Brombaugh and Associates Op. 19 (1976) | Central Lutheran Church, Eugene, Oregon

[@Jack-eo5fn]

An absolutely elegant and accomplished organ builder. This organ is an American treasure. Thank you, Balint.

[@rar7631]

Every sound is just beautiful 😊.

[@OneLSBHymnaWeek]

That trumpet on the Great is amazing. Someone needs to Hauptwerk this organ!

[@edamundson743]

Thank you so much. It was wonderful that John Brombaugh was included in this video. What a treasure.

[@OldPannonian]

What a beautiful instrument. It is so heartening to realize, that the noble art of organ-building is alive and well in North America.

[@JeffWindoloski]

The reeds on this organ are exceptional!

[@robertramsay5963]

I am suspicious when someone calls an organ the "most beautiful" but truly, this one is special. Those principals are to die for.

[@christopherglenn3240]

Having played this instrument a few times myself, it is surely a treasure to play, listen to and behold. The space is also wonderful for the organ. Thanks for showcasing it with your outstanding abilities and for featuring John in the intro.

[@ongardenbythebay]

I attended so many great recitals on this magnificent organ when living in Eugene. Great to see this demonstration by Karosi and to see and hear John speak about this instrument. I had the privilege of working with an organ committee and John to bring his Opus 38A to Episcopal Church of the Resurrection a mile or so away in Eugene. This organ on this video deserves this attention in a big way.

[@andrewstewart-cook2185]

Hi Jonathan!

[@BarryWaterlow]

A most refined sounding instrument, wonderful improvisations and rationale behind the superb tonal design. Thanks so much.

[@chrisrose6200]

Now there is a really beautiful fully but absolutely clean sounding instrument - nothing muddled. I really like it!

[@josbiesheuvel]

Very nice organ. I recognize (being Dutch myself ) the old Schnitger sound from the historical organs in our country. I like your videos a lot!

[@principals16842]

My online employee photo at work includes a pipe organ, and it's amazing how many interesting conversations that has led to ("Do you play?" "What instrument is that?" and so on). One of the best was with a fellow employee who is John Brombaugh's cousin. We discussed his nearby Op. 34 in Duke Chapel, which I hope might appear in a future video of yours. I love this Op. 19 and its characterful sounds. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@f.merlenicholas3434]

Displaying each registration is most meaningful. Thank you.

[@ryanfrederick3376]

Used to play Op. 29 at Iowa State University when I was an undergrad. Delightful, fun instruments!

[@Orgelix]

The Principals 8' sound so wonderful 😍

[@hautboisdamour2199]

I have family very near Eugene and vaguely knew Central Lutheran had a pipe organ, but I had no idea it was this nice! I guess I need to visit sometime and hear it in person. Thanks for the demonstration! Wonderful that they're using it every Sunday as well (as seen in their live streams). So many churches around here have moved to praise bands.

[@ianbrowne8871]

A fine and fascinating analysis of this instrument. It was especially pleasing to have the builder present commenting on the product of his misspent youth:-). I can remember the culture shock of the opening recital of the Grant, Degens and Bradbeer organ at New College Oxford in 1969. A tracker action workprinzip design with regals, strange mutations, and plate glass swell shutters - with a modern case design in a 15th chapel. Builders and architects were quite brave then. The recognition that organs in Protestant churches are there to support congregational singing is important to the success of any instrument - the builder recognised this. Having served in a school chapel where congregational singing collapsed because a neoclassical instrument was installed, it was good to hear that the 16’ Principal chorus has the power to lead. I am not sure if American Lutherans sit to sing hymns as they do in Germany, but congregations which stand sing louder. The balance and a variety of the choruses and individual stops mark this out as a really musical instrument. I can imagine looking back at this youthful work must bring great pride - a masterpiece which underlines the skill and wisdom which has only grown and matured in the years since.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

This is one of the greatest sounding organs in the US, the builder has studied the neo-baroque organs from Northern Germany and Netherlands very well. But also added some elements which are not native to the style but work very well. Each stop in itself has been made very well, they all sound beautiful and very clean. You would not assume such a gem of an organ in the average modern church building, but in this case the church adds to the sound experience, the acoustics are good. These were 37 minutes of enjoyment.

