Bob Swift Plays Charles Ives' Organ Variations on America

~ A Swift "FOURTH of JULY" Snippet ~ An excerpt (final variation) from Bob Swift's stylized version of Charles Ives' "Variations on AMERICA." [Charles Ives once said that he enjoyed playing the pedal passages in his AMERICA variations "almost as much as playing baseball." In this July 7, 2002 patriotic concert, just before beginning the variations, Bob quotes Mr. Ives; then adds, in a secretive, whisper-like voice to the audience: "I must admit that I enjoy playing these pedal passages MORE than playing baseball!" The crowd roars in laughter.]

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pipe
• Organ
• American
• Composer
• Charles
• Ives
• Concert
• Organist
• Bob
• Swift
• pedal
• playing
• Variations
• on
• America

[alfingew]

Unbelievable! Not even Rocky Balboa can match that footwork! Thank's from Sweden.

[bob4120]

It was my pleasure to please you and that audience. Thanks for your comment. - Bob

[CarolaEnde]

Nice! :-)

[bob4120]

Thanks! Glad you liked my playing.

[Organist305]

Simply great!

[bob4120]

Thanks!

[jamesaellis]

look at his legs go!!!

[RDW1935]

I find myself disagreeing with most everybody except "kviko0." We both know that this organist is superbly trained. He KNOWS his ORGANS. It sounded bad, because whoever recorded it, didn't pay attention to how it would sound in it's final playback. Bob Swift is a GREAT ACCOMPLISHED ORGANIST. I'm sure one of our greatest! So listen carefully and pay attention to his fantastic "Foot/Pedal" work!! BOB SWIFT IS GREAT! I admire him a lot!

[undamaris]

He should wiped the grease off the bottom of his shoes...slipping and sliding all over that pedal board....what a mess!!!

[hornplayermark]

Awesome job......from a grateful organist in Hampton!

[Music4ibc]

With all due respect, I understand that even Ives himself said that he wrote music never to be played ~ and more often than not, it was the initial "concept" that was more intriguing a statement than the actual music itself. That being said, Ives could be ingeniously creative with his dissonance, or spot on with his tonality ... this conveys neither. What is the point of playing this final variation that fast? Even in Ives' cacophony, this is just not acceptable. There's absolutely no point.

[Georgiaorganist]

What else could one expect?? The organist's last name is Swift, right???

Bravo!!!!

[iLickGuitars]

People like this are not real. That is CRAZY! My head would explode if I even looked at that sheet music. Fantastic job!

[tdanielmorley]

Charles Ives said the pedal part for this piece was more fun than playing baseball, and he REALLY liked to play baseball

[m3cyclone]

Amazing job with your feet! I could practice the rest of my natural life on my Hammond B-3 and never approach the velocity of your pedal work!!! Well done!

[54spiritedwill54]

wow this is amazing! Nice footwork.

[riverscuomo06]

what's the version that virgil fox plays on youtube?

[alleviptg]

if you touch the pedals they will be hot! :D