JONATHAN SCOTT AT BRIDGEWATER HALL - WIDOR TOCCATA

[mrnnhnz]

Very nice. Thanks for uploading.

[akudal964]

astonishing!

[MacyMabelle]

Oh dear. Extraordinary. I wish to hear this one played also played by you in a cathedral where, in my opinion, it belongs to.

[hautyboy]

Superb performance! A good organ but the hall has a clinical ambience, a bit like the Royal Festival Hall as I remember it years ago.

[Detlef309]

das ist eine Marcussen & Søn Orgel aus Danmark

[Sylderon]

One person clearly doesn't get it...or perhaps he's deaf.

[goglerin26]

wow, muss ziemlich abgefahren sein auf so einer orgel zu spielen !!!

[cnmmnc8852]

Fine sober performance except for the annoying ritard in measure 49 before the theme reenters.

[Caledonian86224]

Excellent, good tempo. This piece is so often rushed. Good to see all the details of playing too!

[mrotwist]

C'est magnifique!!! The quiet section is breathtakingly beautiful by this artist. -antiphonal effect - marvelous!

[dcarroll74]

Absolutely Brilliant. Only hearing it for the 2nd time now, 1st time over 30 years ago. Created a Midifile of the Symphony from memory, thankfully the memory is still good. Had the file's 1st airing in Newry Cathedral, Co. Down, Northern Ireland 3 years ago. Received a standing ovaition. Hope it was for the composition, rather than the re-writer. Cannot improve on the best, can only emulate.

[jbbnbb]

great playing..........but please no more of the " fancy" camera work. Its a distraction from the watching !

[curlyjim2550]

Nowt like being at the bridgewater hall when he does this live. I swear I thought my chest was going to explode with the resonation from those magnificent pipes.

It wasn't just a piece of music played, it was an aural experience the like of which beggars belief. Absolutely suberb,

[JRZGRL55]

This recording is definitely more about the actual music than demonstrating that "wow, I can hit all the notes & I can hit them faster than you can". This is a stunning performance.

[1968mjh]

Wonderful performance. A beautiful staccato in the right hand - I'm so jealous! I loved the sudden crescendi in the central quiet section. I shall try to emulate this - if the instrument I play is capable of it!

[susan2016]

Superb performance, clear, distinct and masterful. Excellent! A wonderful piece and a wonderful musician. Thanks!

[tropiclassic08]

the best!

[VonDuesenberg]

This organ is, from the sound point of view with this of the Towhall of Zurich, the best concert organ of Europe.

[saurus1963]

Never fails to give me goosebumps. Outstanding performance.

[MelosAntropon]

I am a lifelong organist, and I tell you true, young man - your articulation is *immaculate*. The best I've ever heard. Your interpretation of the piece is also excellent. BRAVISSIMO!

[silverstartrucker]

Lacking depth of sound.

[UncleNathan]

A really tremendous video, and in beautiful, clean sound! The haunting transition beginning at 2:10 is absolutely spellbinding. Thank you for this wonderful performance of the Toccata!

[Mafiawl]

I find it fascinating how you almost become programmed into liking something. I grew up listening to Nicholas Danby's version from Blenheim Palace (1968). I was 5 at the time and played the record to death and have loved the sound of the organ ever since. Jonathan Scott's version is outstanding and no doubt if I had heard that aged 5 it would have become my favourite version. Great stuff!

[organpianoman]

amazing job!!!

[itamedthebeast]

played with technical perfection and considerable finesse - triumphant! on a very bright instrument. this is a physically demanding piece - beautifully rendered.

[Vampire4563]

Your Grandmother would have been proud! x

[wpdeschamps]

Outstanding! It wasn't just played, it was performed! This is an awesome demonstration of the ability of the organist to play the piece, but also to masterfully manage the instrument. Very nice.

[andyth0mps0n]

Nice tempo change in the section where you do the octaves in the pedal... allows those low notes to really get the full affect.

[organnut]

Spectacular performance Jonathan! Played at a tempo allowing us to catch all the notes and harmonies. Often played too fast in large cathedrals with overpowering acoustics leaving the harmonies just a blur. Thanks again for sharing your awesome talent!

Best Regards, Roy

[macOfAlden]

A very good performance - shame about the organ. In my view the whole point of an organ is that it does not sound like an electronic instrument, where each and every note is a package on its own. The whole reason detre to an organ is that it is coloured by its enclosure. The Bridgewater Hall is just so clinical, it may be a joy to play but it flat to listen to, I've been to many organ concerts there and each one reinforces my view. I'm really please they did not install the Queen in it.

