Barbara Dennerlein - Free Improvisation on Bach's Toccata and Fugue d-moll

Barbara Dennerlein, "Pedals and Pumps" (Festival of Organ Divas, Trinity Church, NY, 2008).
Video of the full concert has disappeared from web some time ago, but I think this interesting interpretation deserves your attention. Definitely this should not be lost.
P.S. The composition was released under the name "New York Impressions" in "Spiritual Movement No. 2" album (2008).

[@DejaView]

Only recently discovered this lady. Wow...! She's so far beyond my wildest imagination I can't even put it into words!

[@davidwhittaker9511]

Thanks for posting this Masterpiece,, it s beautiful and amazing! JS Bach would be emotionally moved to witness such a soulful & creative performance!

[@pietervanderklerk9537]

Absolutely wonderful performance by the great Barbara Dennerlein.....great post!!

[@robertvanruyssevelt7159]

Ms Dennerlein is a true virtuoso - technically brilliant and a musical genius - I am in awe of her ability and as a Bach fan from way back really enjoyed this performance.

[@hiteck007]

Yep me too

[@sevencorsa]

No words can describe her incredible talent !!!!!!!

[@ricardodellaquila3031]

Magnificent...Spiritual...Ethereal...I can listen to it a thousand times and I always get a different feeling.The best musicians produce this kind of things in our minds and hearts.

[@drbobdrake]

The organ is the Marshall & Ogletree Opus 1 virtual (digital) pipe organ which contained theater and classical pipe organ samplings. It replaced a pipe organ destroyed on 9-11 and in use for 20 years. It is currently being replaced with an 8000+ pipe organ by Rosales/Glatter-Götz.

[@AG-xn8sd]

Listen and enjoy, no words. The best compliment is silence and a tear of emotion! Thank you Barbara.

[@theaudioeng]

.... this is like.... synth like, not 'traditional' organ sounding. Love this interpretation by Barbara ❤😔🙏🎹🎵

[@chevick]

It is actually a digital instrument, but it directly models a real pipe organ.

[@peterfunke7092]

Enormous ! Standing ovation from me too, Barbara Dennerlein !

[@RC-no8ef]

A very rare and incredible talent + mad skills and an unbelievably fine-tuned ear… her gift at improvisation is unmatched.

[@rdeboer3857]

Barbara, simply the best!

[@AlienInterviewVideos]

Magical.... Bach would be amazed and filled with Joy to hear Barbara play this masterpiece!

[@Jestey6]

I bet he would, and she’d be a tad surprised

[@jimyadlon6730]

Wow, the power and grace of this piece and the instrument and of course the fabulous player.

[@florianwolf9380]

Absolutely beautiful music, played by one of the best contemporary organ players. Very artistic interpretationof Bach's famous compositions, the best I have heard so far. Hats off to BD !

[@thesoundsmith]

Barbara Dennerlein is the reason the word "unique" had to be coined. She is the only organist I am aware of that is totally comfortable - and cognizant - of both the classical and jazz genres, and amazing at either. Comfortable with odd meters, performing on a wide variety of unique pipe organs and following up with a Jimmy Smith burner next door. As a mediocre jazz organist (who thought I was better than I am until I saw you live...) and long-time fan, salut!

[@B3-R]

Jimmy was from piano coming , that's totally different, Barbara ist from organ, that you see because she plays the bass with the feet, that's another feeling.

[@wolfganggoebels4880]

Feel the magic and power of Barbara dennetlein playing orgel

[@attiliodalcavaliere999]

Brano che mi colpisce molto per il livello di fantasia che ha in se. Un modo che esalta il senso acceso che ho io da sempre, soprattutto per la musica organista - Grazie per avermi regalato un'esecuzione così!!

[@hiteck007]

She did an awesome job. Wish I was there. There is no substitute to hearing the Raw power of the King of instruments when played well.

[@runningmarcus]

thank you for sharing this masterpiece!

