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…

Top 10 ‘In My Head’ YouTube posts.

I am addicted to YouTube, it is official.  My addictive personality makes me do some weird things, typewriters, writing poems, play Quake Wars solidly for 5 hours.  But I am happy to say that like many people that read this blog, I watch YouTube constantly.  It’s a great source of music, and you can discover things that are so bizarre yet compelling, they enlighten and entertain you.  It’s good for dossing around on at work when no one’s looking, but I didn’t say that.

10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

Thanks to Rock Band, this amazing song has been in my head recently.  I don’t know a lot about this band, but I expect you’ll hear more about them from me soon.   Best score with this song is about 98% on Medium.

9. Garbage – Paranoid (HQ version)

Another Rock Band inspired song.   The hypnotic drums and the Scottish-ness of it all makes it a good head sticker.

8. Nickelback – Gotta be somebody

No matter how much stick they get, the song writing is fantastic.  Chad Kroegers voice always sticks like Uhu to my psyche.  Great power ballad too.

7. Apocalyptica feat. Till Lindemann – Helden (Heroes)

I never realised that Apocalyptica are totally Cello based.  This has to be my favourite cover of all time of any band ever.  Seriously, great song by the Bowie meister, plus Till Lindemann of Rammstein fame providing his unique gravel vocals.

6. Hammerfall – Bloodbound

Hammerfall are big in Sweden.  They come under the interesting genre of ‘power metal’.  It’s a weird sub genre that really came in to itself in the eighties with Kiss and Poison.  This modern take on this genre  is captivating to say the least.

5. Hammerfall – Last Man Standing

Nuclear powered metal, again from these hit Swedish rockers.

4. Red – Start Again

This hasn’t been released yet officially, not even a video out yet!  But it’s really stuck in my mind.  It’s one of my top played on my iPod, but, but it’s  Christian Rock. Yes, that’s right.   But, it’s good music.  Or is that the idea?  POD were good too, but then, does it really matter?

3. Nightwish – Bye Bye Beautiful

According to my good friend and Nightwish addict Tori, this was written as a response to Tarja (first singer) being kicked out for being useless and bitchy.  I love the power and emotional  feeling that the lyrics convey.

2. Nightwish – Amaranth

More Nightwish head sticking.  Not sure what it’s about, the video is even weirder, but  what a sticky song.

1. Hammerfall – Any Means Necessary

This is the video people.  How do you fit this really odd title in to a song?  I wanted to know, and now I am hooked.  This is their first video with their new guitarist Pontus Norgren.  What a name.  But he demonstrates why in this riff filled feast of power chords the the most over the top video I have seen in a while.  GENIUS.

OK so that does it there.  Also, Tom Green that comedy person type showoff has his own YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/tomgreendotcom

Where are you going?

The genius that is Tom Green

 

Smashing Pumpkins – That’s the way (my love is)

Latest offering from Corgan and his croonies, it is stuck in my head so I had to post it up as it is a really well written song!

Early November

My discovery of the month, Early November.  Similiar sound to Foo Fighters but really nice harmonies and tight song writing.  Vaguely Emo but not painful!

Rocket From The Crypt

I really have let myself go with my blog, I guess it’s down to the fact we are tres busy at work now and that I have ran out of things to say generally to everyone apart from functional things and slightly mindless replies, grunts and empty agreements.
Rocket From The Crypt are an amazing band that have now split up.  This video reminds me of working in Sainsburys in the bakery, having some sort of crush on one girl or another and feeling annoyed that I didn’t have enough confidence to go up to them and tell them what I thought.  It also reminded me of living above the flammable launderette in Abers and getting drunk very often.
So lots of positive connections.
Don’t want to rant on about the 27th but its hard not to.  I feel short of breathe and I have feel strange, might be lack of vitamins or something? Its easy to point the finger at cancer and say that something bad is happening.  Have bought tickets up there, I look forward to the journey more then anything, pretending that I am someone going somewhere rather then a nobody going to be told nothing worth knowing.
Should go to bed but don’t feel like it.

Stone Temple Pilots – Days Of The Week

This video defined an era for me in so many ways.  You go through life growing up and developing, throughout stages of your life there is always music to put on the ’soundtrack to your life’ when you become a famous superstar for whatever reason.  This would be on the ‘university being drunk, poor and depressed’ part of the soundtrack.

Visual Basic and James Blunts Triangle

Well, that was most probably the funniest thing I have seen today. Today, well, what a day I say I say.

Total chaos as we get closer to next week, students are back and we are full of inductions and mayhem in general. I have created my first web browser in Visual Basic which I am quite proud of myself, and I did the Hello World application. Still trying to get my head around SMS 2003, but I will complete the application form over the weekend if I get a chance.

I went to a councellor today who said that I had mild depression, strange as I am quite happy, I have just lost most of my motivation for pretty much everything. I am more aware of these thoughts now, so I will try and combat them, but only as much as I can. The councellor said I was very good at beating myself up about things that needn’t be, so I guess I have to be nicer to myself more then anything.

Does asparagus grow on trees?

Apt

I felt this was very apt as this is how I feel at the moment!