Virgil Fox Heavy Organ

[Marksnotebook]

Bravo! I love it. So inspirational....Why God takes people before their time I will never understand...truly this man will be remembered for generations to come.

[7329690653]

Please can you email me when mr fox and the light show will be performing in the usa gurkirpal singh longbeard1407@hotmail.com

[johnhrobiii]

Mr. Fox was SUCH a character!

[johnhrobiii]

There was only ONE(!!!!!!!!!!) Virgil Fox.

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

I wish to remind all our great friends that on May 3, 2012,,we will all celebrate Virgil Fox's 100th birthdate. Yes,,can you imagine. To mark this historic event I am asking all of you to write the the Post Office and ask them to now put out a special stamp. In 1981 I asked,,and they said they would but he needed to be "demised" longer,,so,,now please help,,lets all DO IT TOGETHER.

[cowboypainthorse]

Virgil was the Master. No one before him and certainly no one since his sad passing, will EVER bring the audience to Bach - - - and Bach to the audience.

I've said it before. You had to be at any of his performances (and I was at 5 of them) - to appreciate Virgil's gift from God - and how he used his 'gift' to bring the people to J.S.Bach - and I thank him for it.

I still pray for you, sir.

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

On May 3,Virgil Fox would celebrate 100 years! Sadly we must remember him rather than claim him with us. I want to know what we should do or what you will do to specially mark that day 2012 as "special",,Concert, or? Let me know,I seek your help dear friends.

blessings to you all

David Snyder , Lumierist,Heavy Organ Productions.

[tbman1943]

After I had help set up the organ, I met Virgil Fox at the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Plymouth meeting, Pa and All I can say he was a real gentleman to me :) I heard him live at TUMFI several times. I was impressed he remembered my name and was kind enough to autograph an album for me. I remember my wife and I were sitting waiting for Diapason to come on Philly station WFLN when it was announced he had passed away :(. It was a sad day for all of music indeed.

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

@tbman1943  Thank you for your most kind words about Virgil. The aye deeply appreciated by me and I am sure,,by many others.

Blessings to you

David Snyder, Lumierist

[SuperOldandSlow]

Arguably the greatest organist of the 20th century. I believe his closest successor is Carlo Curley.

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

Today is May 3, the birthdate of Virgil Fox. Is it possible he has been gone now since 1980. When will the pain for the loss begin to abate. Thanks to all of you who remembered and contacted me today. Blessing to you all. Never forget,please!

David Snyder Lumierist /Revelation Lights, Heavy Organ Productions.

[dustermouse]

How can anyone (7) people NOT Love the power and enjoyment of Virgil Fox at the pipe organ? he was a master!

[jgraif]

carpenter has both dismissed the theatre organ and produced videos of himself playing it. he cannot have it both ways. i am sorry, but in my mind, he does not possess the integrity (or the talent) of virgil fox.

[jgraif]

it was a simple twist of fate that made me party to carpenter's first encounter with the theatre organ. i do not pretend to be anything close to a world-class performer, but i do possess a great deal of knowledge regarding theatre organ technique & performance. i offered to meet with him just to exchange ideas and lend support. i was politely dismissed and told that cameron didn't need any help. since then, he has dismissed the theatre organ as an abberation that deserves no attention. more...

[cnmmnc8852]

@jgraif The alleged 'artiste' known as Mr. Carpenter could not use his ears when his ego is in charge. He(the ego) needs a spellbound audience who is only seeking to be amazed and titillated, nothing more. Need proof? Listen to something he's playing with the monitor off -just listen! So music and musicality and musical playing never was the point from the start. The player's ego is what's center stage. VF had ears like a cat, CORE MUSICIANSHIPand a stellar career long before the Heavy Organ.

[jgraif]

several years ago, i had high hopes for carpenter. i glady accepted his performance attire of ripped tee shirts and cowboy boots because i agreed with his outspoken desire to transform "stuffy" organ recitals into intimate "conversations" with the audience. then, i witnessed him "getting lost" in the d major fugue and repeating a 16 measure section three times. his only concern is to demonstrate his technical ability without considering whether what he does is "musical". more...

