Toccata und Fugue BWV 565 : Bach played by Edwin Lemare

The Welte Philharmonic Organ of the Sir David Salomons House Science Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. This unique instrument replaced an earlier Style 10 orchestrion and was custom made to incorporate a facilty to play the existing library of Style 10 music as well as the full style-6 "Philharmonic" reproducing organ rolls. This is excerpts from Edwin Lemare's live recording of Bach's well-known Toccata & Fugue in D minor. Rate the video, post a comment! Forward it to a friend!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• welte
• philharmonic
• player
• organ
• orchestrion
• orgue
• orgel
• david
• salomons
• bach
• edwin
• lemare
• BWV565
• toccata
• fugue
• fuga

[elisan693]

This happens to be my favorite video. I was wondering if that it was transposing something from the organ or if it was playing the organ pipes itself like if it was playing the piano. I know that there are player organs in some churches, but they are not too frequent, are they?

[pianolasociety]

the organ is a player organ and also a normal organ with three manuals. When operated from the roll the mechanism plays the organ pipes.

[KawhackitaRag]

I'm glad you skipped past the way-too-well-known part and got into the interesting juicy bits. Truly, this is Bach at some of his finest. And, of course, Lemare is playing brillianly, via the Welte system. This organ is voiced so well, it is ridiculous. Never have I heard a classical organ I liked as much as this one.

[pianolasociety]

When I was there I thought it was one of the finest organ performances I'd ever heard in my entire life. So, come over and hear it play for real one day! Come May 2009 for the PPG's 50th and have a tour...and a full length Philharmonic roll concert also is planned. Some serious no-nonsense stuff!

[Fox7Fan]

Yes, Edwin LeMare was known for his incredible technical abilities. It very likely IS the tempo in which he played it to create this roll for the Welte automatic player organs. LeMare created incredible transcriptions of orchestral works, particularly those of Wagner - which he himself performed as one person (and which now typically require two organists to recreate.

I wish this performance of Bach BWV 565 was not edited, and that the full score of the roll were on this link.

[inspire11slt]

The part at 1:37 sounds like the music from "The Aviator," right before Hughes crashed his XF-11.

[gerardbedecarter]

A nice sound.  Lemare certainly plays the fugue very fast - assuming the playback reflects his actual recorded playing. This piece is possibly not by Bach.

[mattybock]

I love the romance of pipe organs, and forgive me for the obvioous comment, feel free to remove.

The Dracula Song!!!

[lee1984yate]

Lemare created a fabulous transcription of Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre. Difficult to play, but fabulous, nonetheless! :-D

[maesto63]

Welte Philharmonie Great Organ!

At the Moment we restoring a Welte Cinemar Organ. We have a Welte Philharmonic Organ too. But at the moment no Place where the Organ could stand :-( . But came Time came Place :D

[ReaperAP]

Beautiful, one of my favorite pieces!

[BayAreaBiker2001]

I first learned about Edwin H. Lemare on Pipe Dreams. Several organ rolls were played on the program.

[klunk007]

Thank you for posting this - Lemare is one of my heroes, and it is great to hear him play!

[CrazyPianist122792]

You know, this is really amazing. I stil can't believe that they could actually preserve one's one technique, without using a C.D., or record, or anything like that, and have it played back the exact same way on a different instrument years after they're dead!I'm also wondering if there was a way, as in a computer program, that could transcribe music from a roll, and write it out via conventional notation. Please let me know, PianolaSociety:D