Clearly, Cameron Carpenter is a master of the organ, he immerses himself into what ever he is playing. I've not seen anyone play in his manner, making those he is playing for a wonderful listening experience.
Check out Cameron playing the Bach 540. It's the best version of the 540 that I've ever heard in my life. It's on his last album "Cameron Live!" played on a real pipe organ from Saint Mary's in NY.
Brilliant Organist and brilliant interpretation!!! It promotes the organ in a very modern way which is always going to attract many more young organists today. This is what they want to hear aswell as the old stuff!
And just think...not a pipe to be seen in this organ. Marshall and Ogletree together created a machine which encapsulates everything that counts for being musically revolutionary in the world of the organ. Stunning as always Cameron!
This performance is in the same class as of Oliver Messiaen's "Dieu Parmi Nous" , I recommend to you to LISTEN and try to UNDERSTAND, it takes a well trained ears to comprehend all the chroma that lives in the organ, no wonder the King of instruments has sometimes as many as 6 keyboards, 20,000 + pipes, 250+ ranks, 260 + stops, not to play it you regular twinkle, twikle, little star. what do you t think if you have a Mustang with 500 H.P. and drive that monster at only 65 MPH?
it is so nice that he is introducing so many new people to this music... and he interpets the music so well on top of all that.... he is also an inspiration
I think what's noise to one person is music to the ear of another -- so many composers not appreciated in their own time. The pipe organ has so many incarnations over the centuries and I expect it to continue to evolve. in my opinion every generation must add to the corpus of music for any instrument. Carpenter may, in many ways, be the Virgil Fox or JS Bach of this era.
in fact, the organ is here to play any kind of music, not only melodies like twinkle, twinkle, little star, that is, we like to hear the organ at full, with dissonant, disminished, augmented chords and arrangements, not only the ones with major, minor tones, but takes a well trained ear to comprehend, as I said, please listen to one of the great french masters, Maestro Olivier Messiaen, and try to understand all the palette and chroma of the organ.
I just attended a concert by him tonight, March 11, 2010. I noticed him looking over this score, and when he went left the choir loft, I looked at his score. He arranged it. It is AMAZING. Sharps with flats in the same chord...seriously, where you'd expect a flat, he has a sharp!--there were chords like d-flat, a-flat, with an f-SHARP!..amazing stuff.
Mr. Carpenter has a style all his own. It's quite obvious he's having loads of fun. More power to you, Cameron. It's about time someone blew the dust out of some of these tarnished old pipers (or polished their circuits, whatever the case may be.)
Uh...it sounds nice, albeit I can hear a few mistakes (fewer than there are, I imagine, this is about a decade above my skill level), but is it just me, or has this recording been sped up? His movements appear accelerated and not at all natural.
Missed notes and all be damned .... he is exceptional !!!! Evey once in a great while ... a talent .. a spirit, comes along ..... and this is what you get . !!! From someone who's played the organ for 43 years .... BRAVO !!!
No, It just reveals how much you actually know about a "real" musical authority as opposed to an entertainer! I know this guys teacher who even begged him not to go down that tacky path. Alot to be said for true intelligence don't you think?
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This guys is a total whack job! Met him in NEW YORK at Trinity! What a true nut job! He is very very weird! The organ really sucks! So "artificial" sounding no real presence in the room like the Skinner. They'll have a worthless piece of junk in ten years! And the Skinner lasted how long???
It's funny; people who use the words "nut job, whack job and weird" in regard to a brilliant artist! You just come off as having no authority to comment intelligently.
From what I heard. The organ you are complaining about is a temporary installation which is planned to be removed once the damage done to the Skinner during the 9/11 attacks have been repaired.
They announced a couple years ago that it would be permanent. The music director left shortly afterwards, though, and I think they're considering either restoring the old organ or getting a new one right now.
Most folks gets lost playing chopstix with one hand...two hands playing between 4 keyboards AND his feet all coming together to produce this stunning performance. And did you see that thumb coming down to play on a separate level keeping the fingers on the keyboard above. This takes my breath away!
agree with megsd: he isn't going for the crescendo, just hitting a toe piston. but he does miss a key every now and then. no reason to ridicule him, just proves he's human, like all of us (monkeys and bulls excepted).
