Boardwalk Empire on HBO (we’ll get it a …

Boardwalk Empire on HBO (we’ll get it at some point in UK) I can’t wait… Scorsese directing a TV drama? You better believe it.

http://boardwalkempire.com/boardwalk-empire-update/

Right I am going out to buy the book…

Cameron Carpenter and other YouTube organ clips..

I have been obsessing lately, (only as a performer, promise…) over this chap…

This is his fantastic Improvisations on a Theme of Carmen/Bizet on the Trinity Wall Street virtual pipe organ, (the original one was destroyed by dust in the 9/11 attacks, so they’ve replaced it with a ‘virtual’ M&O organ).  There are lots of videos on YouTube of this guy flying about on the keys like nothing I have seen.  Although a virtuoso, he has transcribed many popular classical pieces for the organ successfully.  I have always found the results of transcriptions to be something that happens with varying degrees of success, Dr Martin Souter had, for me, achieved this consistently with his two recordings on the organ at Winchester Cathedral.

In my organist days, I found that many of these ‘virtuosos’ like many of those that find minor fame tend to come across as pretty pompous.  The nicest organist I met was Prof (back then he was a Dr) Ian Tracey, who I heard play at Branscombe parish church many years ago (two manual organ with a Trombone 16′ and a 32′ Resultant Bass), and then met a few more, including Christopher Gower who was at that time Organist at Peterbourough Cathedral who was also very nice.  But, alas Carlo Curley was, well, words escape me but I didn’t quite gell with him.  So I hope that CC isn’t, well like the other CC.

In a fit of nerdy organ anarackyness here are a few of stunning clips off the YouTubeygig.

Cameron Carpenters transcription of ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ by Modest Mussorgsky. Possibly Trinity Wall Street again?

Cameron Carpenter on The Culture Show..

Cameron Carpenter explaining the concepts and principals of the virtual organ. What makes it different from the regular ‘digital organ’ i.e Wyvern, Allen etc.

Paul Jacobs is considered by most to be one of the best Bach performers of the present day.  This clip is performed at the Crystal Cathedral on their monstrous Moller/Skinner instrument which is (confirmation?) 5th largest in the world. ”Sinfonia” from Cantata 29 by Bach.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best recordings of this piece I have ever heard. Played on the instruments of the Hohen Dom zu Koln, (Colgne Cathedral) “Winfried Bonig plays the Querhaus and Langhausorgel (transept and nave organs) in this fantastic performance of Eugene Gigout’s Grand Choeur Dialogue. This piece offers the opportunity to hear both organs in spatial alteration. Only on the last chord are both organs heard at the same time.”

Joseph Jongen, a Belgian progidy who has composed some of the most romantic music I have personally ever heard.  His ‘Choral’ is here being played on the Wanamaker Organ at Macy’s in Philadelphia, the largest playable instrument in the world.  Officially the largest instrument is in Atlantic City in the Boardwalk Convention hall (last time I heard) however it was simply too big, and only half of it is playable.

Update and Robin Williams, classic 1979 on CBS

I sat here for a bit thinking, now what exactly am I going to write in my blog.  Given I have been very slack in writing ANYTHING, let alone blog entries, I think I have to at least show that I am still alive and although the tumultous way life is going at the moment is making writing anything very hard, I can at least give some sort of indication that blood runs through my veins and that neural signals bounce around my head in an unproductive, disorderly sort of way, as usual.

The long and the short of the matter is that since Laura and I separated a couple of weeks ago, or was it months? I have been concentrating on coming to terms with the fact that we have to sell the house and that our lives are going to change monumentally.  Laura has been going through prolonged periods of total depression which seem to be getting worse, however she being her, won’t talk to someone professional about it which could mean that she ends up with longer lasting issues.  But I have tried to talk to her about this, she’s not budging so what else can you do? Answers on a postcard please…

I am having fantastic support from Tori and Polly who have been there every step of the way so far, and I am concentrating on coming out ‘the other side’ when we are both a lot happier in our own houses and surrounded by people who we get on with.  So yes, fun for everyone.

Lets lighten the mood with two clips that show Robin Williams’ early genius…

Doom and Gloom? Not likely…

Well the situation could be the easiest way to be doomy and gloomy but I am going to try and keep the old chin up.  So far it has all be amicable but we sat down and talked and, well, if anything is going to cause an upset it’s going to be the TV.

But my inner buddhist says that there’s no point worrying, my inner capitalist is screaming at the inner buddhist saying “shut up!!” so now it’s an internal thing.

I will keep it updated more then I have, but the best way to keep up to date with me is to ring me.

Protected: Final curtains, the end, adios…

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It is strange how, when things start hap …

It is strange how, when things start happening that I write in this blog less? It’s even weirder as they are/could be life changing. What happens when you fall out of love with someone who you have loved for six years? Everything changes.