IMPROVISATION on Hymn Tune - DUKE STREET at St. John the Divine, NYC. Aeolian-Skinner Opus 150A

Recorded on July 24, 1998 at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in NYC on G. Donald Harrison's master piece Opus 150A. I used the State Trumpet coupled with the Solo Tuba Major to show the delay when using the most famous stop in the world, and on its own. The microphones were set up in the Choir nearest the organ case and I wasn't paying attention to the recording level, so most of this recording is in the red (I didn't notice until nearly the end) so you'll hear some crackling sounds. Sorry about the slide show as I had few photos of the Cathedral to throw in. The pics that I did put in the slide show are ones that I took last summer, and of course I threw in some of my ugly mug. There's a young organist on facebook who went to NYC a few months ago or so, and had some stunning pics of the State Trumpet and many other pics of the Cathedral that were far superior to mine. I knew that one day I'd post this recording (12 tracks total) and that I'd need pics. When I saw his, I sent him a message asking if I could use some of his photos for a slide show, but he ignored me and never replied. Thanks a lot pal...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Improvisation/Classical
• Music/Organ
• Music

[railroadjay1]

That is amazing! Is there a CD recording of this?? It takes my breath away!

[bhigdaddymark]

@railroadjay1 Thanks, but no there isn't a CD available. This recording was done during one of the many times I've played this organ. I recorded this on DAT and put it on a CD for my personal use. I recorded 14 tracks if memory serves me correctly, of which this is the first I've uploaded from that CD. More to follow when I get around to it. Thanks for your comments!

[benchkey]

We are only a few months apart on the Heart Attack thing. I was July, '07. But I was sitting in the dentist's chair and he had just given me Novocain. It went into a vessel to my heart. Apparently this is more common that we are told. Anyway I tried to keep playing at my job. A new pastor came along and she wanted a good deal of change, (Jazz) some of which would have been out of my league, and so I gave notice and was replaced by very competent good friend Oct 2009.

[bhigdaddymark]

@benchkey Wow, I never knew that since I've never needed dental work. I must keep that in mind. Hope all is well currently....

[livzdave]

@bhigdaddymark I've asked him that exact question a few times! All he told me is he uses many different kinds of mics, depending on the location. For the live St. John recordings, he had 3 large mics mounted on separate stands about 20-25 feet off the Choir floor - close to the High Altar. From a distance, they looked like Sennheisers - but I'm no mic expert. Fred also had 1 mic behind the Crossing for the State Trumpet, and a few mics on each side of the Choir stalls - need an eqpt. list!!!

[bhigdaddymark]

@livzdave I can't get enough of that CD/DVD! I've been listening to it DAILY since I got it 3 weeks ago as well. In the car, at home, in my head when I'm not actually playing it. It's amazing to say the least. I intend on calling Dr. Hohman to ask what microphones he used as those mics captured every rumble of the 32' Open Bass, Violone, and Bombarde quite effectively. This was recorded on a DAT recorder at the console in 1998. Thanks for your comments Dave, and good to hear from you buddy!

[livzdave]

@bhigdaddymark Mark, great performance and sound! I too have Fred Hohman's amazing CD/DVD set - 'From Ashes To Glory', and I have not been able to listen to anything else since receiving it 3 weeks ago! I was at all 6 recitals, so I know each recorded piece very well. One of the best recordings ever made at St. John The Divine, bar none! Thanks for posting this!

[railroadjay1]

That is amazing!

[bhigdaddymark]

@benchkey Thank you, and I hope that you're feeling better. I had one of those on 12/31/07. The pain woke me up at exactly 7am just in time to hear "With Heart and Voice" except I had more important things to do that morning like dialing 911 and stupid me, I thought that since I had 6 vessel bypass surgery in 2000, that I was safe from a heart attack. Geez, if I had brains I'd be dangerous. Well if you read my bio on my channel you'll discover that I'm not College trained, but need to be! Thanks

[benchkey]

Due to a heart attack, I retired from active playing. I was a Lutheran ELCA church organist. I sell the occasional organ benchkey.com. College trained but no where near your level of accomplishment.  I don't know the current organist in Albany, but contact Cary Organ in Troy NY, I believe Paul still cares for the instrument.