Virgil Fox Legacy | Ives | Variations on America

[jill506]

@1java2 yes, he WAS an eccentric uncle of Austin Powers and also a freaky deaky GENIUS!

@southernsceptic "pretty skilled" ????? wha???? what planet are you from? This dude was fantastic player !!!!!!! What is wrong with you????!!!! "pretty skilled" you need to crawl out of that sceptic tank and clean your ears!!!!

[jill506]

I love this guy and I regret that I never got to hear him in a live concert. Great that he is on these videos. Virgil lives!

[ultrazvek100]

It is impossible for me to find the score of this peice on internet. I've only found the piano transcription. I see I can only play Bach on organ because I can only find his scores.

[Marksnotebook]

I missed out on him as I barely remember him when he was alive. So glad I can now hear him play on YOU tube...what a wonderful man he was with music and passion and convictions. Truly remarkable with a sense of humor--- and an all time great!

[TheOricko]

I always liked Virgil Fox, though he was unorthodox. In today's organ world, perhaps Cameron Carpenter fills his shoes. Ives' Variations is a wonderful piece.

[christianmch111]

Wonderful playing!

[1java2]

If this video were all I knew about Virgil Fox I would conclude that he was an eccentric uncle of Austin Powers. The poor old Rodgers sounds awful, too. Thank goodness my first exposure to Fox was an LP of him playing the Wanamaker organ, presumable while wearing more conventional clothing.

[southernsceptic]

Here's why some people criticize this performance. Although Virgil Fox was pretty skilled technically, there were times when his own "takes" on a composition obscured some of the work's own strengths. I've heard an old LP version of Virgil Fox playing this piece, and the performance was much more straightforward. Better, too. No silly rolled chords, no grand pauses inserted into the score...Ives' piece has enough humor on its own...but here, Virgil adds the equivalent of a laugh track. No need.

[trevjr]

@southernsceptic rubbish, Ives would have wanted it this way. He need the time to make the changes. This version is amazing in its multiple sounds. His technique is perfection, squeezes every drop out of the music. I can see Ives laughing in the audience. He plays like a real musician, unafraid to put his own stamp on the music, not like the robots the music schools crank out. People always bash someone different, even if a genius.

[bobnrainy]

Electronic organs have certainly improved....

[zensolo]

Eatcher Antabuse jars out, G Dubya Bush!

[tregnier279]

I LOVE VIRGIL FOX

[TroyCorn]

does anyone else think that the editing of this video makes it really hard to watch? I can't focus on watching anything when there are three different videos overlapped with each other.

[bondiamaco]

His hands are so beautiful they'd make a masterful sculpture.

[OrganNLou]

He was wonderful, however the organs which he chose were often atrocious to listen to.

[wmlfan9]

What a wonderful composition for organ! So much classical organ music is deadly serious (but enjoyable, of course). Here Ives gives the organ a sense of humor. I laughed out loud starting from 5:20 to 5:30. For the benefit of our British friends, Ives was not poking fun at you - the tune is known as America (aka Of Thee I Sing) by Yankees.

[FatBoySlim696]

5:26 is the best.

[Musica1953]

Charles Ives, a musical child prodigy, was just 17 years old and captain of his h.s. football team, when he composed this piece for organ.

[amyleeluvr]

The great Virgil Fox...............that is totally and completely an understatement. Virgil Fox plays the organ better than even Ives could have and he is impeccable. Ives woudl have been proud.

[missinformationage]

If Virgil ever played drums, he'd have a wicked double bass technique!

[morristhecat56]

What organ is he playing here?

WONDERFUL !!

[caddyorganist]

@morristhecat56 It's his Rodgers tour organ. Black Beauty is what it was called.

[Georgiaorganist]

Mr Fox said something to the effect that "not interprerting notes was the only way some people could get into the House of Music".

I agree with you!! I don't point fingers at the purists but I know what I like and Mr. Fox was one of the greatest.

