ST-SULPICE IN PARIS: XAVER VARNUS PLAYS BACH ON THE GREAT CAVAILLE-COLL ORGAN

[Katyusha45]

J.S. Bach happens to be one of my ancestors.

[Noorderlicht3]

Exelent...!

[quiquebou]

Sorry, this is an romantic organ...and unsuitible for Bach, I think

It sounds better on German or Dutch organs..

[sdgwebb]

@quiquebou Organ music was written for ORGANS. It is capable of being played on ANY organ. Get over it

[peteacher52]

@sdgwebb True indeed! If Bach himself were seated at the great organ of St Sulpice, it's almost impossible to imagine that he wouldn't first of all pull out all stops and let rip - with a huge smile on his face. Whether Bach on a romantic organ or Reger on a Baroque organ, who cares? Not I said the fly.

[Panoramix67]

Quelle interprétation sublime!!!!

[noyoriver]

Simply Stunning, & a Pleasure to Listen !!

[tibia8foot]

I love the Bombarde on this organ!

[grandorgue128]

wonder if he plays 'cello, too. Has the best cello-type-playing fingers, n'est-ce pas? [not to mention the sexy-AZ hair....LOL] ref 4:10 Is this the Dupre Edition!!

[grandorgue128]

wonder if he plays 'cello, too. Has the best cello-type-playing fingers, n'est-ce pas? [not to mention the sexy-AZ hair....LOL]

[Panoramix67]

Quel beau phrasé, et quelle belle registration, le grondement de la Contre-Bombarde est tout simplement magnifique!!!!

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Splendid performance! This is the way Bach ought to be played...bold and full of guts.

[MarkHarmer]

Aside from the music (wonderful!) this is a beautifully produced bit of music video. I love the details not only of the building but also the audience members. It seems so "human" when there are a lot of videos around which tend to focus on the instrument or just the player.

[TheOwlBerlin]

Mr. Varnus, i kept listening this over and over and have just realised that it is you who has uploaded this and being a fellow Canadian on top of that!!. Please let me congratulate you on a most brilliant performance. This happens to be one of my all time favourites. Will search for you on Facebook - my profile is Leo Statten. I have posted this on my FB Wall.

Astor Leo Statten

[kevinreid78]

great rendition of it on a great organ! one of the few captivating organ pieces that doesn't seem as long as it really is.

[TheRoliver]

yes, he is :)

[dxf323]

What an awe inspiring instrument

[Weimarer]

Thank You for posting!

Great interpretation, great registration, great organ!

Priceless: Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplins appalled-illuminated facial expression at 4:59 - while you are playing the right hand in staccato manner...

[baldwalrus7]

Is Mr. Varnus Hungarian?

[xavervarnus]

I'm Canadian with Hungarian origin.

[advisorC101]

What did it feel like when you played this organ?

[atyy123]

its amazing feeling. i can play only the first 70 seconds just on a keyboard but it's very emotional and impressive.

[advisorC101]

I know, I can play a bit of this piece on the organ as well but I was asking Xaver what it feels like to play the Great Cavaille-Coll of St. Sulpice.

This piece is one of Bach's most beautiful but then again.. anything he wrote was magical.

[atyy123]

i dont think that xaver will reply...

[advisorC101]

He has in some of his other videos.

[waihoong11]

Bravo! A great piece played on a gigantic organ with a gigantic registration in a HUGE cathedral!!! THis is so moving!

[advisorC101]

I think I will try this piece now, even though it is not something to be taken lightly for me especially after watching this again I cannot help the urge to play it.

[dkelzenb]

Organman, you proport to be an "expert" but if you really knew this piece you would know that in some sources the Prelude is notated in common time. Look at a few editions rather than just one and enlighten yourself! The interpretation of quarter-note to the beat is entirely possible.

[grooby1948]

This is an interpretation and a respect to St.Sulpice. I love this interprettion from Xaver Warnus.. I feel his soul in it!! Wonderful!! dr.friedrich schreyer

[organman52]

This is dreadfully slow. Bach indicated a meter signature of 2/2 - referred to as 'cut' time. The half note is the beat, not the quarter note. Perhaps this organist didn't notice the meter signature - the vertical line through the 'C' is often overlooked, to the detriment of the music. It sounds ponderous and too severe. This is what turns people off to the organ.

All Mr. Varnus has to do is learn what the structural significance of the meter signature is.

