Hearing “…killed in action at Ypres” reminds us of that terrible, senseless war - but I’m sure the corporal would be impressed to have such a beautiful piece of art dedicated to his memory.
I grew up in a smallish town. Our church had an excellent that often was used by a chapter of the American Guild of Organists. I went to college not too far from this church. I walked to that church during the week to study or play piano, I would listen to the organist and director of music (James Musolf) play. He was a U of Michigan school of music organ grad (masters in organ) and could sight read amazingly well. He had absolute pitch and said out-of-tune organs could be problematic. I would enjoy hearing the organ music as I studied. He said he became a Christian later (maybe in graduate school) and discovered that he hadn't played Bach correctly at all. Bach wove the Trinity in the different voicing that he only "saw" after he became a Christian and learned how Bach tried to compose within a Christian framework. He came to understand Bach's music at a deeper level. I haven't gone to a church in decades that has pipe (or other) organ. I did a sabbatical at Oxford over 10 years ago. I friend of mine who teaches physics at Oxford showed me some Anglican churches near the university. I went to one that was a very young congregation. Sadly, they set up a stage in the middle of the space with a nice grand piano and a drum set. At the far end was the pipe organ which, I was told, "We don't use." Their musicians were quite good and talented, but the congregation never used the pipe organ. That was a huge miss. Thanks for keeping alive great organ music.
I pump the bellows for a pipe organ in SE Cornwall at a parish church that is over 750 years old and has never had electricity and is still lit only by candles, a truly beautiful and inspiring space to be in. It is an honour that I first started in 1987 according to my own graffiti beside the pump handle and bellows lead bob!😊
What a lovely contribution! I certainly think that Ben is wrong (love him tho' I do) that 'presumably choirboys' pumped the bellows - they would have been singing in the choir! I remember reading that, back in the day, the 'pumpers' were the only participants in church services that got paid in (a little) cash for their efforts. Well deserved!
Well played and well done! Personally, I don't "see" the organ as having a quality of horror, au contraire, it's seemingly disembodied voice gives it an ethereal, heavenly feeling. Glad you found what could be your great(x) grandmother's grave; being an American it's hard to imagine living in the same place for five decades, let alone five centuries.
Ben, you are a superb organist, and you really know how to capture the moment with your engaging presentations and videos. I absolutely love pipe organs and while not classically trained, I try to play any organ I find on my travels. You completely nailed it when you spoke about the mystery for the listener as to where the sound is coming from. Indeed, even for the organist at times. The building itself is very much part of the organ and your church is a great example of that. I’m gradually working my way through your videos, having recently discovered them, bringing much enjoyment as well as some valuable musical education!
A tea time treat! We know you are grounded in Salisbury, but seeing the 18thC family memorial shows how deep the roots are. You have a wonderful sense of place and history. Very good to hear the Boellman Toccata from the Suite Gothique, it sounds so well on the William Hill. The video reminds me of a Friday summer evening when I visited the church at Patrington in Yorkshire. The vicar was finished a wedding rehearsal and when the couple had gone the organist launched into the Lefebre-Wely Offertoire, and all the stone carved grotesques seemed to be enjoying themselves in the evening light!
One of my favourite pieces of organ music. Our Organist has played it a few times after Sunday Morning Mass. (St Augustine of Hippo Grimsby. A Forster and Andrew’s of Hull instrument.
Well played! Of course the organist needs a comfy chair beside the bench. That’s where you rest your back and, unobserved, read the newspaper during those lengthy sermons all of which you’ve heard before 😉.
I SIMPLY LOVE WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THIS BEAST OF AN ORGAN PLAYED BY YOU, BEN. YOUR PROGRAMS ARE SPECTACULAR AND WE ENJOY WATCHING THEM. BLESSINGS FROM TZANEEN, SOUTH AFRICA
Thank you for sharing something of your lovely church (which I'm pleased to see maintains its Catholic tradition!) and for playing one of my favourite pieces. Blesings.
