2 years ago
Oh come on. Who knows how Bach played these things? This is fantastic Bach. I wouldn't want it any other way.
hophmi 2 years ago 2
Nice
carold21 2 years ago
If Virgil Fox is such a great organist as some claim, then why didn't he play real organs, ie organs with trackers? In fact, Mr Fox referred to these as "clackers", presumably because you can sometimes hear the trackers. I refer to pneumatic "pipe organs" as "ding dongs", because their action, like a door bell, is merely on or off. No other "classical" instrument has such an insensitive playing action. I love the irony that the cover of VF Greatist Hits has a picture of the Mueller tracker.
bachkirche 2 years ago
Note perfection is a weird disease. To me more important is feeling the music. I love how Virgil plays this. Most people that are overly critical are just jealous. I like the tempo of the fugue, seems almost too fast but the music calls for it. Somehow it just makes this organ sing and I love it. I agree, he makes Bach greatness shine.
trevjr 2 years ago 22
Try Virgil Fox just once. You may eventually settle on someone else, but you'll never forget Virgil.
toml714 2 years ago
untypically for Bach... but an (very) individual artist interpretation
JamesBondthefinal 2 years ago
Technically Brilliant. Great for entertainment. I could'nt imagine it being played like that in a church !
ndg357 2 years ago
Master organist playing a great work.
eameece 2 years ago
pure genius!
glevantino 2 years ago
You guys are a bunch of musical snobs! Virgil Fox became famous because he explored the possibilities that modern organs offered for reinterpreting Bach and other baroque organ composers. He never presented his work as a 'definitive' interpretation of Bach or as anything but a playful 'spin' on these classics. I think Bach would approve of what Mr. Fox has done far more than he would attempts to 'protect' his work from modern 'impurities.'
dangerfan2005 2 years ago 37
@dangerfan2005 ... and let's not forget that in Bach's time, composers improvisers and performers were not quite the separate species they have become today. And compared with what the panoply of 19th century composer-performers (including Liszt, Busoni and others) did to Bach and other old masters, Virgil Fox's treatment comes across as quite mild...
mcsw99 1 year ago
@dangerfan2005 art is feeling and interpretation...Bach created a template that others work from...this is not the Mona LIsa. This is a code...to be used by whomever.
tekmet 1 year ago
@dangerfan2005 There is no question of Mr. Fox's virtuosity. I however disagree with J.S. Bach being happy with this "reinterpretation" oh his music. J.S. was a stickler for the rules. This interpretation does not adhere to the rules that Bach would of followed. Does it make what Virgil plays wrong....of course not. Virgil took Bach's quill strokes and made this piece his own. I would simply approach Bach from a different angle. Neither is right or wrong. I just prefer to recreate the past.
OrganoAeternam 1 year ago
@OrganoAeternam well...that is the problem, isn't it? we cannot know what bach would have thought. one thing that we DO know, however, is that whenever he sat down at the console of an instrument he had not yet played, he drew all the stops and said, "let's see what kind of 'lungs' it has." don't you think he favored the "evolution" of instruments? as for the "rules"...no one adhered to them like bach and look at all the INCREDIBLE music he created within those rules. he had soul!!
jgraif 1 year ago
@OrganoAeternam after the passing of a year, i feel the need to address this once again, because your comments clearly demonstrate a mis-understanding of this music and the period in which it was composed. the "rules" of the baroque period had everything to do with COMPOSITION and nothing to do with INTERPRETATION. this was the era of "figured bass", where a keyboardist was provided ONLY the bass note and a numerical description of the harmony. the rest was up to the performer.
jgraif 2 months ago
@OrganoAeternam that is why most of bach's organ manuscripts are devoid of "instruction", not because they were to be played exactly as written, but to permit the INTERPRETATION of the player. if you just prefer to recreate the past, do you think that horowitz or rubinstein should have performed the works of chopin on an early 19th century piano? i will bet that your answer is, "no". so, explain why the organ should not be allowed to evolve.