[ds1868]

That's a bit harsh. St Sulpice has a warm and quite lengthy acoustic (perhaps not apparent on this recording), certainly the reverberation is a good 2 seconds long. I think xavervarnus is playing in sympathy with the building, and at the same time successfully getting 'inside' this wonderful music. Only when you have heard this Organ live in this enormous church may you perhaps appreciate what he is doing!

[Mathelius]

I don't mean to be rude organman but Mr. Varnus is a very widely respected organist and I am quite sure that someone of his ability and renown knows full well how to read a meter signature. I believe that ds1868 is closer to the mark with his comment.

[organman52]

Nor do I mean to be impolite. Of course, the acoustic has a lot to do with the issue of tempo - or at least it would appear to. However, my perception is that the quarter note is sounding like the 'beat' in this performance. Bach clearly indicated that the half note is the 'beat'. I hasten to point out that the 32' Bombarde is part of the problem - the fuller the registration, the muddier it can become, and while I can hear every note, this performance just doesn't cut it for me.

[livzdave]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Xaver 'Romanticizing' this Bach masterpiece, on an appropriately French Romantic organ.  His phrasing is slow and deliberate, but that is why we have opinions on interpretation....If you have never heard this organ in person, I suggest you make a trip to St. Sulpice. I was in the organ loft watching Daniel Roth perform - truly an amazing experience. Bach on this organ is spectacular!

[ricecrispos]

Organman, perhaps you are missing the whole idea. While your point is rather valid about the meter, this piece is certainly of grave structure (it is very serious). This church has a large acoustic and playing Bach in such a grand place calls for using such wonderful stops. The way he plays this almost reminds me of a great French piece! To me, it's very convincing..

[ds1868]

Yes, it is a very large church, on the scale of a Cathedral. And it is one of the top two organs in the world. So come on organman, jump on a plane, come over and listen to the real thing!

[anoli59]

ER SPIELT BACH WUNDERSCHÖN!!!!!

[reginajulianna]

Hálás köszönetem a sok szép zenei élményért.

[bkde2007]

I love how BWV546 is played on this organ its so emotional! every time i have to play this over and over cause it brought tears to my eyes even when i play it on the organ, i even have to stop playing it on the organ cause it was so emotional! Its so Powerful! PRAISE GOD!

[robertgift]

Funny how they have a clock in the organ.

Like they did not know what better to do with that spot. (I don't.)

Where is the wonderful fugue?

[advisorC101]

Does anyone know what BWV number this is?

[AlanDaNiao]

It's the first part of BWV546.

[advisorC101]

Oh thank you! That really helps.

[AlanDaNiao]

You're welcome! The fugue is equally profound...

[norafromhungary]

Köszönet az orgona (és a szavak) virtuózának a mai soproni koncertért!

[PrettyCritical]

köszönöm kedves Xaver amiért,próbálod megszerettetni a komolyzenét azzal a réteggel,akik egyébként sosem ülnének be egy orgonahangversenyre!Nagyon szeretlek! üdv:egy zenésztárs

[missionaryorganist]

I love hearing Bach played on French Organs!

[ds1868]

Totally agree missionaryorganist, I also think JSB would love to have played this instrument all day long!

[bachprofessore]

Oh yes, but you must listen to the recording of this piece in Weingarten!

[musicamultimedia]

Absolutely wonderful! Bach is marvellous also in "french style". I hope this tradition will go on, not only the philological interpretations.

[skyler6290]

I hope that organs and music in heaven sound this magnificent....

[gooseholla1]

I think you'll find the voice is the only instrument you'll need in heaven.

[handelfan610]

i'm trying to train my ear to certian country sounds (i aspire to teach music and this would help)....how can you tell the difference of whether a piece is german,french,english...or other....i must keep listening.

[gooseholla1]

French like chromatic notes, and aren't afraid to take it through many key changes. English is usually stately, voluntaries etc... that to start with had simple if any pedal notes, doesn't modulate much, german the early stuff was medieval sounding and plain... you should be able to recognise a piece of bach easily as the harmonies are quite unique. hoewever dont be fooled by country as bach was influecend heavily by italian styles etc..

[handelfan610]

thank you so much...well i can definently tell when english or bach is playing...but i never thought of the other countries like france and germany...but i'll keep an open ear in my schooling...it will help.

[gooseholla1]

To get a real sense of germany, listen to telemann, zachow, buxtehude choral preludes, pachelbel's choral preludes and you'll immediatly begin to hear the style.

[handelfan610]

i've sung telemann....but maybe i should listen more...there is this one piece by him i like...and they dont show it on youtube and i can't think of the name of it.