Another wonderful and informative tour of this beautiful church. Great organ playing from you as always. I’m so glad I recently discovered your fantastic channel. So enjoyable to watch and listen to. Well done and thank you Ben!
Ah, the ever majestic Toccata from Suite Gothique Op.25 by Léon Boëllmann - played wonderfully Ben. As always. Sounds fantastic on the venerable Hill in your beautiful church! Bravo!! 👏 👏 👏
This is the only video so far where Ben comes across as a bit of a mad man. Interesting. Stunning organ, and so much history there. The editing is wonderful.
Thank you so much for this demo of a brilliant organ ... ah, what dreams are made of ... love the Toccata from Boelmann's Suite Gothique at the end! I WILL play that ... one day! (Still fighting with Prieur du Notre Dam) ... would enjoy some Vierne sometime on that beast 😉... pretty please 😆
Well done Ben, another great video demonstrating your skills and knowledge of the church organ. So good to see a young person with a true passion for their interest.
What a treat to hear you play with your distant mum or auntie listening from heaven. Love your respect for the instrument and environment in which you play. Rgds from California.
Oh Wow Ben, another superb presentation. What a beautiful church and organ. You are one of the best organists I’ve listened too. That must be very moving seeing the tribute to your Great Great Grandmother (?) so special. Well done mate 🤗
I visited St Martins a few times in the late 1970s when I lived in Waterloo Road close by. I wasn't quite ready then for the 'High Anglican' style of worship. Since then I've come to the Baptist Church in Brown St where my wife and I now make our regular place of worship. Really enjoy your videos - although I don't play the organ I've taken it upon myself to get to grips with an old electronic keyboard I have during the Covid lockdown, still a lot to learn. It's always useful and interesting to pick up on what various musicians such as yourself are playing.
Marvelous playing - and that is some superb organ. You obviously know it well too! Very good video too, plenty of the church itself. Well done Ben - good luck in the future - John
Goodness me! Another gem so well done. I had not noticed the Maton connection on the memorial stones. Maybe I should update my book on the 'Organs and Organists of St Martin's Church'? Much appreciated man. Thank you.
What power and beauty! Thank you for this presentation, and the possibility of Elizabeth Maton being an ancestor. Most fun, however, is your cheese and pickle sandwich and your flask of hot tea! I hope your VW Golf has survived all the assorted roads you have put it on, and that your trolly serves you well as it provides our getting more video of these remarkable organs and churches. It would be lovely to have you respond to comments through the UA-cam reply protocol. Thank you!
Writing as an American cleric and Church choirmaster, let me commend your excellent video as an historic and aesthetic, as well as an inspiring musical experience. Many, many thanks! ( P.s.: the Boellmann piece is a great demonstration of both your skill and this marvelous instrument!)😢
you have to celebrate this xmas with a concert honouring the centenial of St. Martins choirboys B.Hawkins and D.Warren 5:39. maybe one of them is still alive and treading on...
Organ Hill & Son, wonderful organs of the romantic period...I remember the wonderful sidney town hall organ made by Hill which has the only one real heareable 64' stop worldwide starting at pedal C with 16 Hertz frequency...soul shaking
All the comforts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a bit of rum, or scotch, might be necessary in some circumstances,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I remain a loyal subscriber :) Widor's Toccata #5 seems to be appropriate. Thanks for the vids, $$$ coming soon !
You should write a book - if not.. Narrator for audio-books as a side-job :o) - Purchased your digital-files.. I enjoy them.. and btw.. J.S.B. would have loved that Victorian Lady too.. Mechanical action beats its electrical counterparts by far. It's simply something different to hear and of course play the great masters of the Baroque on almost "contemporary" instruments.
Nice Demonstration of this instrument by Hill. I was wondering if the pedalboard has been altered. Is it an Audsley-Wesley concave radiating pedal board? I have played the 1870 Hill organ (tubular pneumatic) in St. John's Tuebrook, Liverpool and I think that the pedalboard was changed at the turn of the century.