jgraif 2 months ago
@dangerfan2005 He was AMAZING, and I was fortunate enough to see one of his 'heavy organ' concerts at the Frank LLoyd Wright designed Marin Civic Center... just before Mr. Fox passed away.... It was an AMAZING experience that I recall VIVIDLY to this day... Some say that Fox dropped acid before at least some of his concerts -- frankly i don't give a damn whether he did nor not -- his performances were once in a lifetime experiences and I'm GRATEFUL to GOD that I saw one...
bbbbmer 1 year ago
@dangerfan2005 Virgil once said, "Purists are those who talk about it and can't do it!" I couldn't agree more.
cromorne 11 months ago
mm every time anyone plays a song there always going to play it a little differently. Its all on taste. I dont like some parts but its still played very well as far as organ playing goes!!
blacksmithe1 2 years ago
Comment removed
MEPPO06 2 years ago
No doubt the Fox cultists will react to this by screaming abuse in the usual way, but this is so mechanical and unexpressive, nasty stabbed staccotos, no subtley at all. I'm amused by the posting below that reckons that we have made such 'progress' in organ building since Bach's day. By comparison with the fabulous organs at Naumburg (designed by Bach) or the Court Church in Dresden, this nasty five manual monster is just a ugly and unsophisticated toy.
MEPPO06 2 years ago
actually, I am not totally surprised people don't like your comment, perhaps because of how it was phrased. Nonetheless I don't think you are off the mark. It takes a lot of concentration and deep understanding of the profound meaning of music to realise that the old organs are of higher quality compared to modern ones. I suspect that kind of trained ear is in short supply nowadays, unluckily. No one's fault, music is facing serious trouble as an art, lately...
artemisianereideth 2 years ago
Could not agree more....
But you have to understand - this is US-showbusiness, there's nothing left of tradition. He doesn't play really well, as you said, it's too mechanical, and the zero-acoustic concert house makes it even worse. But this is far better than other american interpretations of bach, the best example is carpenter
polsterj 2 years ago
Comment removed
MEPPO06 2 years ago
I,m not going to crack on mr fox-he plays better than I ever will.
oscardelatorre 2 years ago
I think Fox played this piece very very well. The stops used are very similar to other modern ones. Speed is good, excellent execution of right notes
Brandotuomikoski 3 years ago
what his he doing to this piece - MURDER srpings to mind.
The registrations are great and realistic of the baroque era in my opinion. - ooops ive just heard the registration for the fugue :(
tommyupoo 3 years ago
Does anybody have the stoplist to this organ?
TrompenCham167 3 years ago
I love Fox's playing. He's so energetic and athletic, and he clearly loves the music. Sure he misses a bunch of notes, but I still love it. Bach greatness emerges in many different interpretations.
cobrafarmer 3 years ago
It's sad having people who like this stale interpretation...
geheimnisvolle 3 years ago
Comment removed
codeman2008 3 years ago
i'm not telling people what they should like.
I just think it's sad having people who like this stuff...
I think that Fox doesnt shinne in Baroque and ancient music styles (not to say he ruins it completely...).
Althrough he seems to be better in modern styles.
It doesnt worth to talk to blind people - i.e. fanatics. Talking to the walls is more worthy.
geheimnisvolle 2 years ago
wow
He is a brilliant organist. and so in touch with the music
Will170392 3 years ago 2
No wonder Glenn Gould retired from concerts so early.
ytbpenguin 3 years ago 2
The master, Virgil is sadly missed.
silverstartrucker 3 years ago 2
The registration was quite well, it's sad that he ruined it with the Cresdcendo in the Prelude. He performs quite well, but he Acoustic of the concert hall is no good for Bach's organ works.
bachprofessore 3 years ago
I'm not usually a fan of Fox's playing but I have to say I like this rendition. Though, maybe it's just me, but the stops he's chosen sound really rough...
willowthebored 3 years ago
Oh, and agreed with Renshen. That pedal solo is a little bit shaky, even if it *is* Fox.
willowthebored 3 years ago
Je ne sais pas quoi penser de Virgile Fox... mon souhait aurait été de le rencontrer et de lui parler ! Il ne reste de lui que quelques vidéos pour pouvoir juger directement de sa technique musicale.