[Georgiaorganist]

I heard Virgil play this piece on a theater pipe organ recording. I loved it!! Much more fun than this recording is as he also clowned around a litte while playing it.

What a showman!!!

[pordzio]

I agree! Most musicians play by the strictly by the notes. Virgil added some feeling to it. I think, that this is the way Ives wanted it to be played.

[caoutrublat]

He also added more fueling.

Simply great

[Egestus18]

there is no other recording of this piece that i can listen to... this recording is just ... perfect ^^

[SoCoolGaz]

The cleanest playing of all of VF's recordings on YouTube. Pity about the sound quality of the electronic instrument, but virtuoso playing nonetheless.

[commatrix1]

This is why I love building organs, we need Virgils' energy now, more than ever.

[acoustics101]

Virgil Fox did more to promote the organ to young people than anyone before or since with his Heavy Organ concerts. I was fortunate enough to see him perform live during the 1970s at The Ohio Theatre in Columbus. He alternated between the Mighty Morton and his Black Beauty. He left me with a lasting impression! I love his rendition of Charles Ives' Variations on America!

[SacTowndrumvibes]

This is an amazing piece, especially when you consider that it was written in the 19th Century, long before syncopation and jazz music had been around. Imagine how odd a piece like this would have sounded then when the "normal" or "popular" music was so different. Truly amazing. Plus I can't believe how fast Virgil Fox can move his feet around the 6 minute mark. Wow!

[gingervytis]

Who did the goofy video excuse for "effects"? What a mess.

As always, Virgil is the consumate virtuoso/showman. People don't like it; I guess they wouldn't have liked Franz Lizst either. It's said that he was first to turn the piano to the side, so that the audience could admire his facial profile. Another virtuoso/showman.

[rhapsodyinblue18]

doesn't the piano's sound travel into the audience better when it's turned sideways?

[gingervytis]

Good point. My musicology professor didn't elaborate on that consideration.

[codeman2008]

Lizst was one of the greatest composers of all time and he was considered the greatest pianist there was when he was alive. He may have been the first to turn the piano to the side, but I find it much easier to believe that it was about getting the sound directly to the audience. After all that's why we turn it to the side today. BTW, this piece by Ive's is meant to be funny, it's meant to make fun of theme and variation pieces which were popular among composers at the time. It' a caricature!

[corinthian129]

very awesome... is this available on iTunes?

[tinroofblowdown]

this rocks.

[Messjuh1]

It most certainly does.

[arbycub]

I have to agree with orgelbehr1957

It's an instrument/place and performance with the artist. I do not see it as a matter of what it better or worse. He loved it and I do too :)

[techman85]

Also this organ was intended to be used in large spaces with reverberation. If you were to play a pipe instrument in a dead space it would not sound too pretty. This was the effect of a television studio.

[orgelbehr1957]

That organ is the "original" Black Beauty organ, custom made for him by Rodgers Organs. It is most certainly NOT digital. It's completely analog, and very old electronic technology. I've actually heard it in person, and it stinks. However, THIS recording makes it sound like a Hammond road organ. HORRIBLE! But, Virgil was a showman, and we loved him for it. R.I.P.

[nancythetall]

Great player. Horrilbe organ sound.

[Tubalcainscream]

Would prefer an interpretation a bit less. . . .flamboyant.

[bigGWM]

i saw him play meany times ,once on this organ ,what a show .he had the place rocking

[Aaronorganist19]

must be a very old rodgers organ Anlog i would think.?? Enyone could comform that with me

[Gazdatronik]

Naw, as it happens its digital, all custom to Fox's specs

[RobtheKappelmeister]

It really is hard to accept the fact that Ives wrote this when he was 17-my age! Virgil is great at playing this on the Black Beauty also

[eccentricorgan]

LOVE IT!...VIRGIL IS THE MAN!

[legamature]

He was gay and there is nothin wrong with that.

[OrganAndPiano]

I myself am a fan of this organ, even though it is a midi, It reminds me of my brothers girlfriend, as they both have the same name - The Black Beauty.