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

@jgraif WOW, thats a sobering observation. I'm glad I found your note.

[paulj0557]

Get yourself an organ. They're abundant and either free or of little cost. You can get a full size organ with 25 or 32 pedals( like what Virgil Played), or you can get a spinet with 13 pedals. Some people get combo organs. In fact you'd be surprised at the big full sound that can come from a combo organ if it is going through a full range amplifier with good bass, or possibly even hooked to a Leslie ( rotary speaker cabinet, BTW THAT's what will grab you and keep you!). KEYBOARDS ARE NOT ORGANS

[crowman593]

Virgil continues to influence future generations. Sadly, I was 4 when he was called home. However, I was raised in the church and fell in love with our organ from the time I could pick up a hymnal and sing on Sunday morning.  I found a two-CD set of HEAVY ORGAN in high school (in the 1990's). While my own abilities is better suited to Bach's Little Eight Preludes and Fugues, the congregation I serve weekly for worship appreciates it. Part of my spirit is inspired from listening to him play.

[trevjr]

this is the greatest video, i saw Virgil back in 1973 and even though i am a pianist and violist, organ music has a special place in my heart. Virgil really showed me how to appreciate this organ music and i love all of Bach of course, i have my little basket of favorite organ fugues on my Ipod that i listen to all the time. Virgil, i really miss you but i feel your spirit always!!! Virgil and Glenn Gould were 2 men who really brought Bach to life, thank you! oh yeah, and Mendelsohn

[Mr139Contax]

I believe we do have a worthy & modern succcessor to Virgil:

Cameron Carpenter



[ShandyHall]

@Mr139Contax I know that this is a matter of taste, but I do not like Cameron's stuff at all. I prefer Carlo Curley. But of course, give me Virgil any day!

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

@ShandyHall I believe with all my heart compliments and comments expressed comparing aspiring young artist to Virgil Fox are done with the best of intent,but I ask that we encourage these young people of great talent to be their own "very best". They should not be expected nor be asked to copy Virgil but to be creators of their own artistry. Stop comparing please,,, and start encouraging with positive suggestions. Enjoy them all for what they do as their own person not a copy of anyone.

[jgraif]

@Mr139Contax i would offer that the jury is still out.

[cnmmnc8852]

@Mr139Contax I totally disagree that Carpenter is worthy of anything because his whole intention is a "shock and amazement act' not musical playing from the heart. That is the difference. If you want proof, listen to C Carpenter without looking at his act, just listen. Playing to amaze 14 year olds on ritalin and older males who are on similar substances is this odd man's audience. VF had ears like a cat and could take 2 measures and construct a MUSICAL phrase, something CC never could.nor can.

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

@Mr139Contax It is great to know there are so many people out there that obviously love the classical organ when played by an artist with virtuosity but it saddens me to see many trying to compare talented musicians to Virgil Fox, when indeed every artist be it Virgil, or others commented on ,is an artist in their own way .If you go to concerts only to compare rather than to soak in the message, one askes,are you missing the entire point of that individuals performance.? Respect every artist.

[bcoxsoundguy]

Cameron has chops and a very good performer. I'm glad he is doing what he is doing; hope he takes it further than Virgil. I saw Virgil's Heavy Organ concerts at least 4 times. No "classical" concert has gone to this extreme, yet. Disneyland has a ride that with smells and some mist sprayed onto you as you virtually fly around. A step in the right direction.

Virgil calling out the note pukers is spot on, even 40 years later. Check Carlo Curly, too. Musically artistic classical organ.

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

Merry Christmas to all of you great people and my thanks to all of you for the time you have taken to write me and remember and to post great thoughts about Virgil this past year. Christmas was Virgil's favorite time of the year. It was always spent at home and only with a few friends.

[sweatsjock]

I miss Virgil greatly....he was a friend, an isspiration and was revered when he came to Buffalo, NY

[ShandyHall]

We need Virgil Fox. There will never be another.

[Elainelps0421]

Virgil Fox brought the music to the PEOPLE! We need Virgil Fox again TODAY NOW!

