Having listened to this several times, I still think it's not only amazingly played but the speed is fine. The point is, surely, that the player is in perfect control. He is (apparently) not pushing himself to his limits, the notes are as clear as they are ever going to be, and if you listen to the *theme* (as opposed to the florid accompaniment) the speed is perfectly acceptable. Others could, no doubt, play this more slowly & equally acceptably, but for this player the speed is correct.
Beautiful organ, lovely church. My father in law was the minister there from 1975 to 1990 and my daughter was married there. I remember Audrey Robinson playing Crown Imperial at the end of a service and we all sat down again to listen!
I first heard this played by the music master at my grammar school, and many times since. I have never heard anyone let rip with it like this. The speed is surely right. It's a show-off piece, and it does it justice. Terrific
Stylish, expressive, totally in control, and even perhaps makes what is not the "greatest French toccata ever composed" sound like it is! There's nothing insipid about this performance, unlike so many which rely on the "anything fast and loud on a pipe organ sounds impressive" concept. Bravo Jonathan!
It surprises me that there are many comments here, to the effect of 'too fast.' Consider the following: The performer is always in control. The piece (to anyone who knows it) is clearly played. The organ can cope at this speed. The acoustics do not require a slower tempo. So what are we left with? We are left with the fact that most people could not manage to play this piece at anything like this speed, and the composer (handicapped by the wallowing acoustics of a much larger, more resonant building, and an organ which, however impressive it might sound, probably played like driving a tractor) may not have intended it to be taken this fast. These are not, in my opinion, good enough reasons for complaint.
It is not about 'being able too'. It's just preferred play style. I also don't like this tempo (way too fast for my preference) but i understand that organists like to vary how fast they play a great piece like this.
Offshoreorganbuilder I have always maintained that given sufficient time I can play anything ever written for the organ. I estimate this piece would require about three 8-hour days; no time for tea, sorry... :-)
The organist used to play this at my school during chapel, it was our favourite. We used to hum along to it as we left. So they stopped him playing it because we were enjoying ourselves too much. I hated that school.
I like it fast here! It's not so fast as to get blurred, it's still distinct. It's a lovely atmospheric piece and the more frenetic parts suit the foreboding feel. It makes me think of Gothic novels of the time, where the forces of light usually prevail, clarity out of shadows.
Well in the US, the Christian Science Mother Church in Boston has a fantastic organ, one of the top 10 in the world, but they really don't know how to treat it, like all that carpet and padding in the pews that deadens the sound. ( Christian Science, is very nonconformist, at least this Church by our standards is a Methodist Church)
One of the best interpretations of that piece. There`s no low speed no fast neighter. Speed is a dimension anyone feels different about. And nobody knows the true speed of the creator. I agree "Offshoreorganbuilders" opinion, the piece is clearly played, no uncorrectness in speed during the hole piece, the player seems to have full control about everything all the time, respect and bravo!!!
I love this version, and congratulate Mr Scott. I agree, there is NO actual defined speed or sound...and any decent organist will take into account the actual instrument and what it is capable of and the sound reverberation from the building. So we may hear differing versions by the same organist at different venues. I would like to hear what Dr F Jackson might have made of it though!
A very nice video recording, it has a nice "Gothic" dark mood and colors. The organ is also beatiful. I like the playing, although I play it a little less fast.
Simply fantastic. So artfully filmed as well, as are many of your recordings. An absolute joy to watch and to hear so many organs that I have never heard before. One might be mistaken for thinking that there were hardly any good organs outside of London!!
In 1973 Head Organist of the Wanamaker organ, the largest functioning pipe organ in the world, Keith Chapman, then 28 years old, recorded Boellman's complete Suite Gothique on the Wanamaker organ. I'm lucky enough to own a copy of this album, autographed by Chapman in 1973 when I was a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania.
Most impressive is the clear rhythm and articulation of this performance...one could almost take dictation from it! Usually, the pedal part sounds like swung eighth notes, but Mr Scott kills it with true dotted-8th/16th rhythm, even at the brisk tempo. All it needed was a 32' reed, lol.
That piece had a rather macabre sound to it. But I LOVE the sound produced from the Albion instrument...it's my favorite of all his locations! ---And this performance was the most animated I've yet seen at any of his performances!
Wonderful rendition! Some people like it crispy and some like it a little slower. I just happen to like Mr Scott's tempo and his choice of stops. Stylish!