[@chriscarson2547]

The combinations are so colorful. Each stop is wonderful on its own, but shows a new beauty when matched with others. Mr. Brombaugh has a genius ear. Loved this! His Op. 22 is .5 miles down the street from my house at Christ Episcopal in Tacoma, Wa.

[@elliottturner9029]

I'm a young organist in the Tacoma area and am amazed at Brombaugh's work as well! To think he taught Fritz...it's astounding.

[@jwyatt631]

What an absolute delight, both the fine instrument and the expert demonstration, not to mention the fascinating commentary by Mr Brombaugh. Just proves that a pipe organ doesn't have to be huge to be magnificent.

[@DanielOberzaucher]

A absolute gem of organ, what amazing sounds. This organ also shows just how well classic french elements blend together with baroque ones. Mr. Brombaugh certainly knew what he was doing and did well with it. For the times back then (neo baroque era) he build a organ with the intention of the neo baroque, but just did what was supposed to be done: Make a authentic, wonderfull and full sounding baroque organ and not some squeaky and over brilliant mixture hunter like in other cases. Very interesting insights also in his thoughts about hymn singing! Would really love to have such an organ close by myself! And of course what would make the organ shine more than such a fantastic demonstration by Mr. Karosi. Thanks for it! All the best from Austria

[@Mrs.Karen_Walker]

What a gorgeous organ. the reed stops are pure bliss.

[@stevelayden4596]

Some absolutely stunning sounds in this organ! I adore the Germanic trumpet and the quintadena-having a bit more fundamental than one often hears-is a wonderful foundation. The Rankett is similarly incredible and I appreciate the lead resonators which have already aged to look like something from generations past. But what I can’t get past is the unsteadiness of the wind, especially in the Hauptwerk plenum. I know there’s a whole debate about ‘flexible winding’ and how it influenced everything from phrasing of inner voices all the way to ornamentation. But it gives me anxiety. Like every larger chord is about to collapse, even though we know it’s just temporary. That’s just my opinion though. And as always, I appreciate your wonderful and sensitive demonstration!!

[@jfp2816]

21:20 Prospect principal pipes of Schnitger are also in tin.

[@Dutchcaniac]

A very nice instrument indeed. I agree this is a wonderful organ with lots of flavours i hear here around where I live ;) I also loved the organ where you played Reubke. Completely different, but very very nice as well

[@EElgar1857]

A wonderful exploration of this fine organ! 😁

[@flavioserci6046]

Absolutely fantastic intonation and temperament. Wonderful!

[@thunderhands3274]

Beautiful sounds.

[@aislinnoreilly]

glorious organ, excellent playing, and a wonderful and engaging interview, thank you:)

[@mastersanderious173]

Amazing, what a sound!

[@RalphLooij]

A gem indeed. Thanks for presenting it.

[@musikwortkunst9019]

This organ sounds sooo great!

[@jozsefmakai9194]

Köszönjük Szépen!

[@stephenthorp5264]

Wonderful video! always enjoy your content. I did an undergrad degree in organ at Southern Adventist University where Brombaugh's magnum opus is. would love to see you record part of your Bach cycle or other content there. Brombaugh's organs are wonderful. I hope to visit this one in Eugene at some point. Congrats on your Complete Bach project, its excellent!

[@romeo9017]

Amazing….

[@garfixit]

Wow amazing

[@ruaraidhsutherland7804]

Utterly fascinating. Thank you!

[@grahaml3449]

Perhaps THE iconic Neobaroque organ in the USA! 45 years old and looks and sounds like it was built yesterday. What a wonderful demonstration of the almost infinite variety of sounds this organ can produce. Only thing I didn't hear: is there a Tremulant?

[@andrewstewart-cook2185]

Yes there is a tremulant to the entire organ, adjustable as well as a wind destabilized for more flexible winding.

