Martin Baker Improvises in Westminster Abbey

[TheDaiwafishing]

che magnifico organo,la voce di DIO.

[pianomags]

Sigh

the "m" on y keyboard is dying

sorry

[pianomags]

I heard this guy play for the first tie when I was recovering from a loooong illness - about 8 years ago. Lucky me. Such a genuine entertainer, and he LOVES it.

For those of you who are dying to meet him, a bit like a schoolboy after dinner with tons of energy - he's really normal :/ but comes alive when he's behind that thing.

Thanks for uploading. Be far the best live usician I've ever had the privilege to hear live.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

This is such an excellent video, you should correct the ludicrous 'crushing' and re-submit it. You must have gone to a great deal of trouble over this, and the results are excellent, but why leave it, sitting here, for years, maybe, in this distorted form? Do something about it. NOW!

[Gregg825]

Martin Baker Is an Awesome Organist and Improvisationalist. I really like his arrangement of the Prelude by William Harris that he played for Princess Daina's Funeral. I would really like to meet Mr. Baker.

[Gregg825]

Martin Baker Is an Awesome Organist and Improvisationalist. I really like his arrangement of the Prelude by William Harris that he played for Princess Daina's Funeral. I would really like to meet Mr. Baker

[nistorgxx1]

Just one comment - I suggest you spell SHEPHERDS correctly (grin).

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

@nistorgxx1 Whilst we're about it, how about the apostrophe! SHEPHERDS'! (Glare.)

[iandavidhenderson]

Thank you for this outstanding improvisation on Christmas carols on such an impressive instrument. What a joy to hear the majestic organ of Westminster Abbey so very well-produced in the audio of this video. Thank you also for the fine photographs of the Abbey.

[Warringtonian58]

Simpy stunning !!

Personally I like being obliterated by pedal reeds. Chester, York Minster and Manchester are particularly good if you know where to stand

[davidmoseley1988]

I heard him last night at a recital at St. Joseph The Workman Cathedral. Great!

[jonnyk5614]

I want to know who hit the dislike button!

[jonnyk5614]

4:20 - epic!

[OrganNLou]

This is one of the most "underrated" organs of the world! An absolutely stunning pedal division as well as gorgeous soft stops and unusual solo reeds.

[cvter]

WOW....just outstanding. Martin Baker is an absolutely astounding organist and director. He's also a very nice and generous person. He was kind enough to give me some time at the Abbey organ when he was there. There are no finer church musicians in the UK if not the world.

[Gregg825]

I would love to meet Martin Baker. I love his arrangement of the Prelude by William Harris that he played at Princess Diana's Funeral.

[01ahamm]

If you can make it to the abbey in London, it's well worth it. They have a great audio guide that takes you all around the abbey, and includes videos.

[gramps2matt]

Does anyone know of a good DVD featuring/highlighting/showcas­ing Westminster Abbey? One of my desires in life is to see it in person but barring that a good comprehensive DVD documentary would suffice.

[pfisher]

Fabulous.

[juaniluco888]

is that really westiminster abbey organ- pretty powerful- but could not properly hear the 32' pedal reeds rather than the 16' register took over with the pedals on the last chord. But its a really good recording! ;)

[ds1868]

@juaniluco888 Martin Baker was using the Bombarde reeds 16,8 and 4 in the final statement. They generally tend to obliterate everything - and if you're standing just west of the Choir screen when they're used (as I once did), you will get obliterated as well...

[thetenor1000]

Absolutely stunning playing!  Thanks for posting this.

[acorntechnique]

upload again as a wide screen - this is a great video

[PETfilm]

@acorntechnique No need to re-upload, just edit the video and type yt:stretch=16:9 in the tags field.

Great vid, by the way!

[acorntechnique]

@PETfilm

??

Your comment is only useful to the owner of this channel not to someone viewing it..

[bobsamuals789]

A fantastic instrument which epitomizes everything good about english organ building and one I feel privileged to have played

[ds1868]

Yes it is a superb instrument. And like all organs, it has a unique sound. I particuarly like the Pedal, which must have the best selection of open woods in the world. New additions to the organ (a 16' Bourdon on the North Choir, and a 16' Violone on the Bombarde, replicated on the Pedal) coming soon!

[bombarde1701]

Wow this is great!

[Octavin2]

awesome

[lllmozartlll]

Magnificent!

[a55b47]

Superb work, as usual, & interesting stuff, as always. I continue to be amazed at the quality of European radio programming vs. the drivel we get here in the States.

[ds1868]

The quality of BBC Radio transmissions is superb. You can here a pin drop from 100 feet.

[JFSnail]

To be honest it was recorded from live radio onto video tape, then transferred to cassette tape then converted to digital! But on each transfer I have tried to keep the quality :-)

[ds1868]

Another gem JFS. I remember Martin Baker well at the Abbey, he is a superb organist, and this is a great improv. What I like about this recording is that you feel you're in the Quire - this is just how the organ sounds close to the Quire screen on the East side. Thanks for posting.

[KB7777777]

wonderfull organ sound. it must be so exciting to improv on such an organ. i wish i would have the same possibilities to play my music. 5*

[Tritimium]

Wow!