Very crisp and precise performance, I could not do better but although I think many pieces are played too slowly I have to agree with the people that say this was a little too fast, but maybe you were seeing how fast you could play it this time. You are one of the best organist in the world I think.
Excellent sound. I have heard this organ played some years ago by James Mycroft. I was a lay preacher in that URC area and led worship there occasionally. I am now living in Anglesey.
This is so good ! Really brings to life all of our concepts and ideas about Gothic times! Our Latin teacher played this in church assembly this morning and it was great !
While I personally enjoy listening to this piece a little bit slower, Jonathan Scott is very talented and I certainly do not mind some variety in life. Excellent piece and performance!
@meknight77 - you're probably right that Jonathan Scott (not to be confused with John Scott) would prefer this to the Bridgewater Hall organ. This is a gem. Bridgewater is a hopeless compromise of an instrument with no real character.
Ante todo, tengo que felicitarle por la muy buena interpretación que Vd. Ha hecho al Órgano de Iglesia. Espectacular y carisimo Órgano de Iglesia. Mi Órgano de Iglesia, es muchísimo mas barato y espectacular, y con el he compuesto y grabado en CD,s. 1320 Temas. Un saludo desde Barcelona (España) V. Lecha.
Recalls the spectacle of Virgil Fox leaping off the console repeatedly as if he was taming a wild horse as he played this in Riverside Church in the 1960s.
I feel this is a quite amazing interpretation of Boëllmann's Suite Gothique Op. 25. Sure, Scott played it at a good pace but did it well, and the acoustic handled the speed. I really liked the expressive control he used, which I feel Aristide Cavaillé-Coll would have loved. I felt the organ did justice to this piece. This is my opinion. Note: YMMV. Now I will look up more of his playing.
Yes, the performer is in total control, he is truly masterful, but this is my favourite organ toccata and I want to savour it, not blink and miss it altogether! What’s the hurry? How about a ppp opening and gradual crescendo throughout, getting darker and more menacing, with a more pointed rall. before the final coda hits you in the face
One commentator mentioned that this is a non conformist chapel. This chapel is as large as most churches. By the way, there is a memorial plaque on the organ indicating that it was donated. Being a lewis it is bound to sound nicely. Other than A. C-C, there are few organs that sound better than the early English instruments. Silberman, of course. but he was influenced by S. C-C.
Oh my word..The very same church where we crossed the organists palm with silver to play Widor's Toccata as we walked back up the aisle. As for Jon's performance, It was good but I'm going to go with a lot of comments in that for me, it was a tad too fast, but that is just personal preference.
Indeed a bit faster than most interpretations, but nevertheless technically, aesthetically and stylistically an astonishingly magnificent interpretation of this classic organ masterpiece.
Well said! It's neither too fast or too slow. It just is what it is. People either like it or not, but people whose attention is rooted in the ego-mind can't see that. If people could listen without the incessant mind judgments, they would get a totally different experience...
thanks for the info on the organ, seems like the Church has kept it up well over the years.. the Organ sound wonderful. The Christian Science Mother Church in Boston has one of the largest organs in the world, I think its #7, but today the Church is carpeted and pews padded so I doubt it sounds as good as this organ, but this organist could probably make a electronic Allen sound great
This is excellent, of course. I do hope that the insensitive (I had thought to write, 'imbeciles') who so often order church affairs these days, do not spoil what looks to be a building full of character with 'de-pewing,' bongo drums, computerized projectors and screens, and the rest of the paraphernalia of the modern, 'with it' church. If you tart up an old building, all you get is a tarted up old building (as should be obvious, but so often isn't!) Thanks again, for this upload.
Can't quite decide if it's better or worse that he's played this relatively fast. You do lose some intricacies of the right-hand accompaniment, but at the same time the melody comes through more. Good performance, however, what's up with the walking in and out??
I absolutely love your comment :-) Most of the people who post horrid comments about organ performances are either not organists or just very bad ones haha :-)
Whoa, this is the very church where my brother got married. We begged the organist to play Widor's toccata after the signing of the register and they walked back up the aisle. Bless her sweet heart, she was up to it and it sounded magnificent. Nowt to do with Boellmann, but in common with a lot of posters, I found this a tad too fast, very well played, but too fast for this toccata
Really nice organ and sound ! But so fast ! So many people play this Toccata and Gigout's as if they're in a hurry. More than 130 as a tempo removes the effect of "assured increasing majesty". It's a pity. Delacour's remains for me the best rendition and best reference. Anyway, tastes and points of view are different from a musician to another. The technique of the organist is remarkable and I wish I could here more from him.