[@tiddlesmusic]

her impressions of NYC, awesome and beautiful

[@erikels9570]

Absolute fantastic. Indeed, JS would love this !

[@louise_rose]

Yes, he would! This is amazing and fearless - and done with great respect for Bach and his music (just compare it with the famous G minor Fantasia, BWV 542!). Bravo!

[@jackcaron6612]

Incroyable, tout ce que l'on peut faire avec un orgue liturgique, exceptionnel ! Aussi, une organiste d'exception ! BARBARA LA DIVA !

[@grb1184]

Quite an incredible sound. Play it very LOUD! This is exquisite and very fun. Have you ever played anything on one of these wonderful human creations? Amazing. And to have the esteemed Ms. Dennerlein do this I would hope invites other musical interests. The last fugue in f-minor figure was great too. Thank you Trinity Church and the people who put this up. Gods and demons will not defeat this!

[@rcffog]

Haunting and beautiful. So well done. What talent.

[@juanjosemartinez.loraslora7020]

Amazing!. Great talent!. I like very much this awesome versión.

[@schwammweiler]

Ich glaube sie ist ein Engel auf Erden...

[@florianwolf9380]

Schwammweiler Zumindest spielt sie wie einer, und sieht auch noch so aus...😊

[@davidaelberry8401]

Wow - awesome - enjoyed every moment - simply sublime 👍😎

[@franciscoespigolguardiola1474]

she makes your soul fly

[@macski6924]

Well put.

[@thomast2840]

Awesome, awesome. Very soulfull playing. BIG SALUT !!!

[@ybrecher]

SHE IS OWESOME GREAT PLYER IN ALL STYLES TO ME A GENIOUS SHE DESERVES A BIG SALUT I LOVE WHATEVER SHE DOES MADE IN GERMANY SIMPLY THE BEST

[@BigEric42]

Totally agree. Best feet in the business by far. Even an Englander can appreciate real talent. :-)

[@sebrura]

This is sorcery. Amazing.

[@1955drv]

Beautiful 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@rev.newtonhinckley3455]

I would like to have her visit the east coast soon as we have some very great organs that would show her talents!

[@bladewolling4947]

That's so beautiful!

[@turbo1234ist]

Barbara has so much talent and soul. She is a master of the organ and is brilliant. Germany has produced so many great people, musicians, artists, scientists, engineers. The horrible stigma of WW2 has hung over Germany far too long because of the Communists and a madman that destroyed the country and killed millions. I still believe they have not yet recovered from the suffering and brutality that was forced on them. God Bless Barbera and Germany and all the wonderful creative people there that endured so much.

[@francisk7305]

bravo Barbara, ça doit être fantastique de jouer sur un tel instrument !

[@davmonge]

Amazing!

[@robkuiters]

Barbara 🖐💚🦚☘🌴🌳🌍🛖⛲☀✅ Sparkling

[@francesco_veronese]

How beautiful 😮

[@caropavia2794]

Semplicemente meraviglioso😢😢

[@michaelcraig9449]

Greatest ever! And here she is not playing her own organ with her special secret box..

[@mftech1607]

Not a fan of electronic organs but, this is absolutely incredible!! You can feel your emotions flowing listening to this awesome improvisation. Fantastic job!!

[@KutWrite]

This is a pipe organ, right?

[@mftech1607]

KutWrite Digital. I understand they used to have a pipe organ.

[@renedv02]

BD is not playing a pipeorgan. The pipeorgan of the Trinity Wallstreet church was taken out of the church after dust and debris from 9/11 made it unplayable. Only the case is still there. They installed a virtual organ instead. Marshall & Ogletree American Classic virtual pipe organ, basicly a nice sampling machine. But I agree: nice improvisation; fantastic jobb.

[@mftech1607]

Rene De Vries Yes I think the pipe organ was a Skinner and was purchased by a church down south somewhere and was rejuvenated and installed there.

