1866 Koehnken & Co. Pipe Organ - Isaac M. Wise Temple - Cincinnati Ohio

[@joshroberts4281]

The organist has a great application of registration of this beautiful instrument. I don't sense this instrument even needs a mixture!

[@stevelayden4596]

Absolutely fantastic! I’m not an organist myself, but a bassoon player. I find these German romantic-style instruments to be so musical compared to other instruments. I’d gladly listen to Bach on an instrument like this. It’s encouraging that the pendulum is swinging back from the extreme of the baroque revival and even American Classic style. Hopefully this time we’ll preserve our heritage and variety and settle on a happy medium for new instruments

[@marcvcivsnoveboracensis]

What an extraordinarily sweet, gentle, and elegant instrument.

[@davef.2329]

Beautiful Temple and organ! Thank you for presenting this, Michael and Brent.

[@markaustin4370]

I just love 19th Century organs and what a wonderful demonstration

[@gregganderson5458]

Beautiful organ.

[@valliemackrell1228]

So sweet and comforting.

[@paulh5293]

Another gem, beautifully demonstrated as always. Nice to see an organ in a temple, too. I always think it's a shame when space means that the Swell basses can't fit into the box, they are so useful coupled to the Pedal when under expression. Still, a lovely organ and intrigued by that action transfer frame - glad it's been preserved. Thank you for posting.

[@fnersch3367]

Incredible sound. This maker is new to me. Love the languidity of the built up sounds on this instrument. Very 19th C.

[@roberthovencamp]

Thanks for presenting this instrument, Brent and Michael. Sounds like Noack did a great job on the organ restoration. There are many beautiful houses of worship in Cincinnati, and this is truly one of the finest.

[@noiselesspatient]

What a beautiful and rare instrument. At once 'symphonic' yet intimate, but also a direct evolution of the central German tradition. Ravishing. Thank you. Would love to hear chamber music on this with other instruments, e.g. Rheinberger and Dupré.

[@ksbear2]

I've been there and heard this organ in person. Beautiful location and beautiful instrument. (and just across the street from the Basilica Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains, which has a 50 rank Austin organ with 2 identical 3 manual consoles.

[@peterfennema3112]

I'm really impressed by the beauty of each stop - really nice instrument.

[@matthieubazile3350]

What a wonderful organ with lots of color, especially, of course, with the eight foot line.

[@peterbrand7131]

I really enjoyed this. The organist’s demonstration was super. Thank you for making these videos… keep going!

[@OCCA]

What a lovely instrument. Thank you for sharing it with us all.

[@praestant8]

Its a lovely German romantic instrument build in this country. It is troubling that even after a "restoration" that original console functions like the composition pedals were not, in fact, restored.

[@markcooke729]

Fantastic! You do THE best organ demonstration videos and tour of organs online! The fact you put links to the organ specifications is so very appreciated!

[@jimsummers9704]

I

[@fluteceleste]

agreed!!👏👍

[@PapaLynn1]

Such a treasure!

[@bobh5087]

A beautiful instrument in a beautiful room. About all I'd change is adding a Mixture IV to the Great and perhaps a 2' Flute on the Choir.... Thanks to everyone. 👍👏

[@jrdscrgn]

About 40 miles south of where I grew up in New Mexico is a tiny church in the very small town of Socorro, NM with a Koehnken organ from 1875. Single manual instrument with pedals, 8 ranks. Lovely instrument with a gorgeous sound.

[@SyrPipeOrg]

I hope this is documented in the OHS database. 🙂

[@jrdscrgn]

@@SyrPipeOrg yes it is! I've given a couple recitals there and, as I understand, it was fairly recently refurbished and cleaned out. They are very proud of the instrument and take care of it.

[@louGriggs1944]

Thank you.

[@EduardQualls]

If anyone is interested in why there's an organ in a synagogue/temple, there is an article archived in _Forward_ that talks about this. "Why The Organ Is The Most Jewish Instrument" (13 December 2012)

[@accousticdecay]

That pedal division is really authoritative, but works well under the organist's deft control. A most enjoyable demonstration. And the temple is a lovely place.

