Improvisation (on Great is Thy Faithfulness)

A powerful improvisation over the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" performed by Dr. W. James Abbington during the Jubilee Choir Concert at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church on Sunday November 19, 2006. Dr. Abbington served as Organist at HMBC from 1983-1996, and served as Minister of Music from 1987-1996. Dr. Abbington inspired the instillation of this organ which is a 1988 Petty-Madden. The organ is electro-pneumatic, has 4 manuals, and 60 light-up stops. The organ has 96 ranks of pipes.

Great (I)
Bourdon 16
Montre 8
Dessus de flûte 8
Prestant 4
Flûte conique 4
III Cornet 2
Doublette 2
V Fourniture 2
Trompette-en-chamade 8
Trompette 8
Tremblant
Gt/Gt 16

Positif (II)
Montre 8
Bourdon 8
Prestant 4
Flûte à fuseau 4
II Sesquialtera 2
Doublette 2
V Plein jeu 1
Trompette-en-chamade 8 (Gt)
Trompette 8
Cromorne 8
Tremblant
Pos/Pos 16

Swell (III)—expressive
Quintaton 16
Principal 8
Viole de gambe 8
Voix céleste 8
Flûte à cheminée 8
Octave 4
Flûte 4
Nazard 2
Quarte de nazard 2
Tierce 1
VI Plein jeu 2
Basson 16
Trompette 8
Basson-Hautbois 8
Voix humaine 8
Clairon 4
Sw/Sw 16, 4

Solo (IV)—expressive
Salicional 8
Voix céleste 8 (from low g)
Flûte harmonique 8
Cor de nuit 8
Flûte harmonique 4
V Cornet 8
Trompete-en-chamade 8 (Gt)
Trompette 8
Clarinette 8
Clairon 4
Carillon
Tremblant
So/So 16, 4

Pedal
Bourdon 32 (resultant)
Contrebasse 16
Flûte 16
Soubasse 16
Bourdon 16 (Gt)
Quintaton 16 (Sw)
Principal 8
Bourdon 8
Octave 4
Bourdon 4
V Fourniture 2
Contre-Bombarde 32
Bombarde 16
Basson 16 (Sw)
Trompette 8
Clairon 4
Hautbois 4 (Sw)
Carillon (So)

Intermanual Couplers
Gt/Ped 8
Pos/Ped 8
Sw/Ped 8, 4
So/Ped 8, 4
Pos/Gt 16, 8
Sw/Gt 16, 8, 4
So/Gt 16, 8, 4
Sw/Pos 16, 8, 4
So/Sw 16, 8, 4

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Organ
• Hartford
• Memorial
• Baptist
• Church
• Abbington
• Petty-Madden
• God
• Dr.
• Charles
• G.
• Adams
• Detroit
• Michigan

[UHC4LYFE]

This was a beautifuuly mastered piece by the organist, BUT it pisses me off that "we" still don't know how to sit through a performance in Church and enjoy reverently, without "YES" "AMEN" THANK YA" and clapping! That xtra crap from the congregation just ruined it for me.

[MoneyManTC]

@UHC4LYFE --- Thank you for the comment. The Choir was actually making most of the noise. Due to the location of the microphones, which they are sitting directly beneath, pretty much anything they say will be picked up.

[CrazyhorseP1]

pleas dont ever, EVER, take this down........:)

[MoneyManTC]

Wasn't planning on it!! Glad you enjoyed it.

[rdamfan]

Op wat voor een soort orgel is dit gespeeld? Is hier ook informatie van beschikbaar?

[MoneyManTC]

This organ was built in 1988 by the Petty-Madden Organ Company. There are 60 stops, 96 ranks, and 4 manuals. Stops list is located under (more info).

[32pedalnotes]

That's our Doc, the greatest in the world! Shout out from Hampton's Ministers' Conference Organist Director's Guild Staff 2008. Patrick A, B'more.

[Hyphenated08]

@UHC4LYFE Perhaps you should consider that the way "we" "enjoy" a church performance IS by saying "YES" "AMEN" "THANK YA" and by clapping. To suggest, as you do, that there is only one way that one is suppose to be during a performance like this, is to ignore the great diversity of the human family, or to suggest that one form of expression trumphs all others. If your perferred way of hearing a piece like this is through silence by all but the instrument, then go somewhere where they do that!

[arissaisanangel11]

The Christian faith is centered on the Person of Christ and not on performance. Therefore, the expressions you hear are those of believers worshipping a Majestic God! There is something about the Spirit of God moving upon the heart of man that causes him/her to adore the Lord. Unlike a concert hall where you sit "reverently" as a spectator, the Church is a place that enjoys both reverence and rejoicing as a participator. This is the meaning of Psalms 150. Pastor Gerald E. Freeman

[DBGOGIRL]

Amen..How beautiful....Let's celebrate Dr. King's Birthday (01 16/2011) tomorrow with this...Praise God my friends....Charlottesville, VA

[posaune16]

I keep coming back to this one - it's a fun improv, and even though my own personal worship sensibilities tend toward the reserved, "high church" variety, the clapping and excitement is an amusing change. I still give it five stars!

[UHC4LYFE]

If you really want to experience "High Church," you will skip The 1st two criteria and join the Episcopal Church!

[counselor2b]

@americannegr0-- Do you really think he cares what you call him? Lucifer is the name that was given, Ah Satan is more of a title than a name.

[gepettotrevor]

In Christ's eyes, it doesn't matter what the color of the skin is. It's the contents of the heart that count. It is AMAZING to see that kind of energy our Lord's church. In a way, it's like the applause is not only to the fantastic organist....but also a round of applause to God. I've had my congregation give rounds of applause to God before while speaking in Temple Talks. It is fantastic to see this amount of energy! Well done, and God bless!

[CrazyhorseP1]

I still like it!!!!!