Bach's Short Prelude and Fugue in C - BWV 553 on a Berlin reed (pump) organ

[mattvwyk]

16' on the bass side? Well played. A student of mine played it this year. Noticed that you still using the Baroque technique of the 70s (slurring a weaker beat to a stronger beat). An example in this piece is the 4-group eighth note patterns in line two. As you played it you slurred the last chord of a group to the first chord of the next group. This creates emphasis on the last chord of each group. Correct way is to play a tenuto on the first chord and staccato the other three.

[ccoraxfan]

@mattvwyk Baroque technique of the '70s? Do you mean the 1970s? Because that was quite far removed from the Baroque era, and the '10s are even further removed in time. There is no correct way to play, because the opinions of today change constantly. Do it the way you like. His playing sounds nice, as I'm sure your playing sounds, if only you would post a video.

[mattvwyk]

@ccoraxfan I will do so. The video's that I have available is of very poor quality and my best recitals were never recorded. But I will try to dig up something...

[Principal16]

Thank you! It sounds wonderful on a reed organ! As organist,I play this piece on a pipe organ but it sounds very good on a reed organ also! :)

[ShokaLion]

That was awesome :) Really great job on that.

[GerardvanR]

Well done! the restoration as well as the playing of this beautiful piece of Bach.

[ChucklesKeys]

Rodney,

My friend, you amaze me!!!! AWESOME as usual!

[scottjop656]

You have no idea how long it took to find a performance of this piece on youtube.... there are, what? 4 preludes in C? haha nice playing too :)

[whec36]

Beautiful. What a great sound!! Thanks for the performance....

[kuethejunior]

Noch mehr hätte man die Schlusswendung nicht in die Länge ziehen könne :)

Nein, sehr schön gespielt und interpretiert !

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Excellent - again!

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Excellent

[jmcbeech]

Great job!!! I have a Crown reed organ and have tried somwhat unsuccessfully to do The same thing. \After seeing you play this I'll try again!! Thanks, loved your rendition.

[mach37]

Wow - I never thought a reed organ could accomplish trills and the fast "pedal" passages that came fairly early in the piece. I now have more respect for reed organs. My only experience has been with the occasional Beckwith and Estey.

[adrianmusic2009]

BEAUTIFUL..!!!

[adrianmusic2009]

BEAUTIFUL...!

[wljmrbill]

Very well done my friend. at times I do the same with my Virtual organ and a midi keyboard. Fun and good exercise for the mind. Thanks.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Excellent.

[he214ab]

i think the sound is dull and boring, not comfortable when you play it for a long time.

[wam27011756]

@rodneyjantzi

You would love to hear it sometime...? well, the Mannborg sounds really good without playing me... I guess I can play some nursery rhyme far away from two-handed at the moment... but it's great fun and I keep on learning:-)

All the best, too

[rodneyjantzi]

Thank you very much. I am not a professional - music is just a wonderful hobby for me. A 17 stop Mannborg would be an absolutely amazing instrument. I would love to hear it sometime :)

All the best,

Rodney

[jkmek99]

Bravo!

[rodneyjantzi]

Thanks!

[bobbell9]

If you want details of hand blowing mechanism you could contact Victorian Reed Organ & Harmonium Museum

Victoria Hall,

Victoria Road

Saltaire

BD18 3LA

Contact

Telephone: 01274 585601 (eve)

Fax: 07976 535980

[rodneyjantzi]

Thanks for the information. Saltaire is a place I would love to visit someday, especially when the festival is on - it looks like a lot of good music...

[heepitfull]

this does NOT need to be faster. Most people play Bach so fast there is no music.

[DeusMisereremei]

Incredible! Very good! Wonderfull! I also play Bach on armonium! You've done a really good work! Perfect job!

[lenek112]

Very nice :)

[Enix5548]

Very nice playing! I would play it a little faster though.

[RevdRichard]

Awesome playing particularly with this instrument !

[MelosAntropon]

Rod, as a life long organist, I tell you true that it can't be done any better than this, in this medium. Love the suboctave coupler on that instrument!

[youhavegottabejoking]

Wonderful! A truly admirable rendition. Is this a pedal pump? Or a side (handle) pump? If a foot, I'm exceptionally impressed. A friend in Texas.

[rodneyjantzi]

Thanks! This is played with the pedal pump. This particular organ was initially built with both hand lever at the side and foot levers so you would have a choice, but unfortunately the hand lever assembly was removed long ago. One day when I have enough information about the original hand lever assembly, I would like to rebuilt it from scratch, to be exactly the same as a hundred years ago...

Thanks again, my friend in Texas :)

Rodney

[charlie8575]

Very well done! I've developed an affection for reed organs over the last few years, and this shows just how good an instrument they can be.

[mlodyorganista]

For me this is amazing! God job! :)

[MichaelBramble]

Sehr schön!

[rodneyjantzi]

Thank you very much.... er... I mean danke! :)

[UncleAl3]

A beautiful instrument and very well played. Hope you can post more.

[rodneyjantzi]

Thanks. More to come in a few weeks.

[DerOlleJo]

A beautiful piece of music, played on a great musical instrument! Wonderful, thank you.

Greetings from Germany

[rodneyjantzi]

Thank you very much! ...and greetings to you from Canada!

[RCA630TS]

I think this is the first time I've ever heard a reed organ performance that was enjoyable to listen to. Well done!

[rodneyjantzi]

Thanks!

[krazo58]

Hey Rodney

Mom sent me your restoration project. I love it and the way you play it and it sounds wonderful. I have forwarded to our organist. Which I am sure she will enjoy.

Donna

[rodneyjantzi]

Thanks Donna!

[pokopikuchan]

What a pleasure to hear good music, well played on a good reed organ in good condition and good tune. All those "good"s are an understatement. I've never before come across a Berlin. Where is it made? I imagine there are 4 rows in the treble.

Thanks, Ian

[rodneyjantzi]

Thanks. It was made in Berlin, Ontario, Canada. I have added extra information about the organ in my Channel homepage. The treble has 6 rows, with 3 in the bass plus sub bass.

Thanks again,

Rodney

[joe22twentytoo]

sounds great, excellent restoration and playing

[rodneyjantzi]

Thanks!

[BBLoriJ]

Nice job! Fancy finger work adding the pedals in.