'Just discovered your channel, this being as yet my first sampling of yourself and your talent, of which both I admire. Equally striking is your seeming severity of demeanor. Is this feature yours consistently or, might you feature a humor-sense? Whichever might be the case-actual, I do hope that the latter proves as it. Likely it is that many of your veteran commenting admirers have wondered about that but, naturally and too shy/polite to inquire, as I am not either one. Please, if you would, share with us the truth of this matter? Thank you.
Magnificent tour and playing! No PIP for pedal board. However, this is ok this time because I caught a glimpse of your white sneakers. Please every time possible, show PIP in your loafers. I watch and learned techniques in street shoes. , such a outside of foot in appropriate portions of the pedal board to avoid sounding two adjacent pedal notes. Knees do not need to be together as some teacher insist! Agree with you on that. Excellent writer and videographer! Thanks for all your work.
Bravo Ben! And the photography is brilliant. But your viewers would like to know what you are playing on the mighty organ and Mrs Elizabeth Maton would like to know too.
Strange... Toccata played in c minor third the overal pitch of this organ is A=435Hz and not 440 Hz Perfect that makes the effect a bit worse frightening But play something else in C major and it sounds friendlier I myself prefer organs tuned in A=435Hz and proportionally floating On the penalty of sometimes not playing pure fifths But being able to play in all keys without the wolf fifth
What an inspiring sounds ! 't Must be a delight to play here. It makes me think of the gorgeous Hill in All Hallows, Gospel Oak: ua-cam.com/video/8qxLh6T48Vc/v-deo.html. Btw, can you also make some episodes with the gentle sounds of 18th / early 19th C. instruments? Or are those not / no more to be found in/around Salisbury ?
Has to said Ben but you seem to be quite and angry soul with perhaps a patience issue. I see some of myself in you. I too am a musician You might like to smile occasionally. Having said that I do enjoy your videos and your playing. Just trying to help. God Bless you.
Thank you for playing the Toccata properly and not like many organists that rush it.
Hearing “…killed in action at Ypres” reminds us of that terrible, senseless war - but I’m sure the corporal would be impressed to have such a beautiful piece of art dedicated to his memory.
I grew up in a smallish town. Our church had an excellent that often was used by a chapter of the American Guild of Organists. I went to college not too far from this church. I walked to that church during the week to study or play piano, I would listen to the organist and director of music (James Musolf) play. He was a U of Michigan school of music organ grad (masters in organ) and could sight read amazingly well. He had absolute pitch and said out-of-tune organs could be problematic. I would enjoy hearing the organ music as I studied. He said he became a Christian later (maybe in graduate school) and discovered that he hadn't played Bach correctly at all. Bach wove the Trinity in the different voicing that he only "saw" after he became a Christian and learned how Bach tried to compose within a Christian framework. He came to understand Bach's music at a deeper level. I haven't gone to a church in decades that has pipe (or other) organ. I did a sabbatical at Oxford over 10 years ago. I friend of mine who teaches physics at Oxford showed me some Anglican churches near the university. I went to one that was a very young congregation. Sadly, they set up a stage in the middle of the space with a nice grand piano and a drum set. At the far end was the pipe organ which, I was told, "We don't use." Their musicians were quite good and talented, but the congregation never used the pipe organ. That was a huge miss. Thanks for keeping alive great organ music.
I pump the bellows for a pipe organ in SE Cornwall at a parish church that is over 750 years old and has never had electricity and is still lit only by candles, a truly beautiful and inspiring space to be in. It is an honour that I first started in 1987 according to my own graffiti beside the pump handle and bellows lead bob!😊
What a lovely contribution! I certainly think that Ben is wrong (love him tho' I do) that 'presumably choirboys' pumped the bellows - they would have been singing in the choir! I remember reading that, back in the day, the 'pumpers' were the only participants in church services that got paid in (a little) cash for their efforts. Well deserved!
Another delightful episode Ben. Thank you This my 3rd time this one.. Thank you
Magnificent! You need to have a feature series on the BBC.