Good! The practice of spending millions on something to play hymns and poorly attended "recitals" will soon be understood as a 20th-century vanity that has run its course. People are losing their jobs and going hungry. let's help them, not the pipe organ.
I hope you know that the pipe organ has been around a lot longer that the 20th century.... and organs do much more than play hymns and recitals.
And... If a church were to spend millions on a pipe organ, I am sure they are spending a truckload on helping the people. But, many people don't even go to the church for help much. Humans have much pride, so shall we let that money sit there unused, or keep enough to help the people and have a majestic instrument in the sanctuary?
Movies go better on a Wurlitzer. I do LOVE some of the harmonic development in the piece, though it forges no new ground, it takes some interesting turns and twists.
Was this done before the organ had the 100+ theaater organ stops added for the ATOE Concert? If so, where the heck are they?
Obvioualy not a (Totally) improvised score, not with all that manuscript in front of him. Improvised or not, I wish I could read that well!
Ummm....not really.....his professors at Juliard, including Paul Jacobs, have insisted that his technique is unparalleled. I'm sure he would do just fine on a tracker. Also-do you really think he would play THIS on a tracker action? Doubtful.
No it is a Marshall & Ogletree digital organ ... no real pipes any more. I'm throughly disappointed that they didn't care to restore their pipe organ after the damage in 2001.
Considering they are marketing this more as a concert and trying to get butts in seats, Im not sure God has much to do with it at all. The pipe organs are steadily being replaced by digital organs, and I think it is sad. Pipe organs are marvelous pieces of mechanical and musical wonder, but no one gives a damn about that any more just where the money comes from.
Real pipes will last hundreds of years if treated right. digital organs will require more upkeep and replacement. And these days many churches have the right to "redirect funds" as they need to. So corruption is able to easily take root. Music is a way to minister to people, and we are the church, not the building. So really, it's not up to the organization to help people, but the people themselves. Pipes or no Pipes, we are still the ones that have to spread the glory of God.
The M&O has had many problems lately, including failing to start up before services thereby forcing the organist to use an electronic keyboard instead, and it's only 5 years old! Pipe organs last much longer, and for most of their life, need only be tuned twice a year (with major upkeep work done every few decades). There are working pipe organs from as early as the 14th century, whereas any digital organ that's not from the past decade is considered outmoded and often malfunction.
i'm impressed---considering i'm writing this comment in march 2008, and the vid description says halloween 2008. we know that things are very dark and spooky on wall street. is this cameron's prediction of the future? p.s. love the piccolo solo in 'stars and stripes forever.' others should check out that video, too. (same artist. same organ.)
amazing, I don't even breathe :O
xrecorder 4 weeks ago
Kinski/Herzog and Carpenter - what a fascinating combination!
arkaisk2 1 month ago
Got to be one of the greatest organists in the world today!!! Fabulous!!
Mrphilharmonic 3 months ago
Wow, yeah after five minutes is impressive.
MrJbkendell 4 months ago
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WOW! what else can you say
truefaithworship 5 months ago
Clearly, Cameron Carpenter is a master of the organ, he immerses himself into what ever he is playing. I've not seen anyone play in his manner, making those he is playing for a wonderful listening experience.
rubbing2001 5 months ago
Check out Cameron playing the Bach 540. It's the best version of the 540 that I've ever heard in my life. It's on his last album "Cameron Live!" played on a real pipe organ from Saint Mary's in NY.
VD54K 8 months ago
Wow - this guy is following in the footsteps of Widor and Messiaen. What an excellent masterly player. And he is handsome too.
achim56nrw 9 months ago
Cameron Carpenter is one of the most riveting live performers, ever !
KattarKang 10 months ago
it seems freezer
frackktozz 1 year ago
it looks cool and goofy
RagtimeIrvin 1 year ago
There's NO business like show business
SiegfriedPretsch 1 year ago
Brilliant Organist and brilliant interpretation!!! It promotes the organ in a very modern way which is always going to attract many more young organists today. This is what they want to hear aswell as the old stuff!
ceciliakable 1 year ago
Brilliant. Pity we could not see the images, then it would have made more sense.