[SUNSNARE06]

I've played this piece in its wind band form but it is amazing in its original form on organ

[bombarde1701]

This was on the Virgil Fox Wanamaker DVD/CD

[CathedrlCarillonneur]

Go Virgil! Love the purple velvet jacket and orange scarf. Is it me, or does this organ, Black Beauty, sound better in some recordings than others? It sounds so much more 'electronic' here than in other recordings. However, his playing is impeccable and seemingly effortless, as always. A true master.

[beatlecrazy94]

my marching band did this piece :-)

[Cygnus421]

This guy is so corny, but so talented!

[JohnL9013]

Wow this is old! I actually have the DVD of this somewhere, and I think it was a promo for Rodgers if I'm not mistaken. Too bad there's no audio recording of him playing this on a real organ to my knowledge. Virgil's playing is absolutely impeccable, even on what sounds like MIDI by today's standards.

[Fozzymaple]

Actually, there is Audio of Fox playing this on the Wurlitzer in Wichita (the one originally installed at the Paramount NYC).

[kapariz44]

A real tour de force. Both composer and performer breathed life into this otherwise dull tune (God Save the Queen/King). Awesome!

[muzakfreak93]

this is amazing! i played this in band, it is so fun!!

[musicistarompipalle]

Virgilio! mi fai morire! voglio pure io vestirmi così nelle prossime occasioni... sei un grande! Notare al minuto 1.20 l'espressione addolorata per il "minore"!!!!

[auta414eithel]

i love the third and fourth variations.

[pkrail]

Only thing that drives me crazy with all these videos are those silly camera tricks. I wish they would just leave the camera still and focused on the person playing through its entirety

[codeman2008]

I must say that I preffer the pedal part in the last section to be mostly legatto, so it flows... I think it makes more sense to the listener that way.

Regardless, this is an incrediple performance!

[desnico7]

Wonderful playing !

But this is like theater organ ...

[kinura26]

and there is nothing wrong with competent theater organ playing

[MusicMan15320]

I have played a Rodgers Pipe/Pipe-less Combination Organ. I'd have to say I was not impressed. Our church owns an Allen Quantum Console and it is great. Fox's playing is enough to leave a person speechless though.

[swclem]

For those being somewhat critical to the authenticity of sound of this organ, one must remeber that "Black Beauty", Virgil's touring organ used technology that was developed in 1966. Therefore, one cannot be too critical for an instrument that is over forty years old. Today's Rodgers Instruments are heralded by many as one of the finest pipe and pipe-less digital consoles available.

[thepianomaniac]

Whoa, that is ridiculous! It must take sheer talent and skill to play the organ, because of your need to do three totally different things at once (in the tango: one hand just has chords, one has melody, the feet have the bass notes). It looks really difficult. But this guy is definitely pro. Amazing!

[azriverguy]

Virgil Fox was not only , in my opinion, one of the all time great organists, but since the introduction of the Rodgers touring organ, he not only kept the music alive as, I believe Bach and all the other baroque composers would have liked the music to sound, but he brought it outside the boundaries of the large churches and cathedrals and took it to the people. Bravo to a great man and thanks for bringing some of his work to Youtube!

[Brandotuomikoski]

I like the zimbelstern, it sounds quiet and relaxing

[professorjmp]

Thank you so much for this post! I heard him play this live.

[shnewsman]

One must remember that Rodgers was built nearly 30 years ago. Digital technology now has most people looking for pipework when they hear a new Allen or Rodgers. But it was state-of-the-art then, for sure! Virgil Fox had no peer then and probably doesn't now, either.

[topper2142]

One of the best to ever play the instrument!They dont make organists like this anymore.

[octave4]

If you knew and talked with Fox, as I did you would know the person as well as organist. Great showman, nice guy, Only comparison today is Fred Swann (Retired). One of the last of the Old School with Elsassar, Purvis, Schreiner and the inimitable E. Power Biggs

[cnmmnc8852]

@octave4 Fred Swann, who was also a student of Charles Courboin, is indeed the last of the heroic age of organists.