I need to practice hard so I can play it like that. I don't understand how anyone can knock this performance even if it is faster than it is usually played.
One of this worlds true masters of the pipe organ. He is a stunning player.
Having listened to this several times, I still think it's not only amazingly played but the speed is fine. The point is, surely, that the player is in perfect control. He is (apparently) not pushing himself to his limits, the notes are as clear as they are ever going to be, and if you listen to the *theme* (as opposed to the florid accompaniment) the speed is perfectly acceptable. Others could, no doubt, play this more slowly & equally acceptably, but for this player the speed is correct.
Beautiful organ, lovely church. My father in law was the minister there from 1975 to 1990 and my daughter was married there. I remember Audrey Robinson playing Crown Imperial at the end of a service and we all sat down again to listen!
The King of all instruments: it's an orchestra, it's a synthesizer, it's a DAW and ultimately it's also a whole building.
Jonathan is a superb organist! I enjoyed his interpretation of this great work.
Jonathan plays this piece at a fast tempo because he can! End of discussion.
Chilling. If I could play like that i would never leave the bench.
This takes a genius level of talent to play this well. I don't know how else to express it.
Exactly!
I first heard this played by the music master at my grammar school, and many times since. I have never heard anyone let rip with it like this. The speed is surely right. It's a show-off piece, and it does it justice. Terrific
Stylish, expressive, totally in control, and even perhaps makes what is not the "greatest French toccata ever composed" sound like it is! There's nothing insipid about this performance, unlike so many which rely on the "anything fast and loud on a pipe organ sounds impressive" concept. Bravo Jonathan!
Spine tingling performance. Just plain wow.
It surprises me that there are many comments here, to the effect of 'too fast.'
Consider the following: The performer is always in control. The piece (to anyone who knows it) is clearly played. The organ can cope at this speed. The acoustics do not require a slower tempo.
So what are we left with? We are left with the fact that most people could not manage to play this piece at anything like this speed, and the composer (handicapped by the wallowing acoustics of a much larger, more resonant building, and an organ which, however impressive it might sound, probably played like driving a tractor) may not have intended it to be taken this fast.
These are not, in my opinion, good enough reasons for complaint.
+Offshoreorganbuilder Exactly! Brilliantly played piece, clear, clean and articulate to name a few. Keep up the great work Scott Bros.!
It is not about 'being able too'. It's just preferred play style. I also don't like this tempo (way too fast for my preference) but i understand that organists like to vary how fast they play a great piece like this.
Offshoreorganbuilder
I have always maintained that given sufficient time I can play anything ever written for the organ. I estimate this piece would require about three 8-hour days; no time for tea, sorry... :-)
Ist auch quatsch, der Komponist wollte es genauso gespielt haben. Schade, dass Boëllmann so früh verstorben ist. Ich mag seine Werke.
I really like this played at this speed
The organist used to play this at my school during chapel, it was our favourite. We used to hum along to it as we left. So they stopped him playing it because we were enjoying ourselves too much. I hated that school.
I like it fast here! It's not so fast as to get blurred, it's still distinct. It's a lovely atmospheric piece and the more frenetic parts suit the foreboding feel. It makes me think of Gothic novels of the time, where the forces of light usually prevail, clarity out of shadows.
Great organ for a parish church. Many cathedrals don't have an organ as nice as that.
Knappa22 It's not even a parish church - it's a nonconformist chapel really. But whoever paid for it wanted a fantastic organ.
Well in the US, the Christian Science Mother Church in Boston has a fantastic organ, one of the top 10 in the world, but they really don't know how to treat it, like all that carpet and padding in the pews that deadens the sound. ( Christian Science, is very nonconformist, at least this Church by our standards is a Methodist Church)
WOW! A brilliant performance and an exciting piece of music.
The question of whether you are God has been raised in the past.... Thank you Jonathan, you've made my day!!
I think this sounds awesome. i could listen to this all day. I am amazed at his hands on those keys.
Buena pieza musical y bien interpretada un deleite para el oyente gracias al buen arte
One of the best interpretations of that piece. There`s no low speed no fast neighter. Speed is a dimension anyone feels different about. And nobody knows the true speed of the creator. I agree "Offshoreorganbuilders" opinion, the piece is clearly played, no uncorrectness in speed during the hole piece, the player seems to have full control about everything all the time, respect and bravo!!!