[ronpedley]

Just wonderful! Thanks so much for posting. Remember the lights are performed live! These concerts were an inspiration for me as a kid. And one of the reasons why I made music my life. I saw you guys at Wolf Trap. I met Virgil and got him to autograph my Gigue Fugue music. He even added his articulations. Thanks again.

Ron

[Organsk8er]

We need another Virgil.

[Composerland]

He made an entire generation of non-classically-oriented people adore the organ, and above all, Bach.

[Elainelps0421]

@Composerland Yes, and we need another Virgil Fox today. He is missed :(

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

thanks to all who viewed our HEAVY ORGAN performances and have taken time to "remember" and then write. for all to share. I will say, despite all, theV F I worked with for 19 years was a man who loved his ladies and laughed with the boys!

That my friends is the truth,anything else is "notions and good reading material" penned in some cases by jealous wana-bee substance abusers. And that my friends is also the truth. (at least for 25 years I knew him and 19 that I worked with him)

Blessings

[ShandyHall]

@DavidSnyderLumierist Thank you David. I love hearing your insights.

[CrazyCheeseMagee]

Somehow, Virgil Fox reminds me of Liberace. They were both known for taking classical music and adding a lot of flamboyance, therefore offending classical purists, and they were both supposedly gay. (Though Liberace hid his homosexuality for a long time, even though it was obvious he was gay. I'm not sure, but I think Fox was more open about his sexual orientation. Correct me if I'm wrong.)

[CrazyCheeseMagee]

Somehow, Virgil Fox reminds me of Liberace. They were both known for taking classical music and adding a lot of flamboyance, therefore offending classical purists, and they were both supposedly gay. (Though Liberace hid his homosexuality for a long time, even though it was obvious he was gay. I'm not sure, but I think Fox was more open about his sexual orientation. Correct me if I'm wrong.)

[ShandyHall]

You were at the last performance?  I think we would all like to hear what that was like. Thanks.

[carlefan]

I was at one of these concerts in 1973, and I'll never forget it. VF brought Bach to a new, exceptionally enthusiastic and receptive generation, and created a multimedia show unlike any other. Not just unforgettable - worth remembering. I made a point of seeing him twice more and was shocked at his early, unmerited death. To this day, hearing the fugue in A minor sends shivers down my spine, despite listening to it for decades. Thank you, Virgil.

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

@carlefan

thank you for your kind thoughts and so very glad you enjoyed my work also. It was a priviledge to creat Revelation Lights and to perform to great people such as you. I miss Virgil also, how could one not!

[gforce2002]

Virgil Fox?  Virgil ROCKS!

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

@gforce2002 You just bet he does! Sorry for the highly edited presentation but considering how hard it was to record I' m glad we did it. Thanks for writing.

Blessings

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

Thank you for your kind comments on our performance in St Pauls performed with Virgil Fox and David Snyders Revelation Lights. You are seeing only a part of our visually recorded performance created under not the best of conditions with low light levels. God Bless

[eameece]

Nobody did the gigue fugue better.

[ShandyHall]

I agree!!!

[LorinTone]

I watched as he danced the jig Fugue in G.

Sure, I played it, but I could not dance it on the pedals when I was in my 20's. He did it in his fading years, and he kicked serious ass.

[cheesehoven]

@eameece Not the gigue fugue but the wedge bwv 548 he's playing.

[ShandyHall]

@cheesehoven At 6:09 he is playing the Gigue Fugue.

[OrganistGreg]

Hmmm. The bass obliterates everything else in this video :s

[sailingforde04]

This man defiled bach - HOW CAN YOU LIKE HIM !!!!!

[ContreBombarde]

Because he had the BALLS to make Bach's organ works sound rich, varied, and full of energy and life. take that away and the pieces become lifeless and unmoving. Virgil would have called you a purist. If Bach were alive in our time, he would have played our modern organs JUST LIKE VIRGIL. Get over the historical worship and get a pulse.