[gooseholla1]

Telemann is great, la grace is beautiful and his cantata's can be quite good. His keyboard music is a let down though, in my opinion.

[handelfan610]

i sang his setting of psalm 117 at district and regional chorus...it was a delightful piece that ended in a nice allelujah.

[gooseholla1]

Yes it is a nice jolly little ditty isn't it.

[handelfan610]

it is indeed....now i'm trying to figure out the name of that other piece by him....it used to come on aol radio...and i loved it. it seemed like a dance.

[gooseholla1]

vocal, insturment, keyboard work?

[handelfan610]

its instrument.

[worbonom]

The word amazing comes to mind.

[Devilsolution]

Szeretem ezt az orgonázást...:)

[vizipok01]

Very expressive interpretation, but he has problem with keeping a steady pulse. I would suggest to practice with the metronome, and still be expressive. I like the idea of adaptation to the French instrument, but I prefer the baroque performance practice.

[fanthomans]

Nyilván egy balfék... Nem akarod te tanítani?

[ClaudeD83]

Je ne peu que rester ébahi devant cette performance parfaite. Que n'habite-je paris pour pouvoir prendre place à st-sulpice pour me délecter de ces prestations qui élève l'âme en directe?! Merci youtube, et merci Xaver de partager ces moments hors du commun!

[andre666]

Totally the inspiration for "Ruled by Secrecy" by Muse.

[Patic]

Speaking of bach on unusual instruments, a friend of mind can play a lot of the well-tempered clavier on banjo (accompanied by a recording of himself). It works surprisingly well!

[cliveso]

Mr Roth said, "Sophie, I am going to own you a big one, but I don't want to kick anyone off my bench - could you please be his assistant today?"

[virici]

I agree :).

[organimagister]

Well, it isn't exactly the appropriate organ for playing Bach's music. But it's incredibly amazing hear this powerful organ used for baroque music in a not-romantic way... Great job!!!

[andyofvermont]

EVERY organ is appropriate for Bach. In its own way.

[pianoandpipes]

Wonderful point!

[skyler6290]

I can imagine Bach having a field day if he'd come across this magnificent instrument and church in his day. I love to hear Bach played on these great Cavaille-Coll organs.

[pianoandpipes]

This and the fugue is my first of the big works to learn..still love it.

Very french playing here - very nice to listen to!

I really like that the recap is so much different than the intro.

[Bachlives2]

Everything palyed by him sounds french... Even his bach... It's okay

[zsebi66]

Yeah, he could not resist...:-))) dont blame him it was not a Silberman organ.

[baldwalrus7]

The organ is such a terrifying instrument!

[incasmaya]

fantastic! anti-baroque, exspressive, solemmn. and beatiful instrument! compliments also for the hair (Lapo Elkann-style!!!!)

[voixdunange]

Oeuvre Magnfique de J.S.BACH, qui est jouer sur un des plus belles orgues de France. Je pense que Bach si il avait jouer sur ce beau instrument, il n'aurait écrit des oeuvres pour cette orgue ( impression personelle ).

[sasgeza]

Nagyon király!

Nincs videód, ahol a g-moll fantázia és fúgát játszod?

Géza

[bobdayne]

Xaver, pls. watch your mailbox:)

reg.

[jmeister321684]

Yes a 32 foot reed trip with the first C ultimatly here, (You can't get a more fantastic one than St-Sulpice's!) but most perfectly rending with the most perfect of Musics. (You'll excuse me but I may be having a "Symphonic Bach" trip these days,(when I hear this) which Karajan and Cochereau may be proud of, but in the first place of course of Mr. Varnus, the second one having been his Master.)

[YevgeniyAlexey]

Bachs music is the diamond material in music.

The substance of this music is indestructable.

It can not be destroyed, whatever the guys do with the music and how hard they try.

[jmeister321684]

I agree with you fully Yevgeniy, you cannot destroy perfection. (although the French organ will more often respect it more I believe in anyways used, Tutti or Plein-Jeu, but that is my opinion) Best Wishes to you, JW

[jmeister321684]

A 32 foot reed and the Symphonic organ for a (great) Bach Prelude? "That's really too much" some would say, or "Bach should be played on a strict Plenum" as other purists would at their turn; just forget everything and enjoy the absolutness of Bach played in such a way on such an organ.

[Pujc]

I can help (as you like) ,i am a Hungarian. :)))

[Pujc]

Nagyon szép ! Very beautifull!

[orgel12]

Beautiful. Nicely done video.