Organ Toccata at Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas

[Tetsuo315]

Awesome playing!! Epic Socks!!

[Alon235235]

I keep expecting the giant organ to turn into some mech construct that'll rip itself out of the church and terrorize tokyo

[maestroinwest]

RIP John Balka Dec. 16, 1999. You are sorely missed in the musical community.

[pspmafia]

i've been there.....amazing

[bingoace]

Beautiful sound. Nothing beats the sound of a church organ

[FromHolbergsTime]

Quite an imposing instrument, beautifully played and captured with high fidelity.

[MaxPonuryZniwiarz]

And I love those white socks with black pants and shoes :D

anyway, his playing is veeeeery nice :)

[Organist248]

Nice.

The organ is impresive. I like how the keys go down by themselfs.

Thanks for posting.

[demianxss]

I wonder how he gets down from that perch.... And man what a marvelous instrument that organ is!

[OrganPlayer25]

Mr. Balka's performance was good. I like the sound of the foot pedals. Nice Work.

[edwilley3]

Superb acoustics...better than Bass Hall in Fort Worth and one of the best I've heard. Tony Bennett sings "Fly Me to the Moon" without mic in 2 halls...this is 1 of them.

This is Fisk Opus 100. 99 is in Houston (Palmer Memorial) and 101 is at Southern Methodist Univ. in Dallas.

In this video, the canopy is raised, but they mostly keep it down for the folks on the stage. The sound of this instrument in that space is extraordinary. 25 stops in the pedal alone.

[Tyman45345]

Nice performance.

[mpsnknox]

Nice socks...

[alefroemming]

this must be a tracker???

[HCA10004]

What makes the keys on the other manuals that he is not touching still operate?

[midnightpipes]

The connections between the pipe valves (pallettes) and the keyboards in this organ are by mechanical linkages. When pipes in divisions played by some manuals are coupled together onto one manual, the mechanisms of all keyboards move together, even the keys. So in fact, if the keys move on other manuals, he is using them. He is just playing them from one keyboard. Thanks for writing. - FH

[swellshades]

Fabulous!!

[iamrepete]

He almost looks like a young Virgil Fox...I wish I had the chance to hear them both in persons.I hope to hear the Fisk in person someday soon. Thank you, Fred H for all your hard work.

[maestrocji]

John Balka was the finest organist I have ever known and a dear friend. He exuded energy when he played. Thank you for posting this video!

[1995fordf150]

I have played this organ!

[alfingew]

What a wonderful performance! What a magnificent organ! Thanks from Sweden!

[orgeldude]

Some Fisks I have played have a flat pedalboard. I love them.

[metagicmos]

Is that a straight or radiating/concave pedal board?

[midnightpipes]

Thanks for writing. That does appear to be a non-concave, non-radiating (also referred to as "flat") pedalboard. - Fred H, Midnight Pipes

[gsm1031]

Very well done!

[enchammade16]

If you ever get the chance to see this instrument in person, go. It is an impressive sight, and very imposing. I have heard it many times, and it is truly of Fisk's greatest organs.

PS, sit in the Louge level, when the 32 Profunda kicks in, that's the best seat in the house to hear it and feel it, and the best vabtage point to watch the organist.

[Angultimmarik]

My favourite piece and my favourite recording... Wonderful performance and a wonderful organ!

[thomasdeserranno]

Dommage que le tempo ralentisse vers la fin alors que la tendance était à l'accélération. Très belle maîtrise de Fisk pour la couleur symphonique française, notamment les anches!

[theblackhand2]

Spot on Performance!

[rts100x5]

WOW, what a performance

Having been to the Meyerson many times, including the triennial organ competition, I can tell the sound of this organ is breath-taking.

[bee12er]

That was the best recording of this sond that I have heard in a long time..

[davbear221]

Now thats an organist!

[iamrepete]

My favorite part is a 1:14 when he hits those couplers...what an instrument,what a performer,and thanks to Fred Hohman,what a recording!

[ToxicxEternity]

I know that part gave me such bad goosebumps when that comes in

[kelsiejackson]

That instrument is stunning, and what a great showpiece for it and the performer.

[Fredhofen13]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

[prothwell]

RIP John Balka. You were among the best of the best.

[codeman2008]

Incredible performance! Awesome organ too!

[stagelightingkid]

love it

[exiledmanc98]

Great performance! Thanks for posting it.

[theblackhand2]

This is a great organ. I love the French Symphonic style voicing of this instrument. Also I've heard many interpretation of the Organ Toccata. This rendition is among the best I'm heard in a long time.

[waltts]

WHITE SOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[herakles120]

That's the first thing I noticed, too.

[fdh1004]

I went to school with John and Charles Bembow at the University of Oklahoma and thank whoever posted this. I have not heard of him since I left O.U. and it brought back so many memories to see him again. Thanks so much.

[mgobluelinda]

This is great!

[poopingeneral]

one word for this video "wow"!!

[robmcw]

'John Balka has no fear of the exertion when playing with all manuals coupled together.'

He also has no fear playing a straight pedalboard. I hope the movable console has a concave pedalboard.

[Hotenrod]

The Meyerson is truly a magnificant place. Ive been there and performed there. I played my guitar in the Guitar Ensamble on the 17th of Febuary, 2008.

[lienmusical]

i've been there. i preformed there(: it is huge..

[kilreb]

Einfach unbeschreiblich schön!

Brilliant!

[qw3rtydud3]

That was an amazing performance, I loved the registration at the beginning and the instrument is brilliant, thanks for posting!

[Funkypotat0]

I can't get enough of this Toccata. It's the ultimate organ piece for showing off.