Revolutionary Organist Plays Virtual Pipes

Twenty-seven year-old Cameron Carpenter is a master organist on virtual pipes, an instrument that digitizes sounds made by a traditional organ. As VOA's Rosanne Skirble reports, the Grammy-nominated artist [GRAMMY AWARDS 2/08/09] has received wide-spread critical acclaim for his innovative work which is breathing new life into an old instrument.

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• Cameron
• Carpenter
• music
• organ
• Grammy-nominated
• innovative
• artist
• voa
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• Skirble

[riverscuomo06]

i wish i could carry on a conversation while playing a bach trio sonata...

[bbbbmer]

VERY interesting!!!

[skylighter15]

I'm installing a full digital organ in my house in the future, I want it to be supremely capable and fully adaptable. I have considered many design elements and share many of the attitudes and opinions he has toward the organ. I know who will assist me in designing my console now!

[DeserTBoB93535]

@Baldwin48HR Power for old Orgoblos, leather, banging pipes four times a year to keep them somewhat in tune...yes, they're VERY expensive to use and maintain.

[DeserTBoB93535]

Virgil Fox all over again.

[kegginstructure]

Flamboyant but no substance? That could be said about a lot of modern entertainers, I guess. But I am curious. How do you decide "no substance" ? That seems to be dismissive on a point that is hard to demonstrate. And as to being dismissive when discussing Liberace AND Virgil Fox seems disingenuous. OK, you like E Power Biggs. But to me, you have confused style with substance. That is ALWAYS a critic's downfall.

[josemagus]

@riverscuomo06 E. Power Biggs knew how to make the pipe organ sound. This guy is nothing more than the Liberace of the organ, flamboyant but no sutstance. He is nothing more than a reincarnation of Virgil Fox.

[patsaxon]

It is good to see a young organist as the organ is a dying art of the past. Regardless of real pipes or digital, such instruments are still too expensive. If there is a digital organ, I would recommend the Hammond 935 as it a combination drawbar and classical organ for the most affordable price. Lowrey's Tribute is about affordable for the technology that it offers the organist.

[peteacher52]

@Baldwin48HR It could well be that much, and, for what it can do, I say a bargain. I'd be interested to know how much it would cost these days to re-create the wonderful mechanical action organ in St Ignatius Loyola, NY. With that knowledge, the cost of a first-rate digital organ might look rather appealing. Over 20 years ago, Dame Gillian Weir, playing the famous Haarlem organ, said it would cost around $US3 million to build again. This might add a little perspective to the question..

[wljmrbill]

being retired now and living in small space with lttle money...I have a vitual organ..and I feel I am playing in a big cathedral and sounds as good as the recordings of the famous instruments. with keyboards and computer I am in business and feel comfortable with it and I have play mnay pipe organs in my life.I like to see the old instruments preserved:but seems no one or few want to spend the money needed to remain so.

[armorsecsys]

@Baldwin48HR to costly to maintain.... Maintain...... keyword... If you figure the cost of keeping the pipes tuned, repairs etc, I'm sure a digital organ is cheaper in the long run....

[Baldwin48HR]

Pipe organs too costly? I respect Cameron, but I heard from an organist who met him that the Trinity organ cost over a million dollars.......