The tiny speck at the glorious organ is I. There was little available time for the five of us (four students + teacher) to play, so I played the Ropek. I hadn't picked up the piece since my recital two months ago, except for running through it once a few days ago. It turned out fairly well, and the Principal Organist inquired as to the composer of the Variations. Even though there were lots of mistakes, I'll post a few sound files later so you can hear the organ. Watch this space!
UPDATE: Here they are: you'll notice "enhancements" (mistakes!) and organ stops being changed mid-piece by my experimenting teacher. Ropek Theme and Variations 1-6 (minus the first phrase of the Theme)are in the first file, and were recorded in the nave; Variations 7 and 8 are in a separate file. At the beginning of 7, you'll notice the sound getting gradually louder as Husband walks up the many steps to the organ gallery.
Listen to Ropek 1-6
Listen to Ropek 7-8
11 comments:
Monitoring... waiting...
TH2, I was planning to wait until tonight, but your comment kicked my rear into gear! Thanks for commenting, my dear sir.
Thanks for posting so promptly... Just checked back in (its 3:18 pm EST), but now I gotta run, so I feel bad for rushing you. Will return to listen tonight after I get back.
...that sounds SO nice, Aunt Mary! Wow!
Thanks, Wishie! I'm glad you stopped by my humble blog. :)
What wonderful pictures! I do wonder who took them... ;-)
Touche, Celestine.
The pictures were all taken by Celestine!
Well, what is to say except that the performance (I hope that is the right word) was spectacular. The Ropek piece must have sounded especially so. How did it feel to play (as you said) the "beast"?
Perhaps a church is not the right place to do so, but it is after the fact, so Mary surely deserves
this
The photo with the pipes leading up to the ceiling really strikes me as to the majesty of the instrument. My guess that this photo as such is not as impactual as actually being there to see oneself.
Oh, I also notice that, not only do you have your own photographer, but also a hard working, stair-climbing soundman.
Thanks, TH2! How did it feel? Let's just say that I'd live on bread and water for a week (or longer) if I could have unlimited access to the Thing. It's FANTASTIC. I love Celestine's photo that you referenced. Even if one had not seen the other pictures showing the scale of the instrument, the stained glass window in the corner of the photo gives a hint as to the organ's majesty.
Did I mention that this organ can be hand-pumped? I didn't think so. For my fellow organ major's last piece, the organ power was turned off, and three of us pumped the bellows in the back. It's not as hard as it sounds; I just stood on the pumping pedal and let gravity do the work.
Yes, the whole family went, since I believe this is an experience that makes lifetime memories. And after this, we toured an organ building factory. It was a good day!
I was going to tease you about coming to hear my recital at the Cathedral (at some far-future date), so I checked plane ticket prices just for fun. YIKES. It'd be cheaper to fly to London or Paris. But I don't have any concert dates scheduled there yet. :-/
I figured that - these days - air pressure was maintained by some electric contraption.
Glad to hear the 7's had a good day.
re: plane/London - I have been reading that the planned music for the canonization for Cardinal Newman (later this year in the UK) is quite abysmal. I have a connection at the Vatican and, if I pull some strings, he can you you a free ride to London and get you to perform a piece (Ropek perhaps) for HHB16 (who be present).... not. :o
TH2, your plan sounds foolproof, except I can play Ropek's Variations on Victimae Paschali Laudes during the liturgy only in Easter Season. ;)
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