Organiste06 3 years ago
He made a recording of this piece many years ago when he was much younger, and he absolutely nailed it. Never was there such clarity and logic of the contrapuntal voices and such punctuation of the rhythm. He took the final pedal run like the ascent to Parnassus, and there wasn't the slightest fumble. In this video his age is apparent, but the dynamic spirit is still there. He liked to say, "I play the organ as if it's a musical instrument."
jerrygpp 3 years ago
Thanks for this terrific video. It's a thrilling performance of an amazing work.
cobrafarmer 3 years ago 2
He played like a man. I imagine Bach played like a man. passion, energy, virility, AND sensitivity. Beautiful.
flipscratch81 3 years ago
I saw Virgil 35 years ago and will never forget that concert. I fell in love with Bach that night. That fugue is just on fire. Bach was just amazing.All the fugues have their own character. I cannot play like him, but I love this music like he does. Critics like to tear him down with these comments about how easy the music is, forget that. If you enjoy it, enjoy it.
trevjr 3 years ago
Enjoy Virgil Fox's interpretation and the music, more power to you. I fell in love with Bach's music 40 years ago. Fox's major critics (not on youtube)said that his stop choices were anachronistic; these were the Back to Baroque or historical informed cadre. Bach on a Period Harpsichord instead of a Modern Piano. I wrote in response to another stating this wasn't the most demanding piece of Bach or for the Organ for that matter. On some pieces VF style works, on others it leaves me cold.
Renshen1957 3 years ago
God, I loved Msr Fox!
I feel that he played barogue organ music the way that the composers meant it to be played...with a spirit of the joy of life and all that it contains, not some morose gothic dirge that only reminds one of the futility of life.
I am no muscian, so if he did make mistakes, I didn't notice them. All I can say, is bravo!
ADT
amourdutigre 3 years ago
Just hear the first measures. What he is doing there is admirable.
Yes, it is his style and it is unique, brilliant, spirited and full of fire, every touch.
Most of the organists play the piece. He plays with the piece. This is the difference.
YevgeniyAlexey 3 years ago
When Virgil Fox came to Dallas years ago I got to attend the concert at the Music Hall - - the place was packed to the teeth. I think in one evening there he thrilled all of us who love/loved the organ deeply as well as creating in many others a lasting love for the king of instruments that they never knew they had before. It was as incredible to watch and see Mr. Fox perform as it was to hear and experienec the music itself. Bach was certainly alive and well once again that night.
skyler6290 3 years ago
I love Virgil but I'm not sure if I liked the beginning of the Prelude. But it really comes down to interpretation so I respect that.
techman85 3 years ago
utterly magnificent!!! this is what bach would have sounded like playing alone in leipzig cathedral at 3am when no one was listening when he was playing for God and no one else...
bbbbmer 3 years ago
live performance,played from memory one word somes it all up FANTASTICO!!
albinocortellazzi 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
What a cunt.
Piglypie 3 years ago
Virgil Fox, the greatest organ clown in world history!
Modernmanx 3 years ago
dont get me wrong i love virgil and he has an unbelieveable talent. but he seems to concentrate so much more on his showmanship that as a result he ends up making so many mistakes in his playing and it really detracts from the beauty of the piece when you make countless mistakes which just get magnified 100 times in organ playing. i notice that on tons of songs he plays. a great inspiration and talent though. sad that he's gone
vinniecaruso 3 years ago
what mistakes did he make?
beckerpwnsyou 3 years ago
they are just sporatic throughout his pieces. not all his pieces. just slip-ups that with his talent could easily be avoided. but hey no ones perfect. its just a pet-peeve of mine lol i guess i have no room to talk though ill never be as good as him
vinniecaruso 3 years ago
I think only God can offer such inspiration to compose such a piece.
davids2000 3 years ago 6
@davids2000 Apparently Satan was quite the musician too
mkeysou812 1 year ago
The Best! Forever......Great Virgil, thank you!!!!
giordciab 3 years ago 2
With all my respect for Mr.Fox fans:
- This organ is VERY unappropriate for Bach's music;
- i think that the US maestro was technically excellent, but very emotionless and without a propre understanding for this SACRED LUTHERAN masterpiece. "Look at me, how good i am!" and he is not, hi's sometimes wrong!. Remember the Cantor: SOLI DEO GLORIA.