[Mark7lincoln]

This organ's sound reminds me to much of a stadium organ, nothing like a true pipe organ sound. But regardless he plays it remarkable, to bad the organ can't keep up with him lol.

[bradhorn14]

this is his traveling organ

[MeZZosOpRaNOz]

he looks like elton john lol

[Shogunmiyuchan]

The English National Anthem.

[mendax1773]

Well, same tune. The man who wrote the lyrics for "America" didn't know that the tune was used as "God save the King"... or so I have been told.

[sayspepe]

I dont get what is so dreadful about this performance...It's the best I've seen and I've seen aLOT of organ players and performances... I PLAY MYSELF not as great as Virgil Fox but I would say I could take my organist at church's place when he quits!!

[cochbillcallahan]

Viva Fox...the best, most inspiring of organists!

[wurli815]

Yes, his interpretation is dreadful. Christ, unless you can post something better, just shut the hell up. Virgil Fox was brilliant and I would bet a weeks pay you can't play jack shit.

[suitandtieguy]

thanks for posting this.

by the way i see that there are still a ton of elitist pricks in classical music. don't you guys have something better to do like wear trucker hats and go to Belle & Sebastian concerts or something?

[OrganistInTraining]

virgil is da man.

[GazTheMusicMan]

The playing is actually very good, very tidy, and musical, and captures the mood of the variations well.

[pmo1969]

It's very interesting that most of the sections are played too fast... however when push comes to shove he plays the pedal section in the final variation far to slow.... And whats with all this staccato pedalling... Theatre Organist?

[pmo1969]

His interpretation of this piece is dreadful. He's inprovising parts of it as usual!

[GrandeChoeur]

The mixtures and reeds are raunchy.  But Virgil is great.

[DesireeDeFete]

Ole Virgil was CLEAN in this video!

[MoneyManTC]

I like the playing, but I don't like the overly electric sound of the Organ

[FrCusus]

The organ definately doesn't sound good at all in this video.

[GazTheMusicMan]

I think that, if it is intended to replicate a traditional pipe organ, it doesn't work so well. However, a number of the sounds are actually quite pleasant to my ear. Also, virtuosic playing makes almost any instrument sound good! And this is certainly virtuosic playing.

[finnone]

You have to remember that at that time, Virgil's Touring Organ was late 60's technology. It was an excellent instrument for it's time.

[GazTheMusicMan]

Agreed!

[Brandotuomikoski]

I supose for the time the organ isn't that bad

[FrCusus]

It's not bad for it's time, but this sounds so much better on a pipe organ.

[Fozzymaple]

In my opinion (humble or otherwise) it is a shame that Virgil Fox didn't live to see some of the major advances in the technology of electronic organs. That said, why the hell didn't he get that Allen touring organ sooner, the Rodgers sound like shit. But, that is by modern standards, what with Marshall & Ogletree, Allen Elite and others, these modern organs put Black Beauty to shame. He still should have ditched the Rodgers sooner.

[Mark7lincoln]

How do you know this is a Rodger? I thought the key desk looked more like an old allen to me, and if thats the case then the Allen sound has come a long way since this recording. I have been to there website as of late and they sound very close now to a pipe organ that I can hardly tell. But the tech. behind the key desk can only go as far as what the speakers will allow. Pipes are always better the sound is pure not created. Is this organ Allen or Rodgers.. or is it something else?

[Fozzymaple]

This is the famous Rodgers Black Beauty, you can tell by the fact that it is black, and it has three manuals, the later and in my opinion (be it humble or otherwise) better sounding Allen Touring Organ was not black, and it had four manuals. In addition, if you look closely tou will notice some large gold lettering over the coupler rail, and that was not present on the Allen Touring organ, atl east not that I'm aware.

[octave4]

It is a Raogers. This was the touring organ. It sound like an electronic but that is not a result of the electronics but the speaker - unable to recreate the frequency spectrum