"King of Instruments" - Gillian Weir plays "Variations on America"

Taken from the 1988 BBC series "King of Instruments", Gillian Weir plays "Variations on 'America'" by Charles Ives at the organ of the Ulster Hall, Belfast.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Variations
• on
• America

[hazrob]

Thanks for the comment pjdonagh. These videos came from an old VHS video recording that I managed to capture at the time of the King of Instruments was first shown in 1989. Sadly, I only managed to record two of the six episodes but thanks to Priory the organ world can enjoy these again - highly recommend to buy and enjoy the DVD - a fantastic purchase and puts these old VHS recordings to shame!

[pjdonagh]

@hazrob I was pretty sure that there had never been a commercial release of the series so concluded that yours was indeed a capture directly from TV. In the absence of any other source your postings were a Godsend to those, like myself, who were able to remember the broadcasts and others who, also like myself are GW fans and for whom You Tube has,alas all too few examples of her artistry.

Thank you.

[pjdonagh]

There was some discussion on other postings by Hazrob from "The King of Instruments" series as to where these recordings actually came from....I am happy to report that the full series has just been released on the Priory label.....buy and enjoy!!!

[pjdonagh]

@wet1wheat I certainly did and yes it was splendid. It was quite a feat of mountaineering getting up to the organ but she ain't the slim young thing I first saw a quarter of a century ago!!!.....and neither am I!!!!!. She still dresses just as memorably as she plays.....that was a frock and a half.

[wet1wheat]

@pjdonagh DId you make it to the Ulster hall last friday night? Was a fabulous concert only thing is I still want more :) (i'm sure health and safety were taking a fit watching her go up and down the stairs lol)

[pjdonagh]

@wet1wheat On the strength of only a couple of hearings I will agree that Mr Carey is a player who "tickles" an organ!! Dame G W certainly does....I look forward to hearing them both very soon in concert on this fine instrument!!

[GloriaJanvier]

Dame Gillian Weir is a virtuoso organist who combines impeccable technique with equally impeccable musicianship, scholarship, and research. She is definitely one of the greatest organists ever!

PS> yet, she can have fun and enjoy the instrument and the acoustic at the same time!

[wet1wheat]

I find that a lot of professional organists lean to much on their own interpretations of pieces and are more interested in volume and itricacy than the music. Dame Gillian (like Colm Carey) really tickles an organ and is so humble in here playing. I think she is one of the most rhythmic and accurate organists around.

[wet1wheat]

@carol9820 I understand where you're coming from, and I myself find it easier to play something closer to a slipper. But Dame Gillian is a professional and I reckon she has done enough experimentation and have enough knowledge to know what's best for here while playing. I'm not flaming, just saying :)

[pjdonagh]

@jackal59 You are right of course but I bet that in the 80's I would have thought differently. There was some sort of collective sartorial blindness associated with that decade.

Anyway a great performance from Dame "Harlequin" Gillian Weir on the splendid Hill/Mander organ.