[@TheProsaicCult]

Michael Unger is the past organist at the church I went to, Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word in Rochester, NY He brought wonderful music to that church. He had at his disposal a Holtkamp Organ of around 50 ranks, one of the finest in the area. In the early/mid 60's Jean Langlais played a recital on that instrument. Someone told me that David Craighead introduced him. Well, good to see you, Michael !

[@johnball3487]

Love it! So very happy that it will be on the OHS convention. A late friend of mine would be so very happy about this and of course it's restoration a few years ago. He loved this instrument.

[@jefferyrowley8873]

This is a great presentation and a beautiful instrument. You do not need mixtures, fiery reeds, célestes or an Ophilclide to produce any of our literature . You do need a good acoustic, plenty of diverse 8' tone and...everything has to blend with everything else! We as organists have to do the best of any situation and make it work. Difficult in America - because so many of the smaller 'stock' instruments have un-blendable stops, a limited palate, bad acoustics or positioning and over borrowing.

[@praestant8]

Whose literature are you referring to when you say "our literature?" It's ironic that you in one sentence dismiss important stops found in literature dating to Bach and earlier and then complain about a "limited palate."

[@jefferyrowley8873]

@@praestant8 - A good majority of American organs especially those built after 1900 through 1950's have nothing to support pre-baroque, french, baroque and even romantic literature. If your tonal palate is good and the acoustics are excellent - the best we can do is 'punt'. There is always a way to register Bach etc. despite not having the correct resources according to historical perspectives. Bach et al, are meant to be played by a variety of world instruments including electric/digital keyboards. Knowing how to do this is very important. The music is the important part and the delivery is just as important as long as it is done well. Many of the extant instruments were merely 'Hymn Machines' and they served their purpose very well. Builders such as Kohekohl, Pfeffer, Erben, Tannenburg, Wangerin, Odell etc. took European craftsmanship, through an American eye, producing instruments that are very versatile, refreshing and useful even to this day. If every instrument was built to the exacting standards of any historical musical period - it would be a very boring world.

[@reinhardengelhardt3378]

Very good german pronunciation! Thanks for presenting this beautiful organ

[@SuperLQQK]

That's beautiful organ.

[@mylesschlicher965]

Another fine video of a wonderful, interesting and enjoyable organ. Thank you !

[@marioribeirodeazevedoneto311]

Simplesmente MARAVILHOSO (wonderful)! BRASIL

[@robertbarney4552]

Thank you so very much for this excellent presentation - well demonstrated and explained. I will be playing a MUCH smaller instrument by this same builder at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Delaware Ohio for the OHS convention on Monday, August 1, 2022.

[@horacerumpole7629]

Wonderful instrument!!

[@mattheww2797]

What an interesting organ

[@louisglen1653]

Very nice organ!

[@stepheneggert7388]

Vary nice organ..

[@WINCHANDLE]

The Temple is a gem of Victorian decoration. I helped restore an Episcopal church in Philadelphia (Romanesque...a lot like Trinity in Boston) but then a later bishop came in and ripped out all arduous restoration)

[@randyterry9672]

Great video!!

[@AbrahamDayan]

where can i find any records of cantorial music of the temple?

[@andre26071955]

Tailor-made instrument for music by J.G. Rheinberger, A.G. Ritter and contemporaries!

[@markaustin4370]

Wondering why the stop controls are reversed from typical 19 th c layouts I would expect Swell and Pedal left and great and choir right. Part of the new console?

[@pierrelauwers8719]

The last minutes of the video demonstrate that the Cornets-as-Mixtures and the Sesquialtera allow a quite credible Bach on this instrument.

[@chucklambooy8457]

This is truly a beautiful instrument. The demo was great, and they are usually great As Long As Brent Johnson doesn’t open his mouth!!