Offshoreorganbuilder 1 year ago
And just think...not a pipe to be seen in this organ. Marshall and Ogletree together created a machine which encapsulates everything that counts for being musically revolutionary in the world of the organ. Stunning as always Cameron!
TrompenCham168 1 year ago
This guy Cameron Carpenter simply gives the order and dimensions that this piece
requires so "SIMPLY ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN"
Joel Ensign organist
joelensign4 1 year ago
Amazing, out of this world, please don't do like Mozart, live long...!
UienspiegelTijl 1 year ago
Likely the best performance of this work, ever!
I wish this fugue continued to build. A little disappointing that it instead went into flash.
robertgift 1 year ago
This is Vladimir Horowitz on organ.......
uhartchristian 1 year ago
Unbelievable! This young man is from a different planet. An amazing talent.
TexasJim1956 1 year ago 3
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TexasJim1956 1 year ago
fantastic...beautiful...excelent...bravo !!!!!
adrianmusic2009 1 year ago
rollsroyce59
This performance is in the same class as of Oliver Messiaen's "Dieu Parmi Nous" , I recommend to you to LISTEN and try to UNDERSTAND, it takes a well trained ears to comprehend all the chroma that lives in the organ, no wonder the King of instruments has sometimes as many as 6 keyboards, 20,000 + pipes, 250+ ranks, 260 + stops, not to play it you regular twinkle, twikle, little star. what do you t think if you have a Mustang with 500 H.P. and drive that monster at only 65 MPH?
BARBIEAZNAKA1 1 year ago
great performer...people still cares about the clothes...he's incredible!!!
NextStopRockBlues 1 year ago
it is so nice that he is introducing so many new people to this music... and he interpets the music so well on top of all that.... he is also an inspiration
timothyj1966 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This is noise.
A pipe organ should be a thing of joy.
Aparently you think that the.."King of instruments is a thing of noise!
rollsroyce59 2 years ago
I think what's noise to one person is music to the ear of another -- so many composers not appreciated in their own time. The pipe organ has so many incarnations over the centuries and I expect it to continue to evolve. in my opinion every generation must add to the corpus of music for any instrument. Carpenter may, in many ways, be the Virgil Fox or JS Bach of this era.
canonscottage 2 years ago
@rollsroyce59 : Just because you aren't smart enough to understand it does not mean it is noise. Go back to church, square.
pineappaloupe 1 year ago
in fact, the organ is here to play any kind of music, not only melodies like twinkle, twinkle, little star, that is, we like to hear the organ at full, with dissonant, disminished, augmented chords and arrangements, not only the ones with major, minor tones, but takes a well trained ear to comprehend, as I said, please listen to one of the great french masters, Maestro Olivier Messiaen, and try to understand all the palette and chroma of the organ.
BARBIEAZNAKA1 1 year ago
I just attended a concert by him tonight, March 11, 2010. I noticed him looking over this score, and when he went left the choir loft, I looked at his score. He arranged it. It is AMAZING. Sharps with flats in the same chord...seriously, where you'd expect a flat, he has a sharp!--there were chords like d-flat, a-flat, with an f-SHARP!..amazing stuff.
rburian123 2 years ago
not a very great piece. I love how he plays though
BH061595 2 years ago
Rather strange composition if you ask me. Lots of spit and fire which is cool but I just didn't see any direction.
flyurway 2 years ago
i want an organ ,,or at least try one in a church
jaydamagnifik 2 years ago 2
This is real genius - any critics are clearly jealous.
