Albert Schweitzer: Bach: Prelude in D, at the organ in Günsbach (fragment from original film)

[@polara01]

What a beautiful historical snapshot, introspection and glimpse into the mind and life of Albert Schweitzer. I was captivated as a young boy by the pipe organ and passacaglia in C was one of my first exposures as well as Toccata and Fugue in D Minor which was an incredible introduction to the pipe organ to say the least... so when I was able to I studied for a short time at Sherwood Conservatory in Chicago under Dr. Herbert White, a very kind and thoughtful teacher and accomplished organist himself who sadly passed away after just three months of lessons but he gave me a great foundation to continue my studies which I am grateful for. Watching this video for the first time and seeing that young boy I felt like that could have been me when I was first captivated by this majestic and mystical instrument... I have always favored Schweitzer's approach to the instrument as his approach to Bach's compositions strikes me as the most reflective yet still dramatic enough to thrill the senses evoking the appropriate emotional response but in an understated way...in this sense I feel Schweitzer closely approximated/channeled Bach's intentions. You can really see and feel Schweitzer's reverence and love for his beloved instrument. This film is a National Treasure and should be in the Library of Congress which I'm sure it probably already is. Thanks for a great post! Peace, Bob M

[@bobwatt8282]

It is worthwhile reading 'The world beyond your head' by Matthew Crawford for some valuable insights into Albert Schweitzer's contribution to the building and restoration of pipe organs. The book reveals something of Albert Schweitzer's outstanding contribution to humanity.

[@hyramesshiramess1035]

Terrifically good playing! I wish we could have heard the entire work. To blazes with the foolish "speed demons" who characterize a prevalent attitude toward music interpretation depriving it of all its color, inherent majesty and contrapuntal splendor. It is a real treat to experience Bach's organ music performed in such a manner that we may hear its thematic intricacies and appreciate the grandeur of its architecture,

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Agreed! Nowadays, everything is focused on cheap effects, like firecrackers at the fairground. About 40 years ago, the 1% took over and (surprise!) culture began to decline. Read Gibbon--the same thing happened in ancient Rome...

[@larrywaters1112]

EXACTLY-- so many of today's "performers" forget ONE simple thing regarding music from those eras of time--- TACTUS-- "the gentle BEAT of a gentle man's heart" --- THE foundation of TEMPO ... back to basics folks -- and please... GET HISTORICALLY CORRECT IN YOUR PERFORMANCES!!! Slow down, and HEAR the music ... -- just sayin' --- CyanDucky, March 2021

[@geiryvindeskeland7208]

I hope the listeners want to get to know a different opinion then Hyramess Hiramess and Larry Waters. «Slow down», says Larry, but I say «no, speed up!» Man has always enjoyed competing, it shows the Olympic Games us, a competition that arose almost 3000 years ago. Don’t think that man stopped competing right when Bach was alive, oh no! Bach loved to show what he could play with ten fingers and two feet. He liked to impress, but to impress it had to be played quickly! If the account in the obituary is true, Bach was the first to systematically use his thumbs. Then he could play richer harmonies and increase the pace of scale playing. We know that his tempi was sometimes so fast that in a number of organ fugues he had to simplify the fugue subject of the pedal, otherwise it would not be possible to play quickly. BWV 541, 543, 548, 566, 574(second subject)etc are examples of that. Continues

[@urbanomedeiros1]

MARAVILHOSO !!!!!!!

[@jeanjacques1987]

Un grand merci !

[@MrGer2295]

Beautiful ! Thank you so much ;)

[@peteacher52]

That little boy going in to the church to listen to the organ exactly mirrors myself at that age; in my case it was in Timaru ca. 1955, and the organ was almost as grand as the Gunsbach instrument.

[@alanjknig]

I think the little boy represents Schweitzer.

[@peteacher52]

Alan Knight I hadn't thought of that - good point.