[mattbod]

Sorry i must learn to spell:dyed! Anyway I'd like to hear this organ live as I believe it is built by Marcussen from Denmark.That firm's organ in Tonbridge School in Kent (U.K) is wonderful. I've heard mixed reports about it but certainly sounds good here.

[mattbod]

When I saw the post I thought it was for the former organist of St Pauls who had died his hair, lost some weight and been taking some youth tonic but that is John Scott! Loved the playing however. A lot of people can "busk" this piece but few can play it properly so well done.

[Scotdaz]

Excellent playing. I love wtching this clip on youtube. The widor toccata played exactly how it should be, not too fast and not too slow. Thanks johnathan

[janne88888888]

Amazing. I' m organist from Poland and I want to play as you.

[MerlinTheDraconic]

I like his, it is very controlled, not too fast, not to slow. It's funny, he bounces like a theater organist.

[organist99x]

The only thing

I wished this video had is more reverb. However, it was played at the perfect tempo, unlike some other videos here on youtube! Great job!

[Omtomramoa]

This toccata in just so awesome and intimidating. Superb composition all the way and magnificently played here by Mr. Scott.

[kwhm]

You should hear when very very famous finnish organist Kalevi Kiviniemi plays this song. He has played this wihtout notes for twenty years. I was in Paris with my choir and Kalevi played this with very big organ in st. clotilde basilique. It was just amazing!

[northerntrumpeter]

I think this is the best recording of the Widor Toccata on YOUTUBE...and recorded in sunny Manchester aswell. Superb.

[DiegoLiger]

Agreed. SO many recordings on youtube are of it being played far too quickly, almost a race and with no show of musicianship or articulation.

The Bridgewater organ is lovely - incredibly high quality in an out and a joy to tune. I dont think we can match its quality by UK builders at the moment to be honest. Which is quite sad.

[zippylad77]

I have heard a lot of recordings of the Widor, some good, some terrible. The one by Jonathan Scott..I would describe it as absolutely flawless. To do this piece really well your left hand needs to be as strong as the right, especially in the middle section. This is really the test on how to measure how good someone is. I have heard a lot of organists bluffing the middle section. Not this guy!

[xylophonicfrog]

I saw him play this at the Bridgewater Hall... really fantastic. I think it's partly his control; I've seen loads of people who play this and let it run out of control. I'm 17, and learning this for a school concert...just on page 5/7.

Incidentally- TrompenCham167- how did you get to play the Marcussen aat the B'water?! Would love to do the same.

[zippylad77]

You can actually hire the organ I believe. Otherwise you just have to be lucky like I was. Having said that, I wouldn't bother. There are far better organs out there. Try and get on at Rochdale town Hall. They charge amazingly cheaply!

[TrompenCham167]

I was invited to play at a schools prom recital and I played the 1st Movement of the Sans-Saens Organ Symphony. I also played a solo organ piece - Vexilla Regis Prodenunt by Naji Hakim. The organ at Bridgewater Hall is fantastic for contemporary music and for Bach and Handel etc. From close up, the Trompetes en Chamade sound very good and I programmed them in for full organ in my Naji Hakim. They really pierce they're way through. I also love the Positiv flutes and solo Clarinette.

[TrompenCham167]

The main problem with the Bridgewater Hall Organ is that it DOESN'T FILL THE SPACE!!!! It is a simply magnificent organ by Marcussen. I've played it and i'm 15! Love the 32' Bombarde!

[zippylad77]

I completely agree. The organ copes okay on its own but seems to lose all impetus when with an orchestra or large congregation. I tried the 32' reeds myself but I was less than impressed. Perhaps they speak out better from a distance? I remember pressing the Tutti button and thinking "Is this it?". Maybe however it was designed to be that way? After all the whole building is on springs. Who knows, a low frequency from the pedal section may cause the whole hall to start bouncing up and down!

[organist12345]

Was that tutti including the chamades. It must have been quite loud then.

[Benniboy93]

phwoar this is fucking stunning

:O

going to see this played at albert hall soon, hope its this good :D

[Reesman95]

When the left hand crosses over it should go on a secondary manual such as the Swell manual

[fthiggins]

But only if the dynamic power of the secondary manual is equal to the Great.  I think Widor specified it this way only because of the difficulty of playing the passages assigned to the right hand with the left hand, i.e thumbs on accidentals and so forth.

[AllenOrganCrazy]

Do you always like to put people down? I think its wonderful.

[rotunda57]

Excellent performance, Bravo! Perfect tempo. I'd much rather just watch the organist play however than a buncha superimposed pictures.

[snakeinthegrass20]

I've just been to see him play at Bridgewater, this piece stood out for me