It is 2010 not 1810 - when will the world appreciate genius whilst it is alive!
keithwilson01 2 years ago 31
He's the best organist there could ever be born.Not even in my best dreams I hope to play like him:)
theparadisedream 2 years ago
Mr. Carpenter has a style all his own. It's quite obvious he's having loads of fun. More power to you, Cameron. It's about time someone blew the dust out of some of these tarnished old pipers (or polished their circuits, whatever the case may be.)
altpapapi 2 years ago 3
Fantastic organist, and a very smart fellow. Always a pleasure to hear him play.
prysmith37 2 years ago 2
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This is a lot of contrived noise - totally unoriginal - and played by the exemplar of distortion. Great combination!
tyfardee 2 years ago
Uh...it sounds nice, albeit I can hear a few mistakes (fewer than there are, I imagine, this is about a decade above my skill level), but is it just me, or has this recording been sped up? His movements appear accelerated and not at all natural.
willowthebored 2 years ago
Missed notes and all be damned .... he is exceptional !!!! Evey once in a great while ... a talent .. a spirit, comes along ..... and this is what you get . !!! From someone who's played the organ for 43 years .... BRAVO !!!
Fixnitup 2 years ago 3
No, It just reveals how much you actually know about a "real" musical authority as opposed to an entertainer! I know this guys teacher who even begged him not to go down that tacky path. Alot to be said for true intelligence don't you think?
davbear221 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This guys is a total whack job! Met him in NEW YORK at Trinity! What a true nut job! He is very very weird! The organ really sucks! So "artificial" sounding no real presence in the room like the Skinner. They'll have a worthless piece of junk in ten years! And the Skinner lasted how long???
davbear221 2 years ago
It's funny; people who use the words "nut job, whack job and weird" in regard to a brilliant artist! You just come off as having no authority to comment intelligently.
alyoshaproductions 2 years ago 3
From what I heard. The organ you are complaining about is a temporary installation which is planned to be removed once the damage done to the Skinner during the 9/11 attacks have been repaired.
tamiasthechipmunk 2 years ago
They announced a couple years ago that it would be permanent. The music director left shortly afterwards, though, and I think they're considering either restoring the old organ or getting a new one right now.
menschmaschine5 2 years ago
Ouch. That's not good. I hope they do either of the two options your mentioned.
tamiasthechipmunk 2 years ago
Most folks gets lost playing chopstix with one hand...two hands playing between 4 keyboards AND his feet all coming together to produce this stunning performance. And did you see that thumb coming down to play on a separate level keeping the fingers on the keyboard above. This takes my breath away!
thenewtman 2 years ago 3
Great performance, You should see him live. Super nice guy also . Good luck in all your efforts Cameron.
blumark45 2 years ago 2
Organ is so intense. I wish I knew how to play!
fakefriends 2 years ago 2
dazzling stuff!
eameece 2 years ago 2
lol at 0:40 he misses the pedal lol!!!!!
Sarge679 3 years ago
OMG! That's all you got out of that tremendous performance? It is lost on people like you, what a shame.
catcassetta 3 years ago 8
Look again... he pressed a toe stud/pedal piston. I doubt that he makes mistakes.
megsd 2 years ago
yeah he does. he's not perfect, watch stars and stripes forever.
mortson978 2 years ago 2
hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! that made my day! lol
danielwills93 2 years ago
agree with megsd: he isn't going for the crescendo, just hitting a toe piston. but he does miss a key every now and then. no reason to ridicule him, just proves he's human, like all of us (monkeys and bulls excepted).
aidavdbrake 2 years ago
Mr. carpenter is incredible in this piece. Tremendous skill. Notice at 4:20 how he plays across two manuals. Cool.
rockymntain 3 years ago 2
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Good! The practice of spending millions on something to play hymns and poorly attended "recitals" will soon be understood as a 20th-century vanity that has run its course. People are losing their jobs and going hungry. let's help them, not the pipe organ.
ny1news 3 years ago
I hope you know that the pipe organ has been around a lot longer that the 20th century.... and organs do much more than play hymns and recitals.
And... If a church were to spend millions on a pipe organ, I am sure they are spending a truckload on helping the people. But, many people don't even go to the church for help much. Humans have much pride, so shall we let that money sit there unused, or keep enough to help the people and have a majestic instrument in the sanctuary?
DLee594 3 years ago
ny1news, you are a TOTAL BAFFOON!
Capricornboy 3 years ago
I totally agree. Nobody cares about pipe organ but organists... so of course they're up in arms. like gun owners about guns. BORING
Digital organ is better for the environment I bet and lots cheaper plus easier to reproduce if the building burns down etc...
melbourner333 3 years ago
Exactly my point. Yeah, so the organ has been around longer than the 20th century, so who cares?