Well played and well done! Personally, I don't "see" the organ as having a quality of horror, au contraire, it's seemingly disembodied voice gives it an ethereal, heavenly feeling. Glad you found what could be your great(x) grandmother's grave; being an American it's hard to imagine living in the same place for five decades, let alone five centuries.
It can be my things, bit not horror!
Your love for your church and your instrument really shines through in this video. Thank you for taking us there.
Ben, you are a superb organist, and you really know how to capture the moment with your engaging presentations and videos. I absolutely love pipe organs and while not classically trained, I try to play any organ I find on my travels. You completely nailed it when you spoke about the mystery for the listener as to where the sound is coming from. Indeed, even for the organist at times. The building itself is very much part of the organ and your church is a great example of that. I’m gradually working my way through your videos, having recently discovered them, bringing much enjoyment as well as some valuable musical education!
This man is an absolute God, The engagement,,techno know. and personality. It really cannot get any better.
You are a remarkable story teller. And nice to learn background about your church and organ.
A tea time treat! We know you are grounded in Salisbury, but seeing the 18thC family memorial shows how deep the roots are. You have a wonderful sense of place and history. Very good to hear the Boellman Toccata from the Suite Gothique, it sounds so well on the William Hill. The video reminds me of a Friday summer evening when I visited the church at Patrington in Yorkshire. The vicar was finished a wedding rehearsal and when the couple had gone the organist launched into the Lefebre-Wely Offertoire, and all the stone carved grotesques seemed to be enjoying themselves in the evening light!
Indeed! Now for an absolutely smashing afternoon tea...
One of my favourite pieces of organ music. Our Organist has played it a few times after Sunday Morning Mass. (St Augustine of Hippo Grimsby. A Forster and Andrew’s of Hull instrument.
Are you a voice actor? Your tone and diction is splendid.
I could listen to you all day.
I could see/hear you narrate any British telly documentary
Well played! Of course the organist needs a comfy chair beside the bench. That’s where you rest your back and, unobserved, read the newspaper during those lengthy sermons all of which you’ve heard before 😉.
I SIMPLY LOVE WATCHING AND LISTENING TO THIS BEAST OF AN ORGAN PLAYED BY YOU, BEN. YOUR PROGRAMS ARE SPECTACULAR AND WE ENJOY WATCHING THEM. BLESSINGS FROM TZANEEN, SOUTH AFRICA
Thank you for sharing something of your lovely church (which I'm pleased to see maintains its Catholic tradition!) and for playing one of my favourite pieces. Blesings.
Another wonderful and informative tour of this beautiful church. Great organ playing from you as always. I’m so glad I recently discovered your fantastic channel. So enjoyable to watch and listen to. Well done and thank you Ben!
We definitely have some of the most beautiful churches here in the UK.
Ah, the ever majestic Toccata from Suite Gothique Op.25 by Léon Boëllmann - played wonderfully Ben. As always. Sounds fantastic on the venerable Hill in your beautiful church! Bravo!! 👏 👏 👏
Thank you for telling me the name of this fabulous piece!
This is the only video so far where Ben comes across as a bit of a mad man. Interesting. Stunning organ, and so much history there. The editing is wonderful.
Thank you so much for this demo of a brilliant organ ... ah, what dreams are made of ... love the Toccata from Boelmann's Suite Gothique at the end! I WILL play that ... one day! (Still fighting with Prieur du Notre Dam) ... would enjoy some Vierne sometime on that beast 😉... pretty please 😆
I adore your British dry humor!
Love from Wales
Wonderful tour! Love the dramatic narration! Love the playing and the tour of the organ internals!
I've been there 2 or 3 times for choral recitals by The Gesualdo Six - but had never heard the organ. So this is a very interesting presentation, Ben.
That pipe organ sounds like what a nice pipe organ sounds like, what a lovely organ
Well done Ben, another great video demonstrating your skills and knowledge of the church organ. So good to see a young person with a true passion for their interest.
