Spreckels Outdoor Pipe Organ at Balboa Park, San Diego

Robert Plimpton made this video on August 17, 1998, during his years as Civic Organist to the city of San Diego. Here he plays the well-known 4-manual Austin pipe organ installed in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at San Diego's Balboa Park. Mr. Plimpton plays one of his favorite works by his colleague / mentor from his days in Philadelphia, the Rhumba for Organ by Robert Elmore.

The Rhumba is in a style that calls to mind the jazz music of George Gershwin. The work mixes both classical and jazz / theatre organ elements. Mr. Plimpton reinforces the theatre organ aspects of the piece in his choice of registration, where he adapts the classic sounds of the Spreckels organ to give the impression of a theatre organ (in the middle, lyrical section).

If you listen carefully, you can hear the very unique outdoor acoustic of Balboa Park. Although there is no room ambience because the organ speaks into the outdoors, there is a delay echo, that rebounds after about 2/3 second as the organ sound returns from a reflection about 600 feet away in another area of the park.

The tradition of outdoor organ concerts started with the installation and completion of the organ pavilion about 1917. This tradition at Balboa Park continues to this day, with weekly free Sunday afternoon concerts and special evening concerts during the summer months.

The complete video from which this video is excerpted is Episode #13 of the Midnight Pipes tv series (produced by Frederick Hohman) and a VHS Hi-Fi home video may still be obtained from www.zarex.com. For details and purchase links, enter "9013" in the search box at www.zarex.com/bin .

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Spreckels
• pipe
• organ
• Balboa
• Park
• San
• Diego
• Robert
• Plimpton
• Elmore
• Midnight
• Pipes
• Pro
• Organo
• Rhumba
• Hohman

[timelineclassicrock]

Where can I find the music for this?

[midnightpipes]

This work was published privately during Mr Elmore's lifetime, and has been republished through auspices of Fred Bock Music Company. I would refer to the work by title, composer, publisher and try getting it through Brodt Music Company in Charlotte, North Carolina 800-438-4129. - FH

[HMusicalServices]

Simply amazing!

[JonasClark]

Magnificent! I love this instrument, but I really love this piece and this performance of it. Awesome pedal technique.

[2reeler]

This organist is really incredible!~ To play the melody with his feet and even play 3 note chords with his shoes is amazing. This is a true show peice for a brilliant artist. Thanks for posting.

[abstractviewofu]

Great idea bad organ

[pohldriver]

one hell of an organist. i love the peice, it is like dracula goes to the circus. up beat and uplifting

[dinovolo46]

grande tecnica con la pedaliera ottima esecuzine

e grande organista

[LOVEFOREVERBLUE]

Wow, what a nice treat!!! I'm happy to say, I know Mr. Plemton and he is a wonderful person. I spent many Sunday afternoons at the orgin concerts in Balboa Park. I do miss him not playing there any more. Sometimes he would be so into the music that he could take you away from all your cares of the day. If ya see the Bob, God Bless ya, love ya always ellie

[ddoyle11]

Great! We are so fortunate to have this available to us here in San Diego. I love the organ pavilion.

[AxeDavy777]

Epic breakdown 4:36 - 4:44

[cromorne]

The organist at my church was taught by both Robert Elmore and Robert Plimpton. In fact, he has Elmore's 1955 Mercury Records LP of the Midmer-Losh organ in the Atlantic City Convention Hall. Very interesting stuff!

[songbirdshe]

WOW =) awesome!!

[KE5RHD]

Youtube will stream this in mpeg4 full stereo high resolution if you put &fmt=18 at the end of the url

[bigposaune]

Wow, fantastic!

[silverstartrucker]

Brilliant, loved it, excellent organist and a superb sound.