Anyway the economy should nicely put paid to any illusions of spending big money on pipe organs anymore.
ny1news 3 years ago
i don't like so because it is so ''dark''
but the player is wonder!!!
ewelonic 3 years ago
Personally I don't care what anyone thinks, this guy is amazing. I would pay good money to see him perform anytime!
apostolicguy89 3 years ago
This organ has not pipes. The sound from this organ is electronic. Organ player good. Organ bad. Pipe's have the sound not the electric.
Orionman8 3 years ago
OK, how do we tell if he were to make a mistake?
threephase69 3 years ago
was thinking the same thing
my head hurts
too...many....notes
temporarily4ever 3 years ago
Movies go better on a Wurlitzer. I do LOVE some of the harmonic development in the piece, though it forges no new ground, it takes some interesting turns and twists.
Was this done before the organ had the 100+ theaater organ stops added for the ATOE Concert? If so, where the heck are they?
Obvioualy not a (Totally) improvised score, not with all that manuscript in front of him. Improvised or not, I wish I could read that well!
steamrocks 3 years ago
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Fake as heck. . . I've seen em perform in person. . . Put this guy on a tracker and watch him fold!!
jamesbowensau 3 years ago
i'm sure it's real but the latter point is a hell of a good one! i'm sure he does rely on the easy forgiving action of an electric organ
Hadronnn 3 years ago
Ummm....not really.....his professors at Juliard, including Paul Jacobs, have insisted that his technique is unparalleled. I'm sure he would do just fine on a tracker. Also-do you really think he would play THIS on a tracker action? Doubtful.
organist08 3 years ago
Is the organ at Trinity a Skinner?
TrompenCham167 3 years ago
No it is a Marshall & Ogletree digital organ ... no real pipes any more. I'm throughly disappointed that they didn't care to restore their pipe organ after the damage in 2001.
wurlitzerplayer 3 years ago
So the question is I realize that "Real Pipes" are wonderful. but if the money is put to missions instead of pipes where is the greater glory to god?
wgtkss8 3 years ago
Considering they are marketing this more as a concert and trying to get butts in seats, Im not sure God has much to do with it at all. The pipe organs are steadily being replaced by digital organs, and I think it is sad. Pipe organs are marvelous pieces of mechanical and musical wonder, but no one gives a damn about that any more just where the money comes from.
skyeyes79 3 years ago 2
Real pipes will last hundreds of years if treated right. digital organs will require more upkeep and replacement. And these days many churches have the right to "redirect funds" as they need to. So corruption is able to easily take root. Music is a way to minister to people, and we are the church, not the building. So really, it's not up to the organization to help people, but the people themselves. Pipes or no Pipes, we are still the ones that have to spread the glory of God.
DLee594 3 years ago
The M&O has had many problems lately, including failing to start up before services thereby forcing the organist to use an electronic keyboard instead, and it's only 5 years old! Pipe organs last much longer, and for most of their life, need only be tuned twice a year (with major upkeep work done every few decades). There are working pipe organs from as early as the 14th century, whereas any digital organ that's not from the past decade is considered outmoded and often malfunction.
menschmaschine5 2 years ago 2
As my Grandad would say. I'd pay him time and a half to pick strawberries... and I'd have to add, to squash grapes also.
netwitted 4 years ago
i'm impressed---considering i'm writing this comment in march 2008, and the vid description says halloween 2008. we know that things are very dark and spooky on wall street. is this cameron's prediction of the future? p.s. love the piccolo solo in 'stars and stripes forever.' others should check out that video, too. (same artist. same organ.)
michaelalanmeyers 4 years ago
This organist definitely knows how to take full advantage of every once of a pipe organs resources and then some. Stunning performance.
theblackhand2 4 years ago
absolutely amazing. Nobody else like this in the world.
Incredible as a composer, not just as an organist... he really has a voice. Kudos to Trinity for putting up this video.
ny1news 4 years ago
wonderful to watch. thank you.
SpiritJourneyYouth 4 years ago
a great genius. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
melbourner333 4 years ago 2