I love this version, and congratulate Mr Scott. I agree, there is NO actual defined speed or sound...and any decent organist will take into account the actual instrument and what it is capable of and the sound reverberation from the building. So we may hear differing versions by the same organist at different venues. I would like to hear what Dr F Jackson might have made of it though!
My favorite version, hands down.
What a fantastic performance!! Thank you Thank you
A very nice video recording, it has a nice "Gothic" dark mood and colors. The organ is also beatiful. I like the playing, although I play it a little less fast.
Well played as always Jonathan.
Simply fantastic. So artfully filmed as well, as are many of your recordings. An absolute joy to watch and to hear so many organs that I have never heard before. One might be mistaken for thinking that there were hardly any good organs outside of London!!
I don't care if might appear fast. It's the impeccable timing that makes it work so well
WOW....awesome...every second of your video is beyond amazing...love it!...love your style!
In 1973 Head Organist of the Wanamaker organ, the largest functioning pipe organ in the world, Keith Chapman, then 28 years old, recorded Boellman's complete Suite Gothique on the Wanamaker organ. I'm lucky enough to own a copy of this album, autographed by Chapman in 1973 when I was a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania.
Most impressive is the clear rhythm and articulation of this performance...one could almost take dictation from it! Usually, the pedal part sounds like swung eighth notes, but Mr Scott kills it with true dotted-8th/16th rhythm, even at the brisk tempo. All it needed was a 32' reed, lol.
That piece had a rather macabre sound to it. But I LOVE the sound produced from the Albion instrument...it's my favorite of all his locations! ---And this performance was the most animated I've yet seen at any of his performances!
Awesome playing and technique... I like the ending where he just stands up and leaves like a boss :D
Stunning! Bravo Mr Scott!
Majestic.
Piękne i poruszające.
perfect
Wonderful rendition! Some people like it crispy and some like it a little slower. I just happen to like Mr Scott's tempo and his choice of stops. Stylish!
AWESOME
Great Job Johnathan
Very crisp and precise performance, I could not do better but although I think many pieces are played too slowly I have to agree with the people that say this was a little too fast, but maybe you were seeing how fast you could play it this time. You are one of the best organist in the world I think.
Bravo - virtuoso performance!
Why do these French pieces sound so romantic ; so epic as if there is nothin' to lose but one's own soul !
Excellent sound. I have heard this organ played some years ago by James Mycroft. I was a lay preacher in that URC area and led worship there occasionally. I am now living in Anglesey.
Bravo, bravo, bravo!!!
Great Job!
This tempo is on the fast side, but it works very well due to Jonathan's superb technique.
Another brilliant performance. He's amazing. But, again, the constant editing is distracting
beautiful casework on the instrument. and bright mixtures are a nice contrast to the pedal reed. bravo, all around.
This is so good ! Really brings to life all of our concepts and ideas about Gothic times! Our Latin teacher played this in church assembly this morning and it was great !
Beautiful
Just why oh why is this composition so exciting ?
Just bought my 2nd CD from him! No doubt i'll be buying more! Fantastic!!!
Goose bumps, goose bumps...
While I personally enjoy listening to this piece a little bit slower, Jonathan Scott is very talented and I certainly do not mind some variety in life. Excellent piece and performance!
Каждый раз слушаю это затаив дыхание .
@meknight77 - you're probably right that Jonathan Scott (not to be confused with John Scott) would prefer this to the Bridgewater Hall organ. This is a gem. Bridgewater is a hopeless compromise of an instrument with no real character.
Ante todo, tengo que felicitarle por la muy buena interpretación que Vd. Ha hecho al Órgano de Iglesia.
Espectacular y carisimo Órgano de Iglesia. Mi Órgano de Iglesia, es muchísimo mas barato y espectacular, y con el he compuesto y grabado en CD,s. 1320 Temas.
Un saludo desde Barcelona (España)
V. Lecha.
Recalls the spectacle of Virgil Fox leaping off the console repeatedly as if he was taming a wild horse as he played this in Riverside Church in the 1960s.
FANTÁSTIC JOB!! ! !
Fantástico , muchas gracias.
Stunning.
I feel this is a quite amazing interpretation of Boëllmann's Suite Gothique Op. 25. Sure, Scott played it at a good pace but did it well, and the acoustic handled the speed. I really liked the expressive control he used, which I feel Aristide Cavaillé-Coll would have loved. I felt the organ did justice to this piece. This is my opinion. Note: YMMV. Now I will look up more of his playing.
A b s o l u t e ly f a n t a s t i c ! Loved the church, the organ, the interpretation and the video. Bravo !!!