Thanks Ben. You are really a delight to listen to. I can imagine you as an actor, but I’m sure what you do making music is much more satisfying.
Brilliant as always. You’re so lucky to have such a great instrument at your disposal.
Wonderful, thank you from Port Chalmers, New Zealand.
What a treat to hear you play with your distant mum or auntie listening from heaven. Love your respect for the instrument and environment in which you play. Rgds from California.
How very interesting. Maybe one of MY ancestors was one of the choir boys carving names in the wood... since I am a Hawkins!!?? Enjoy you so much.
Oh Wow Ben, another superb presentation. What a beautiful church and organ. You are one of the best organists I’ve listened too.
That must be very moving seeing the tribute to your Great Great Grandmother (?) so special.
Well done mate 🤗
Dear Ben, Thank you for these lovely tours of these sweet parish churches and organs. Very nice Boellmann Toccata too!
All the Best for 2024!🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thanks Ben! Another grand tour. Good to see your regular organ and cathedral.
Perfection Ben, tempo,@musicality ,Thank you once again for the tour and Music .
I visited St Martins a few times in the late 1970s when I lived in Waterloo Road close by. I wasn't quite ready then for the 'High Anglican' style of worship. Since then I've come to the Baptist Church in Brown St where my wife and I now make our regular place of worship. Really enjoy your videos - although I don't play the organ I've taken it upon myself to get to grips with an old electronic keyboard I have during the Covid lockdown, still a lot to learn. It's always useful and interesting to pick up on what various musicians such as yourself are playing.
Very nice church. Enjoy the history. Glad you showed some of the inside of the instrument.
Marvelous playing - and that is some superb organ. You obviously know it well too! Very good video too, plenty of the church itself. Well done Ben - good luck in the future - John
Goodness me! Another gem so well done. I had not noticed the Maton connection on the memorial stones. Maybe I should update my book on the 'Organs and Organists of St Martin's Church'? Much appreciated man. Thank you.
fascinating, I miss England every day......I love your channel Ben, keep up the good work
Bravo, Ben! I love that toccata mvt from Suite Gothique. Beautifully played. What a gorgeous organ and church! Thanks!!
I love your posts. Thank you for sharing all that you do. Cheers!
What power and beauty! Thank you for this presentation, and the possibility of Elizabeth Maton being an ancestor. Most fun, however, is your cheese and pickle sandwich and your flask of hot tea! I hope your VW Golf has survived all the assorted roads you have put it on, and that your trolly serves you well as it provides our getting more video of these remarkable organs and churches. It would be lovely to have you respond to comments through the UA-cam reply protocol. Thank you!
And here I am! Thank you for your comments John :)
greetings from Rochester, NY USA! AWESOME!
Thank you Mr M…..nice production……excellent music .
Wonderful tour !!! Greetings from Buenos Aires.
Greetings from Eden, North Carolina USA. I have your wonderful CD !
Writing as an American cleric and Church choirmaster, let me commend your excellent video as an historic and aesthetic, as well as an inspiring musical experience. Many, many thanks!
( P.s.: the Boellmann piece is a great demonstration of both your skill and this marvelous instrument!)😢
Thanks
Glorious Ben thank you!
Bravo!!! Ben, Thanks so much for an enjoyable and enlightening afternoon.
Amazing performance. Bravo!!!!
Thanks!
Another great video. Many thanks.
Would it be possible to list the music played in your videos in the descriptions?
What I would give to hear this instrument in person!
Go to any Cathedral and listen to the organ there. Will be a much better experience.
Thanks ever so much for making our hidden gem church look so good
Absolutely brilliant!
you have to celebrate this xmas with a concert honouring the centenial of St. Martins choirboys B.Hawkins and D.Warren 5:39. maybe one of them is still alive and treading on...
Organ Hill & Son, wonderful organs of the romantic period...I remember the wonderful sidney town hall organ made by Hill which has the only one real heareable 64' stop worldwide starting at pedal C with 16 Hertz frequency...soul shaking
Thanks for the tour and great playing!