- Please see the version of J.S Whiteley at Jacobikirche Hamburg. Much better.
It's a personal opinion, i respect all others!
florin11bv 3 years ago
So Bach would have said : "No fellow! THIS organ is not for my music! wont play it, an' you wont neither! NIX DA!" haha c'mon fellow :) There is no Bach-instrument. Bach can be interpretated on any instrument, if one's good enough... This reveales new aspects of his music, not only to try to play it only on silbermann ass originally as possible... Bach + organ are phenomenons that do look and always looked forward , never backwards or static!
marcdub2004 3 years ago 5
You are wrong i think. On a 4-5 manuals instrument you can technically play everything, BUT what is the most important to an organ is the sound. Nobody cannot know the Cantor's opinion about this particular instrument, but judging the style of his most beloved organbuilders (at least we know some names and sounds) we can imagine...
Finally and very pesonally, again with real respect for all opinions, Mr. Fox is very poor and emotionless comparing with... Ton Koopman? HUT AB!
florin11bv 3 years ago
youre right, Ton Koopman is superb. He applies the old technique, its vers authentic and interesting. Right also for Fox interpretation. Its rather show and tempo orientated. Nevertheless, Bach didnt really have a large choice on what organ he may play his music. Playing it on a silbermann, Formentelli or Cavaillé-Coll alows very different approaches to his music, an that makes the beauty of it. Boring if you don't allow yourself to play it on a non authentic instrument.
marcdub2004 3 years ago
There is never only ONE way for interpretation. Finally, notes are notes, but the music is the fantastic combination between the notes an the influence of the interpreting musician. i respect those who want to hear bach music only on historical organs, but its said because they will never open up for other aspects of the richness of Bachs music.
marcdub2004 3 years ago
I really hope you're kidding with the Ton Koopman comment.
flipscratch81 3 years ago
Oh, I love Ton! I also live on dry white toast and water.
caliopterix 3 years ago
Comment removed
codeman2008 3 years ago
Please read Bach's Biography. He was very concerned about the quality of the organs and very demanding with it. Bach was always complaining about some lacking of stops and many many other things ...
geheimnisvolle 3 years ago
What a showman he was! To play that piece from memory with such obvious comfort and flair! Wow. I'm an organist and I know how long (and how involved) that piece is. I've never really been a fan of Virgil fox, but this interpretation of the D Major Prelude and Fugue is very inspiring to watch! Hope you're playing the big one in the sky, VF!! :-)
yelsaid 3 years ago
Magnifico,formidabile.
Organbest 3 years ago
To claim that Bach would have played like Virgil Fox is so stupid that it doesn´t even require an answer. You are very ignorant of the fact that a good performance becomes even better if it is played in the correct tradition. Bach is the eternal great master and Virgil Fox was a stupid clown.
Modernmanx 3 years ago
I did not say Bach would have played like Fox, i said if Bach had the posibilities that a organ has today he would used them like Virgil. In my opinion is a trditional interpretation only possible on an instrument which is build or rebuild in one kind of style. That concertorgan does not allow to play the traditional way. Why do so many people say Bach is the great master? He has realy done alot of beautifull things, but he had to do this to get money.
gninf 3 years ago
RIRIKUKU´s interpretation is boring. Virgil´s has dynamic and a lot of ideas. Bach woud have even played the same way, if he had the possibilties. Music is art for the moment! And not a trying of duplicating something nobody could have heard.
gninf 3 years ago
Bach wouldn't have butchered his pieces, like Fox does! Fox' way to play is only show.