Magnificent, if only I could play like that!
What a boss
Yes, the performer is in total control, he is truly masterful, but this is my favourite organ toccata and I want to savour it, not blink and miss it altogether! What’s the hurry?
How about a ppp opening and gradual crescendo throughout, getting darker and more menacing, with a more pointed rall. before the final coda hits you in the face
One commentator mentioned that this is a non conformist chapel. This chapel is as large as most churches. By the way, there is a memorial plaque on the organ indicating that it was donated. Being a lewis it is bound to sound nicely. Other than A. C-C, there are few organs that sound better than the early English instruments. Silberman, of course. but he was influenced by S. C-C.
Gosto muito desta peça. Maravilhosa performance. Parabéns.
Oh my word..The very same church where we crossed the organists palm with silver to play Widor's Toccata as we walked back up the aisle. As for Jon's performance, It was good but I'm going to go with a lot of comments in that for me, it was a tad too fast, but that is just personal preference.
Its impossible not to shook when you listen to this song
Yup, to favorites this goes.
Yeah ... and the wobbly chin. (Even so, wish I could play this at half that speed!) Superb.
Perfect
Personally I don't have a problem with it being this fast int his relatively dry acoustic. In a more reverberant building it would sound a bit mushy.
^ This guy gets it
Very well done!
Very good, and good sense of humour.
wow...!like the sound
Indeed a bit faster than most interpretations, but nevertheless technically, aesthetically and stylistically an astonishingly magnificent interpretation of this classic organ masterpiece.
The very very best rendition ove heard. Scares the plants off me
Well said! It's neither too fast or too slow. It just is what it is. People either like it or not, but people whose attention is rooted in the ego-mind can't see that. If people could listen without the incessant mind judgments, they would get a totally different experience...
October 24Holy Name manchester Scott Brothers
Excellent!
thanks for the info on the organ, seems like the Church has kept it up well over the years.. the Organ sound wonderful. The Christian Science Mother Church in Boston has one of the largest organs in the world, I think its #7, but today the Church is carpeted and pews padded so I doubt it sounds as good as this organ, but this organist could probably make a electronic Allen sound great
Nice playing, good video!
But, why is there a cut in the sound at 2:16?
I love it!!! :)
beautiful
Cool vid! Came -played -went :-)
Bravo!
At first I also thought this was too fast, but the precision is amazing, and I can hear all the notes, so...maybe it's NOT too fast. Play on!
This is excellent, of course. I do hope that the insensitive (I had thought to write, 'imbeciles') who so often order church affairs these days, do not spoil what looks to be a building full of character with 'de-pewing,' bongo drums, computerized projectors and screens, and the rest of the paraphernalia of the modern, 'with it' church. If you tart up an old building, all you get is a tarted up old building (as should be obvious, but so often isn't!) Thanks again, for this upload.
How wonedrful!
Call me shallow if you want, but I like this one better than the celebrated toccatas.
Can't quite decide if it's better or worse that he's played this relatively fast. You do lose some intricacies of the right-hand accompaniment, but at the same time the melody comes through more.
Good performance, however, what's up with the walking in and out??
+ Jhr. Humphrey: Excellent
@TerranRepublic Yeah I agree with you. I love this piece but the Toccata should be quite a lot slower.
Bravissimo
Great technical skill. When he will grow up he will also learn to give some expression...
I absolutely love your comment :-) Most of the people who post horrid comments about organ performances are either not organists or just very bad ones haha :-)
@bevandjoy .... if so, then perhaps yet another example where a composer's metronome marking tend to be on the fast side!
Whoa, this is the very church where my brother got married. We begged the organist to play Widor's toccata after the signing of the register and they walked back up the aisle.
Bless her sweet heart, she was up to it and it sounded magnificent. Nowt to do with Boellmann, but in common with a lot of posters, I found this a tad too fast, very well played, but too fast for this toccata
B b b bravo !
Piękne!
Wow! That guy sure can play quickly, can't he?
Really nice organ and sound ! But so fast !
So many people play this Toccata and Gigout's as if they're in a hurry. More than 130 as a tempo removes the effect of "assured increasing majesty". It's a pity.
Delacour's remains for me the best rendition and best reference.
Anyway, tastes and points of view are different from a musician to another. The technique of the organist is remarkable and I wish I could here more from him.
I need to practice hard so I can play it like that.
I don't understand how anyone can knock this performance even if it is faster than it is usually played.