[ContreBombarde]

Because Fox had the BALLS to play Bach's organ works in a way that gave them life, color, and energy. Take that away and they become lifeless and unmoving. Virgil would have called you a purist. If Bach had lived in our time, he would have played JUST LIKE VIRGIL, especially with the organs we have today. Bach knew good organs and was no doubt inspired by them... organs of Bach's time HAD big reeds! Stop acting like Bach is some almighty thing that nobody can breathe on.

[Organsk8er]

Say what you like. He brought organ music, and specifically, Bach to more people than anyone before or since. Surely everyone should be able to see the importance of, and the virtues of that. The sad part is, that once he was gone, there was no one "next in line" to step up and pick up where he left off. Plenty of wonderful organists, yes, but no one that had the infectious stage presence needed to pull off what Virgil did.

[tamiasthechipmunk]

He was a good musician with the guts to say "To hell with what the purists think" and have the showmanship to get away with it. That's how I like him!

[LorinTone]

How can we like him?

He injected emotion and played Bach better than you or I can.

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

@LorinTone "better than you or I"? He felt true Bach came from within,,from your spirit,not completely from your or my hands on a keyboard only, or in my case from my Clavalux. Thank God for the differences! Blessings

[Biff947]

He's playing the Wedge fugue. One of my favorite ones.

[Egestus18]

why must he die 8 years before my birth...

would give much to see him live in concert

i hope i will meet him and JS Bach when I die

[Catblue1230]

I saw his concert in 1971 at Murray(KY) State University. It was a brilliant performance. The "Jig Figue" was wonderful. And I took away from it a whole new appreciation for Charles Ives's "Variations on America." Remains one of the top five concerts I have seen in my lifetime.

[victron6]

I got to see him with my dad when I was about 13 in Pasadena Ca. He did shake the house and he wasn't even playing a pipe organ, he was playing a electronic Rodgers organ, and he still kicked some serious ass!! Pomp and Circumstance, and he ripped it up!!

[angiras176]

gwiezdne...

[bassonfire]

I had the great fortune to see him at the Paramount in Seattle in 1974. His mom was sitting right behind us! Yes he shook the whole building. I wish they would release his Live at the Filmore albums.

[m30hyper]

What do you mean? the Filmore East and Winterland West recordings were relased! I have them.

[advisorC101]

I can imagine him saying 'eat this purists!' before playing in his concerts.

[gingervytis]

To all the naysayers: you have only to start at 4:50, wherein you will find yourself succinctly defined.

[dwill123]

I was at the Fillmore East show back in 1970. The Fillmore outer ailes were lined 2\3 of the way to the back with speakers and the whole building shook when he played. The man was a non-stop ball of energy from the time the show began until it was over. It was a wondeful performance. I'm very glad I had a chanc to see him live.

[organist4ever]

I was born in 1974, and did not have a chance to see Virgil in concert. My choir director/organist/teacher has told me alot about him though, and I read his bio.

[simonthebear]

I've been a fan for many years. I also saw this show in the early seventies and thought it was fantastic. I remember writing in a class journal that I felt it as a 'religious experience', and my otherwise liberal teacher at our parochial school expressed some concern :-) Probably not as brilliant an interpreter of Bach as Gould, but he had a similar spirit and he did make Bach come alive.

[jrssjdca]

I have this on vinyl and CD performed at Fillmore East in 1970. The liner notes said that it was an enthusiastic hard rock audience listening to a "square" performer playing ancient music, and mesmerizing them entire time. I also have his "Bach Organ Works" CD, and it has some of most beautiful Bach organ works ever recorded.

[gagakym]

I had the priviledge of seeing Virgil Fox and the revelation lights many times during the seventies and those times remain some of my fondest memories. He ROCKED. The sound was amazing, the experience was incredible and I love that I was there. Bach was not dead and I'm sorry Virgil Fox is.

Thanks for bringing this home to me again.

[DaddyPillar]

Bach was not dead and I'm sorry Virgil Fox is.