NecronHasan 3 years ago
It may be show, but only show of tones! And that is what music makes alive.
jaegerwirt 3 years ago
Interpretation, the key word, if all the paintings in the world were of Rambrandt, that
would be boring. These Organist are ARTIST in
their own interpretation. You either like or you don't.
naylus56 3 years ago
I suggest that you listen to Ton Koopman or an organist with modern knowledge of baroque intrepretation - and musicality and not an interest in merely showing off.
Modernmanx 3 years ago
Well I have some capabilities but that´s totally irrelevant. I don´t pretend that I am a professional player. Since he pretended to be professional he must accept criticicm based on facts. I am sorry that you don´t accept that.
Modernmanx 3 years ago
spoken like a true know-it-all. im quite sure you could perform just as well as Mr. Fox.
BlntFrceTrama 3 years ago
Terrible intrepretation, he knows absolutely nothing about baroque interpretaion, but he is mainly interested in showing off, not making fine music. Besides the organ is bad.
Modernmanx 3 years ago
I agree totally with you!
NecronHasan 3 years ago
"baroque interpotation" Ho Ho, that's rich.
It's music. To sit there and demand that it only be played one way (coincidentally, your way) is preposterious. I suppose you hate what Stokowski did with Bach as well.
The musical world at large has forgotten the organ since Virgil died, and little closed-minded Nancy boys like this work hard to see that it is a closed-door society sort of thing. I'm glad I knew Virgil, and heard and saw him.
56Packman 3 years ago
I love Virgil Fox.His playing is a sight to behold.
mikejunior80 4 years ago
Say what you will about this man, but Virgil Fox was one of the greatest. He brings life and vitality to Bach's music. We are all the better for it. God Bless his memory! Amen!
Chesterbarnes1 4 years ago 3
Life and vitality? This sounds, like some of Fox' interpretations more like butcher than organist!
NecronHasan 3 years ago
Life and vitality? This sounds, like some of Fox' interpretations more like butcher than organist!
NecronHasan 3 years ago
He's not bad ;-)
decimated550 4 years ago
Can someone tell me how many Preludes and Fugues Bach wrote for the organ ?
mikejunior80 4 years ago
is he drunk?
patounasan 4 years ago
Not likely, since Virgil didn't drink.
Sinatra70 3 years ago 2
Think we all need to shovel all the horse koop out!
vinnycor1 4 years ago
does anyone know what grade this piece is? i lost my syllabus!
stodaboda 4 years ago 2
Prelude and Fugue in D Major BWV 532
fsbehne3 4 years ago 2
oops. I thought you wanted the piece. Sorry. haha
fsbehne3 4 years ago 2
Post Grade 8
GazTheMusicMan 4 years ago
He plays with such conviction. Bach is rarely played with this much brightness. I am neither a musician nor critic, Virgil Fox rivals Gould in his perfection of Bach keyboard composition.
sccadu 4 years ago 2
oh brother -- some of the pomposity and arrogance of those who criticize mere technique and fail to grasp the sheer joy and mastery of this profoundly great artist!!! what oatmeal/pablum such people spread, while listening and watching virgil fox just have a great time eliciting masterful music for the ears of God.... shame on you!
bbbbmer 4 years ago 2
Karl who?
vinnycor1 4 years ago
Virgil Fox was a Great master of the instrument and I'm glad to see so many people posting the truth of that in appreciation for all that he did to further the cause of Bach and the pipe organ. R.I.P. Great One!
robertwbecker 4 years ago 2
Fox blows Koopman, Whiteley, Richter, and the guy who posted that brilliant Toccata and Fugue in d-, clear out of the water. Too much rubato? Is it possible to play Baroque music with too much rubato, especially when combined with unmatched virtuosity and pure exhibitionism? But those are the pillars of all Baroqoe art from Donne to Carravagio, including Bach and his organ. Theatrics, theatrics, theatrics!
latitude310 4 years ago 3
Woah--don't flame mein meister und dirigent Karl Richter. Careful study will reveal that Richter's bach is as revolutionary as Fox's; moreover, Fox referenced Richter--and Ramin, et. al--the spiritual "sons of Bach"--in his masterclass notes.