Your insightful and informative words so eloquently expressed perfectly match your superb playing Ben . You are a gem .
Beautiful ..Ben Mato 😍
So very AWESOME 😮
BRAVO !!! Ben
Ben, You could be Davie504's normal twin brother! Glad I found and subscribed to your channel. I always slap like!
All the comforts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a bit of rum, or scotch, might be necessary in some circumstances,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I remain a loyal subscriber :) Widor's Toccata #5 seems to be appropriate. Thanks for the vids, $$$ coming soon !
Lefebre-wely offertoire
Love to hear this
Splendid
Thank you
There maybe is a Phantom of the Organ as well....
That sounded great!
Great videography in this one and loved that powerful ending 👏🏼 Bravo
Superb! Thanks for making such interesting videos. I learn something new every time.
Magnificent!!
You should write a book - if not.. Narrator for audio-books as a side-job :o) - Purchased your digital-files.. I enjoy them.. and btw.. J.S.B. would have loved that Victorian Lady too.. Mechanical action beats its electrical counterparts by far. It's simply something different to hear and of course play the great masters of the Baroque on almost "contemporary" instruments.
Nice Demonstration of this instrument by Hill. I was wondering if the pedalboard has been altered. Is it an Audsley-Wesley concave radiating pedal board? I have played the 1870 Hill organ (tubular pneumatic) in St. John's Tuebrook, Liverpool and I think that the pedalboard was changed at the turn of the century.
Fabulous
Have you helped in restoration of this lovely instrument
When an organ becomes a beast.......
'Just discovered your channel, this being as yet my first
sampling of yourself and your talent, of which both I
admire.
Equally striking is your seeming severity of demeanor.
Is this feature yours consistently or, might you feature
a humor-sense? Whichever might be the case-actual,
I do hope that the latter proves as it.
Likely it is that many of your veteran commenting
admirers have wondered about that but, naturally
and too shy/polite to inquire, as I am not either
one.
Please, if you would, share with us the truth of this
matter?
Thank you.
Magnificent tour and playing! No PIP for pedal board. However, this is ok this time because I caught a glimpse of your white sneakers. Please every time possible, show PIP in your loafers. I watch and learned techniques in street shoes. , such a outside of foot in appropriate portions of the pedal board to avoid sounding two adjacent pedal notes. Knees do not need to be together as some teacher insist! Agree with you on that. Excellent writer and videographer! Thanks for all your work.
I thought everyone forgot of suite gothic or gothic suite op25
Not me! I'm learning it, piece by piece, and LOVING it! 😜
Bravo Ben! And the photography is brilliant. But your viewers would like to know what you are playing on the mighty organ and Mrs Elizabeth Maton would like to know too.
It’s from the Suite Gothique by Leon Boellmann. One of my favourites - thank you!
Stan Smiths again.
I suspect you have seen the Abominable Dr Phibes
what are those things inserted into the music rack for?
What is the name of the piece you are playing?
Strange... Toccata played in c minor third the overal pitch of this organ is A=435Hz and not 440 Hz
Perfect that makes the effect a bit worse frightening But play something else in C major and it sounds friendlier
I myself prefer organs tuned in A=435Hz and proportionally floating On the penalty of sometimes not playing pure fifths But being able to play in all keys without the wolf fifth
CC say root, rude and rud
What an inspiring sounds ! 't Must be a delight to play here. It makes me think of the gorgeous Hill in All Hallows, Gospel Oak: ua-cam.com/video/8qxLh6T48Vc/v-deo.html.
Btw, can you also make some episodes with the gentle sounds of 18th / early 19th C. instruments? Or are those not / no more to be found in/around Salisbury ?
Has to said Ben but you seem to be quite and angry soul with perhaps a patience issue. I see some of myself in you. I too am a musician
You might like to smile occasionally. Having said that I do enjoy your videos and your playing. Just trying to help. God Bless you.
Thanks!
Thanks!