What an excellent way to put it - you are a word gymnast -lol

[cowboypainthorse]

I saw Virgil a total of 5 times; from a Dedication of a newly restored pipe organ at a church in Dallas, to traveling to Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and of course, Dallas. In the Dallas concerts, he 'shared' the stage with the Dallas Sym Org and then he had the stage all to himself in the 2nd half of the program. I was priviledged to see him at his last concert before his untimely death and he knew that he was coming to the end of his life. You could tell it in his talks. Go Virgil

[bbbbmer]

Thank you soooo much for sharing this video!!!!!

[bbbbmer]

I saw him play a 'Heavy Organ' at the Marin Center Theater (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright)in 1978, and the final piece was BWV 540, ablaze in smoke and lights while he disappeared into the floor.. It was rumored that he was on 'acid' during the concert -- I was just high on weed... But it was an AMAZING experience that I shall NEVER forget!!! He was a true and consummate artist, and I hope other musicians cherish his profound legacy...

[ContreBombarde]

Anyone who thinks they can do better, I invite them to try. Virgil was amazing and comparing him to Liberace (yuck) is like comparing a rusted old Ford to a new BMW. Completely different musical repertoire! To have most, if not ALL, of Bach's organ works memorized is astonishing. GO VIRGIL!

[ejmaki55]

Thank you for sharing these videos! They bring back SO MANY great memories of the V.F. concerts I was privilaged to attend.

[haholol]

my god, this is horrible...it's hilarious he thought he was so great ahhahahaha

[19lfm12]

Agreed! He had talent, training, technique.....but not taste or musicianship. And the ego! Showmanship is fine....but ultimately he comes off as being the "Liberace" of the organ.

[ContreBombarde]

You guys think you can do better? Want to play a Bach Prelude & Fugue from memory? Hop on the bench! Narrow-minded comments. Virgil did amazing things in showing people that there is nothing wrong with going nuts over the music of the organ. Comparing him to Liberace is like comparing a rusted old Ford to a new BMW. There is NO comparision. Liberace was another style and genre, whereas Virgil played classical repertoire note for note, regardless of how he interpreted it. Virgil kicked ass.

[ContreBombarde]

You guys think you can do better? Want to play a Bach Prelude & Fugue from memory? Get on the bench! Comparing Virgil to Liberace is like comparing a rusted old Ford to a new BMW! Liberace's repertoire was far from classical music and was a different style and genre entirely, whereas Virgil played real organ literature. Narrow-minded comments. Virgil was fantastic.

[codeman2008]

I hope there's no gang of people who hate Liberace as some hate Fox! It bothers me that everyone knows Liberace's name, but you can go up to any person on the street, and be confident that they don't know who Fox was. It seems to me Liberace might have been steeling many of Fox's ideas, as far as his performing went. Listen to Fox's arrangements on 'Now thank we all our God' and 'Come sweet death', and his CDs, as he performed differently in person. He most certainly had taste and musicianship!

[56Packman]

Look, colleges and conservatories have been producing graduates that supposedly do everything "correctly" and apply their perceived taste, and it's all dead, you can't get 100 people to come hear a program for free. When Virgil was doing this the classical organ was mainstream, and what came out of the organ was highly musical.

Go to your little classical sissy recitals and bitch to yourselves. We ain't listening.

[latribe]

Hi! Yes I know what you mean - the "correctness", like equal temperament, takes the colour out of life and makes it boring and as you say, it's really difficult to get audiences nowadays. I'm trying to get organists and audiences to buck the trend at Hammerwood Park in Sussex as we really need to get the organ, and classical music, back into the mainstream for the new generation before they get to be the nightclub generation. The organ bass is much cooler than any bass out of a nightclub.

[56Packman]

The classical organ "recital" (hate that word)was an odball event that appealed to 15 persinickety Nancy boys before Virgil, and since he's gone it's gone back to just that.

In the 60s and 70s, when Virgil was touring the organ actually went mainstream classical, and was enjoyed by symphony audiences the world over.

You girls can keep your oh-so-tasteful and "correct" (lifeless, mechanical, boring) playing.

[JoePeterzak]

Hey, what is a "Nancy Boy".  Never heard that phrase before.

[JerzyDude732]

Yea, give em hell...GO VIRGIL!

[codeman2008]

I like the impression he does of the purists, too funny!