Pipe Organ: Christmas Eve 2007 Part One of Three

Me playing the pipe organ after a few months of organ lessons at the 2007 Christmas Eve mass at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Princeton, WI. There were over 350 people in attendance (standing room only).

Songs performed in video include...
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia
Baptismal Processional (Piano): Prelude in C Major, J.S. Bach
Offertory: Silent Night

Specifications of the Instrument:

Built by Wicks Organ Company in 1966. Total of 14 ranks. Two manuals(Great and Swell), 61 notes each. 32 note pedal board.

Pedal:
Sub Bass 16'(Great)
Rohr Gedeckt 16' (Swell)
Octave 8' (Great)
Flute 8' (Great)
Choral Bass 4' (Great)
Posaune 16' (Swell)
Couplers: Great 8', 4'; Swell 8',4'

Great:
Principal 8'
Bourdon 8'
Salicional 8' (Swell)
Octave 4'
Mixture III
Couplers: Great to Great 16', 4'; Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'

Swell (Enclosed):
Rohr Flute 8'
Salicional 8'
Voix Celeste 8'
Koppel Flute 4'
Nasard 2 2/3'
Block Flute 2'
Trompette 8'
Tremulant
Couplers: Swell to Swell 16', 4'

Includes swell expression pedal, crescendo pedal, and sforzando piston.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pipe
• Organ
• Christmas
• Catholic
• Princeton
• Wisconsin
• Saint
• John
• the
• Baptist

[Zachp333]

Young and talented! Have a great Holiday 2008 Season!

[sondasam]

And Merry Christmas to you too! I am now preparing for the Christmas Eve Mass again (about 500 attending) while trying to finish final lab projects and papers. It's quite difficult to fit in practice time at the organ as a chemistry and pre-med major:)

[Zachp333]

Is your minor going to be in music/organ performance? You do need a mirror and a bigger balcony, so the choir can sit and have more room. I'd be making mistakes having people around me while playing, rather have them to my side!

[sondasam]

Nope. Actually I am just majoring in Chemistry and Biology because I will be graduating in three years. The balcony is definitely not ideal for a choir. Luckily, I can block the people out while they walk/stand around me. Also, the mirrors on the organ are very old and they tilt too far downward after I play for me to use them.

[mfdao]

how old r u?

[sondasam]

I am 18 years old.

[Philovideo]

I am 57 and would love to learn to play a pipe organ! I was advised by an organist who plays at a local Lutheran Church here in the Denver area to first take piano lessons even before considering playing an organ. The only other musical I played was a tuba in high school band for 4 years back in the late 60's. I love the sound of pipe organs and it really enhances the over all sound of a good choir! Keep up the good work. Thanks for posting!

[lostnyc2]

Excellent!

What your church needs is one of those small console mounted mirrors adjusted so the organist can see behind/below without having to turn all the way 'round to look- kind of awkward having to do that.

[doothless]

Why was not Ave Maria played on the organ?  Toss that electric piano (or whatever it is) out on the street!

[Zachp333]

Prelude in C Major on Piano sounds great (minus the baby crying.

[Brenniman65]

A little constructive observances. The choir is having a hard time keeping up on the Silent Night as you're not giving them time to breath on such a quick tempo. You may also want to learn and try chords that modulate much better with the choral such as "Bb" concert for Silent Night and such. Keep up the great work, however.

[theaterpipe1]

@Zachp333

That is Bach's "Ave Maria" in C Major. I have the music for it and I am just going to learn it.

[lostnyc2]

I disagree with the taking piano first idea, just start on the organ but sans the pedals at first- concentrait on just one manual to start with and simple stops.

The idea behind the piano is to remove the pedals and other manuals along with having to learn stops. Learn the music reading and one manual first then add the rest. Its ridiculous to learn on an 88 note piano and then have to relearn a bit by switching to a 58 or 61 note organ manual

[Zachp333]

What's th ename of the song played on piano? Are you going to play at Christmas Eve Mass this year? If so, could you please try to post by Christmas day, so I have one last little Christmas Eve music to listen to? Thanks!

[theaterpipe1]

That is a nice goal, I have a good goal of being the organist for the new cathedral in my hometown (not yet built). I will be the youngest organist in the diocese

[theaterpipe1]

It was okay. You were a beginner, like I am.

I have a goal of playing the organ in the cathedral that will be built

[Thepianoorganist]

how bout the heritage holy or the mass of creation, just look at your master index of your church accompaniment book