[@richardharrold9736]

It was a much-altered Aeolian-Skinner in poor condition but eminently restorable. It's down in Georgia somewhere now. They're now replacing the M&O with a new Rosales pipe organ.

[@joehonfleur]

Awesome! Does she have multiple brains.........?

[@haroldowens6311]

😲 she is good. beyond good.

[@toniposocco865]

Che meraviglia...

[@user-tw4bi8zc7x]

❤❤❤Danke

[@boldfella8199]

Love it

[@KutWrite]

LOL "The Organ!" She lets it take a bow.

[@olotbesalu2258]

Musical angel

[@MrPeter3011]

O yes,I think Maestro JSB would really enjoy this jazzy improvisation on his organ- masterwork.....

[@dmitriybrovko]

I think so too) Very original performace. Before I've heard similar only from Oleg Yanchenko - russian organist and composer. tinyurl.com/z282fcq But he died in 2002 and many of his records remains only on vinyl.

[@kunta1002000]

ScheissdieWandan, was für eine Künstlerin, absoluter Wahnsinn!

[@claudiomenesesc]

Bravissima!!

[@Chesterbarnes1]

Interesting!!!!

[@constantinesirigos72]

FANTASTIC! Ah! She must have the Ann Leaf - Gaylord Carter album 'The Mighty Wurlitzer - Music for Movie Palace Organs. i would bet on it. Thank you Barbara!

[@PaPa-kr5yt]

That little quote from Mendelssohn's Rondo capriccioso

[@ericberger6966]

This is not really a free Impro on Bach's Toccata, it's a tune composed by her named "New York Impressions" where parts are from Toccata & Fuque.

[@BaldJean]

It is actually based on her composition "Downtown N.Y." from her 1992 album "That's Me".

[@stevenmajewski3870]

Wow, that was beautiful. serenade me barbara! lol

[@19620000]

Nem tudo é Jazz. JS Bach está participando disto tudo! Barbara Dennerlein é fantástica.

[@Kanawha]

good use of the " Glockenspiel " which will otherwise almost never be used

[@larryclair2195]

Your amazing! I always got the impression you were a jass organist. Look at that! Both feet!

[@ytpaletot1]

envoutant !!! ça fait décoller !!

[@gearfacts]

OMG 3:06 that's just beautiful

[@erikboje460]

She Can Play anything better than anyone….

[@DanielHeikalo]

Unbelievable!

[@dariocugia1938]

3.54. Fellix Mendelssohn Bartholdi

[@stephenrumpf7094]

It is NOT a pipe organ.

[@patrickomara4785]

Imagine you and Diane Bish in the same room! HOTTTTT!

[@albertc6040]

Virgil Fox reincarnated and improved..!!!

[@jrpim17]

Jean Sébastien doit jubiler !

[@dr.chrisketo7193]

Sorry - too much undifferentiated noise. Bach played clear notes and no "sound"

[@dmitriybrovko]

Thanks for your comment. You're absolutely correct, Bach's voice motion was impeccable, but that was style of his era. Should we belittle Impressionist art just because it doesn't use clear outlines like the classical style?

[@lotharklein1896]

Damit hat der große J.S.Bach sich im Grab umgedreht.

[@DarkTommy70]

Falsch er hätte es geliebt!

[@jorgetangosanchez7930]

Horribles zapatos para apretar los pedales.

[@giovannidaza4574]

But this don’t style Bach

[@mathiaslang2021]

Barbara Dennerlein ist eine absolut exzellente Jazzmusikerin...auf der Hammond. Wahrscheinlich weltweit die beste. Aber von der Kirchenorgel sollte sie lieber die Finger lassen, das ist eine völlig andere Art von Musik, von der sie keinen Plan hat. Bach würde sich im Grab rumdrehen, könnte er das hören.

