Adagio in E - Frank Bridge

[gostek1021993]

Beautiful :) Greatings from Poland :)

Have you got any notes? gostek102(@)wp.pl

[wadgriffiths]

I really enjoyed it. I am learning it for Grade VII Associated Boards. Inspired to keep trying. thank you!

[pjdonagh]

That was very, very beautiful. Thank you.

[MontieVA]

a favorite organ work of mine ... wonderful performance. bravo!

[ptrams2005]

You did it the RIGHT way...WITHOUT a crescendo pedal. They are unpredictable and sloppy. I always create my own crescendo sequence using pistons. Well done!

[OPHYCLIDE]

100% agreed.

I never use them either. I try not to use pistons either if I can help it.

It's perfectly possible to play the last page of this piece without using a crescendo pedal if you can be bothered to sit there with a pencil and choreograph what you need to do.

[OrganMaster310]

I agree too! i have been playing for many years, and there is not one piece that i used the crescendo pedal. I can program my crescendo pedal there are four levels of memory to program 4 different combinations, and i still dont use it, the only time i do is if i am doing a last min. Improv ha ha

[riverscuomo06]

was it tough to do without a crescendo pedal?

[lyndon1904]

Not really. Crescendo pedals are fairly rare on English organs, so what you've never had you don't miss!

[LJBSasha]

What puzzles me about British organs isn't nearly as much the lack of Crescendi-pedals as that all too often one has only the Swell division under expression, with the Choir all too often being some sort of "neither fish nor flesh" division that can neither serve as a real Positive nor be able to be a true foil and/or adjunct to the Swell. [At least in your case it has a couple of mutations as well as a Cymbal-mixture, though if it were under expression I think it would be that much better...]

[LJBSasha]

I'm also puzzled both about the size of the British piston-buttons (in North America they're a little smaller without any loss of usability) and about the location of the General pistons: having them above the topmost manuals no doubt makes them harder to access. I could see couplers being more appropriately put there. Finally, if a Swell division has Super and Sub-couplers, do they automatically couple through to any divisions to which the Swell's coupled, if no separate such couplers there?

[riverscuomo06]

i'm not saying you've missed it, the piece calls for a crescendo pedal so i was just wondering.

[lyndon1904]

It doesn't in my copy. It just says 'cresc.' at one point. I have taken that to mean what it usually means, a crescendo obtained by judiciously adding stops and using the swell pedal (I'm assuming that by 'crescendo pedal' you mean one that adds stops - there is, of course, a swell pedal which opens and closes the shutters on the swell box. Crescendo Pedal has a different meaning in the UK).

[riverscuomo06]

yeh, our yankee organs have a pedal that gradually adds stops.

[chchaisson]

Frank Bridge was British...not sure why he would have had his piece utilize a crescendo pedal if he himself didn't have one.

[riverscuomo06]

either way, the crescendo pedal makes it a hell of a lot easier lol. easier than physically pulling the stops.

[LJBSasha]

Not necessarily: the sequence of stops being added (and then subtracted) can be less than suitable compared with what a given piece may call for - not to mention how a particular instrument may fare with a preset sequence (not that many organs are equipped with adjustable crescendo-sequences!).

Having LOTS of pistons (the buttons beneath the manuals, with a few sometimes - as here - above! - as well as toe-studs) is much more of a help with works requiring many colour and dynamic changes!

[organstudent]

emm i see that you wrote "he himself didn't have one" - he was not an organist!!

[riverscuomo06]

i just learned this for this semester. it was my choice jury piece. i can't get enough!

[LJBSasha]

Well-written, beautifully-flowing piece (it ought to be more in the repertoire!) and sympathetic playing - well done Mr. Lyndon Hills!!

[I also remember the piano-piece "Rosemary" by the same composer having a similar beauty - could it be that Mr. Bridge is a better composer than one otherwise might think?]

[steeeevve]

sublime

[steeeevve]

AND what a brilliant understated piece

[steeeevve]

wonderful superb excellent noble

YOU are a credit to music!

a lesson in organ playing.

[OrganMaster101]

VERY VERY well played... this is my favorite song on the organ... and it was played just exelently. . Even tho this is my most favorite song on the organ... i was never able to find the book so i could play it... I have a huge concert on the organ... do u know were i could find the book.. or could u give me the publisher and title of the book... I think u will enjoy learning the other two songs in that book... thay are all very good... Once u learn them please post them I love hearing u play!!!

[Uraia]

Superb execution!!!

Before you I knew only the version played by Michael Murray on Salisbury cathedral organ.

Bravo!!!

[lyndon1904]

Thank you very much for your kind comments. I have three Frank Bridge pieces in one volume, all very well-written. I must learn the other two!