[@paruncurieuxhasard]

The little boy acting here, passed away the 3rd november 2014, the day before his 71st birthday. His name was Jeannot Ham. He became later in fact a very talentfull organ player, at the same church in Gunsbach. He became, in my humble opinion, a great man, maybe in some way as great as Schweitzer. But he had something much greater than his Mystical way of life and his mindblowing Humility, it was his discretion. Some people deserve to be known, and that was my anonymous contribution to make him known a bit... This little boy, which in some way he ever stayed, changed my life for ever...

[@peteacher52]

stephan schillinger Thank you for that information,Stephan. Jeannot sounds like one of the unsung heros of humanity who go about their work expecting and receiving no accolades for their efforts.

[@lizfernandeshoft9104]

Hut ab vor diesem Mann!

[@FredFredsky]

Once I heard Schweitzer play the organ, I could never listen to any other organ players. THAT is the way Bach on organ should sound.

[@geiryvindeskeland7208]

Fred Fredsky, you are welcome to enjoy Schweitzer's Bach's organ performances. But Schweitzer is not any supervisor if we ask for the music in its original style. Tempi are too slow and there are other details too that not fits to old written sources. Bach was a young man at the time he composed BWV 532. Already from the very beginning, with the unusual D major scale in the feet, he loved to impress people, he wanted to show the public what was possible to play with ten fingers and two feet. If he played the pieces slowly, no one was impressed.

[@Reino_X]

@@geiryvindeskeland7208 bach's pieces are timeless, and i think the tempo was good, you can play faster if you wish to

[@geiryvindeskeland7208]

Reino X, quote: "...bach's pieces are timeless..." Both yes and no. Man has always liked to compete. They competed in the Stone Age, and the Olympic Games are probably more than 2000 years old? But then - some people believe that man's urge to compete disappeard just as Bach was alive, only to become popular again after his lifetime. Oh, no! Bach also liked to compete! And it confirms this prelude and fugue. Sure, you can play it slowly, but then the composer's intention disappears with the composition. We find virtuoso elements both in the prelude and the fugue. In Bach's days, colleagues were impressed by playing this BWV 532 fast. But today we find organ compositions that is far harder to play. So you want to impress colleagues with 532 in our time, it must be played - very quickly...

[@twillertorganprojects]

Really ?

[@Abemol]

Great!!

[@stylusfantasticus]

The St Francis of Asis of the XX Century.-

[@sidDkid87]

*_Q: What's better than roses on a piano?_* 🌹🎹 *_A: Tulips on an organ!_* 🌷🫀😉

[@annadan2647]

My life model! Nobel Price!💙💙💙💙💙

[@charlottewhyte9804]

wow wow I love thee

[@walkinbeauty7248]

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. ❤❤❤

[@alextoukam5425]

@03:58 - @04:10 its crazy epic

[@wspolnotarodzinnasandamiano]

Pax et Bonum!

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Here's the entire film: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZeXc2ysZdhjebs

[@parthachakraborty6231]

It seems to be that of Erica Anderson... I

[@tomdempsey3600]

what's the original movie called, where can i find it?

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

www.amazon.com/Albert-Schweitzer-Restored-Uncut-DVD/dp/B000AYNFUS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=albert+schweitzer+documentary&qid=1600491333&s=movies-tv&sr=1-1

[@FestivalWissembourg]

L'orgue est affreux, l'interprète médiocre, les tempi absurdes. Comment peut-on admirer cela ?

[@yannickbourdoiseau2607]

L'orgue est ce qu'il est, l'interprète fait ce qu'il peut, et faute de satisfaire les mélomanes exigeants, ils font chaud au cœur des hommes de bonne volonté.

[@wilhelmtell5468]

Du bisch a Bäckser lanfry ! Du stengsch vor hochmuat !

[@user-ut3zn1en9o]

L'interprète "médiocre" c'est le Dr Albert Schweitzer, un des meilleurs interprètes de Bach dans l'histoire de la musique occidentale, un facteur d'orgues très talentueux également. Avant de crier à la médiocrité écoutez les enregistrements qu'il a fait au début de sa carrière.