[@BaldJean]

Dem ersten Teil stimme ich zu, dem zweiten nicht, vor allem da ich weiß wie intensiv sich Barbara Dennerlein mit der jeweils zu spielenden Pfeifenorgel auseinandersetzt bevor sie ein Konzert darauf gibt. Sie spielt bereits seit über 20 Jahren auf Pfeifenorgeln und hat auf über 300 verschiedenen auf der ganzen Welt gepielt, also hat sie durchaus einen Plan. Natürlich ist das nicht die Art von Musik, die man von einem solchen Instrument erwartet. Aber gerade das macht es ja so besonders. Ich bin daher ganz im Gegenteil davon überzeugt, dass Bach sich im Grab nicht rumdrehen sondern vor Freude ein paar Luftsprünge vollführen würde, wenn er das hören könnte.

[@DarkTommy70]

Gerade J.s.Bach würde ihre Interpretation Lieben! Vor allem hat gerade sie Ahnung von Hammond und Kirchenorgel, zur Info die Hammond war ursprünglich als Kirchenorgel gedacht! Zu dem ist sie nicht die einzige die die Kirchenorgel auf moderne Weise spielt aber sicher mit die beste! Ich denke von Orgel im allgemeinen haben sie nicht sehr viel Ahnung! Zum Schluss noch etwas, es ist nicht mal sicher das Docata von J.s.Bach ist, man vermutet es ist von einem Schüler. Dazu ist jede Interpretation von klassischer Musik anders

[@DarkTommy70]

Das ist absoluter Unsinn

[@JeremyGustaSalsa]

Long time ago, I played this master peace of Bach and I'm sorry for the fan of Barbara, for me she is a awesome player but she destroy the original peace and removed the spirit of this music where Bach put sens of a story (is a mental picture).

[@AndreasDelleske]

If you want to hear Bach, you can still do that. I, right now want to hear Dennerlein's musical conversation with Bach and herself. That is what music is all about, not just making copies of copies.

[@Chesterbarnes1]

The Great Pipe Organ by Skinner and others were not meant for JAZZ, but ocassionally its attempted. BLAH!!!!!!!!11

[@renedv02]

Good for you to know then that she's not playing a pipeorgan. The pipeorgan of the Trinity Wallstreetchurch was taken out of the church after dust and debris from 9/11 made it unplayable. The case is still there but they installed something which is suppposed to imitate a pipeorgan: a virtual organ. A Marshall & Ogletree American Classic virtual pipe organ, basicly a nice samplingmachine. Still, I can't see your point. When Christofori build the først pianos in the 1700s, I doubt he thought of jazz..

[@joelucks3738]

I think It is a wonderful example of the variety of music this talented lady is able to create. She creates and is a genuine artist. She does not just read notes and imitate what another composer has written. Love Barbara Dennerlein ♥️

[@Manuscript4]

Fake

[@katho8472]

Nothing is fake here. Except the organ being electronic (sampler) but a very good one at that.

[@DarkTommy70]

You are a fake 😅

[@yvespenhoat6775]

This crap doesn't have anything to do with the toccata and fugue in d minor.

[@danroux4010]

Its not surprising that this can be offensive to classical purists, if that's what you are. And if that's what you are, then you're in the wrong place cause Barbara is a jazz head. And this performance doesn't pretend to be the toccata and fugue in d minor. As per the title, its a free improvisation using the toccata and fugue in d minor. There is definitely a link there, even if its tenuous, even if you don't hear it. So your statement that "this crap doesn't have anything to do with the toccata and fugue in d minor" is, to be nice, a bit weird. Not sure if you're aware that Barbara is essentially a jazz player and considered one of the best contemporary jazz organ players. That said, I couldn't care less about the toccata and fugue in whatever key its played. I just listen to the music and in this case, it has its moments. But for me, one listen is enough.

[@joehonfleur]

Different but certainly not crap.....

[@LeendertCordemans]

That's the life of astistical free playing music by the musician and their free enterpretations. And she tooks the jazzy way of her free interpretation . And she shows there differents of skills and music styles as well. Well done Barbara. Chapeau.