Maurice Duruflé - Toccata (from Suite, Op. 5)

[TrompetteHarmonique]

My favorite thing about this recording is how Kiyo Watanabe uses the 64' Ophicleide on the last chord! The only recording I can find where a 64' is used. Also see his performance of Durufle's Fugue on the Carillon of Soissons. He uses the 64' on the last chord as well, and it just completes the ensemble.

[gerdi911]

Dem stueck fehlt der Hall einer cathedrale. Egal wieviel register!!

[Vierne7037]

Good rendition, but the awful acoustic does nothing to compliment your playing.

[HHDougyT]

Comeon!! You are in America, with some of the biggest organs in the world! Pull out the stops like Durufle would have intended! The registration is a bit too feeble for my liking.

[nickoicool]

My goodness, did they put carpet in that church or something? They need to do a huge acoustic remodel.

[virginiaorganbuilder]

What a shame to spend all that time and effort to build a large pipe organ in such a terrible acoustic. It's sort of like flying a 747 inside the Superdome. What's the point? An organ is no better than the room it's in- here is a great example of the 'American Parlor Church' killing music once again. (Don't give me that speech clarity line, either- both things can coexist.)

Now that that's done- excellent playing! Tough music well done. Thanks!

[pjdonagh]

@virginiaorganbuilder Surely the challenge for an organ builder is to build an instrument to suit, enhance or even defy the acoustic of the room. My local "best" instrument is in a Victorian civic hall with a fairly dry acoustic....but it speaks out admirably indeed some would say magnificently!! I might need to concede though that Wichita Falls Church has possibly one of the worst acoustics an organ ever had to perform in!!!

[virginiaorganbuilder]

@pjdonagh I like the words 'challenge', 'enhance', and most of all,'defy'! I agree that an organ that is deemed successful in a bad acoustic is a credit to its builder. Here in America there are ample opportunities to hone those dry acoustic organ building skills. And I'm afraid it's been too many generations to turn the tide back to knowing good from bad, so we are always amazed and overjoyed to come across a church with a truly good acoustic. May they become more plentiful!

[steelersfanhawaii]

@virginiaorganbuilder yeah, the pedal bombarde sounds like a cruise ship's fog horn, but let's give credit where credit is due: Kiyo played the tocotta superbly! BRAVO

[steelersfanhawaii]

@steelersfanhawaii also, it is much more fun to play such a piece from memory as Kiyo does here

[SliderMD]

I like his thinner registrations for this piece....the more I listen to it the more I think this piece needs to be arranged for orchestra....or maybe orchestra and organ. I do agree about the pedal reeds in the return of the theme though...Id have backed off just a bit - but really its just minor.

And he technical aspects of his playing...awsome

[organkeyer]

kempedketh...thanks, how dumb of me not to look...happy new year to you and all!

[kempedkemp]

The info you are looking for is in the posting. Click on more info. Its a Garland in Texas where there are plenty of fine pipe organs.

[organkeyer]

But...what brand of organ is it and where is it?

[gedeck4foot]

Looks like a Skinner.?  ANYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[willowthebored]

It's a Garland. Very recent, '04, I believe.

[gedeck4foot]

A fine instrument, but the accustics Suck.!!

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[davbear221]

Fine organist! Not a bad organ but the sound is a let down. Knowing this piece quite well and having played it on several recital programs I am able to comment on the organ qualities or lack of. The Mixture are quite overwhelmed with reed voicing. Very obvious when the pedal returns at end with main theme. TOO overpowering. But, the organist is superb!

[desnico7]

I agree that even if the technic is quite good, the sound is so disappointing. Fortunately there are "digital" installations which sound pretty. But for me it will never have the same effect as cathedral or church organs for which most of organ works have been written. Digital installations stay "installations" and not "organs". PLEASE, don't compare anymore electronic cards with traditional organ mechanic. I've the impression that American people always run after superlatives... don't they ?

[budchad]

What is wrong with you people? How many American installations have you heard. Plus you are judging this from a YouTube recording...give me a break. There are hundreds of amazing installations from the past 50 years that are in concert halls, cathedrals and universities that I'm sure you have never heard - don't generalize opinions based upon a small amount of info. For starters look at Nichols and Simpson organs out of Arkansas - Yes!...I said ARKANSAS!

Peace.

[octavebasse8]

Ever heard their organ at Christ Episcopal Church?

Amazing instrument!

Overall, my favorite company of this time!

[budchad]

If you call them they'll hook you up with some great recordings and info about all of their installations. Ask for Christian.

[octavebasse8]

Maybe I'll talk to some of their employees at the next AGO meeting.

[ihadaralf]

Very impressive articulation but why can't you Americans do acoustics? He sounds as if he's playing in his living room. You go to the huge effort of building a superb instrument and then put it in a shed.

[theblackhand2]

That's been my gripe too. But America does have a few gems. Washington National Cathedral, St. John the Divine in NYC, and the Crystal Cathedral are just to name a few. Also the 7 story atrium in the Macy's Dept. Store with the Wannamaker Organ is good. Atlantic City convention Hall has got some monster reverberation times fitting for the world's largest organ. Sadly that organ was rendered silent by a recent remodel.

[virginiaorganbuilder]

@ihadaralf AMEN! The average person here thinks 'acoustics' means 'absorption'. It's an uphill battle, but we're trying!

[Alleghenymike]

Proper registration of this piece is absolutely essential or the whole thing turns into a muddy bowl of soup. My only negative cricism would be to save the big (64') pedal sounds for the very very end as there are those fun-as-heck-to-play fast pedal lines in the closing section that need to be clear or all that practicing has been done for nothing more than a drunken blur. Less is more here!Great job on the light middle sections.

[Alleghenymike]

This guy gets it better than any of the other in my book. Would love to hear him perform this work on that marvelous CB Fisk in Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. This guy understands not only the phrasing but how to keep the clarity of the thousands of scampering notes that are dying to be heard. GO BOY!

[Reesman95]

WOW!!!!!!!!! I thought only Mr. Fox could play it that good, but I think you actually beat him!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very Impressive!!!!!!!!

[DesireeDeFete]

I love this organ's Swell division.