[@cromorno8749]

Defining this organ as a neobaroque organ is a bit reductive and offensive towards the wonderful work by mr. Brombaugh

[@grahaml3449]

@@cromorno8749 What term would you prefer?

[@cromorno8749]

@@grahaml3449 baroque style instrument, definitely

[@ВладимирОкоренко]

Супер ангел музыка органа 🍒 🍓 🍎 🍇

[@rowanlidbury]

Amazing.

[@fsr4773]

Could I know what is the name of the very first piece you played please (for the introduction). Starting from 0:40

[@MusicBear51]

Balint, absolutely beautiful!! I wish I could attend your recital. Can you please tell us about the snippets of the pieces you are playing? Thanks 🙏

[@curtissnider6815]

🎶❤️✨

[@luoboeguy]

have you played his op 33? would love to hear your thoughts

[@ssbphotography]

I studied on this instrument, which has a more eclectic result overall in a less generous acoustic, therefore incorporating more compromises as the builder discusses here. My amateur recording might shed some light. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGepaZpom7Z-sNE It's been professionally recorded only once or twice.

[@kimballwhitaker6092]

Another beautiful organ... I am curious, though, why you pronounce the 2' Kornett with French pronunciation, since it is clearly a German stop. Is there any evidence that Schnitger, for example, would have used French pronunciation to refer to it instead of the German?

[@agogobell28]

I didn’t know Brombaugh was still alive and kicking!

[@dalecarr6361]

It'll be a sad day when he stops kicking!

[@davidcalhoun4062]

I visited and supped with John and Christa in their retirement digs just this week. He didn't kick that I noticed, but is lively and as interesting as ever. 😅🙃

[@johnsteven6273]

2' pedal solo stops were very important when pedal range was 25/27 notes,only way to get a full soprano range in pedal,. With modern pedal ranges, 4' will usually suffice unless the chorale tune goes above f or g.

[@joannescouchet7038]

Although Dr. Karosi describes them as solo stops, they are also useful as a mixture substitute in a pedal reed plenum!

[@bkarosi]

@@joannescouchet7038 Yes, that is an option, and some organists use the cornet 2' that way. To me it is a bit too prominent as part of the Pedal reed chorus and therefore conflicts with the counterpoint in the upper voices. I keep hearing it especially when accompanying a mixture plenum on the manuals. Using it with the pedal mixture is out of the question

[@joannescouchet7038]

@@bkarosi I agree, when playing a Bach fugue for instance I would not use it. But for something like chorale in bass for a North German setting I very much prefer a pure pedal reed plenum to a mixture one. (for instance, Weckmann's Zinck registration used Principal 24' plus pedal reeds from 16 to 2' - very heavy pedal!)

[@bkarosi]

@@joannescouchet7038 I take it back! I did use that registration myself here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3aTlYebecmih9U

[@jeromeschmitz8504]

What temperament is this?

[@bkarosi]

Kellner

[@jeromeschmitz8504]

👍 very beautiful

[@raynere4154]

Hi

[@SoggySandwich80]

I wish more organs were built like this, how the console looks makes it sound different for me. And the cookie cutter American console is BORING and needs to be abandoned

[@karlrovey]

The consoles may be boring, but they are usually quite practical. Take a Holtkamp low profile console as an example. It doesn't look like much, but the location of the flip tabs makes them incredibly useful.

[@willemvaningen2747]

Typical USA , over exaggerating this organ. It is nice, but not very special.

[@petermacander2061]

"One of the most beautiful organs?" You must be kidding!

[@organbuilder272]

Hey dude. 34 stops on a 4 division organ is not really a good design. Baroque most likely. This is like a car thet you buy and it can only turn to the left. Useless except for going in circles. Great for baroque music but not even good at that. The visual aspects are indeed impressive. It still does not match the grandeur of the European organs of this size, regrettably.

[@DavidKrautscheid]

thats so badly voiced that i cant listen even a second..no warmth no fullness no resonance no bass no low end nothing.just disgusting thin shrill sound with nothing behind it you never heard a wurlitzer,kimball barton compton morton theatre organ or any midmer losh organ

[@Airy59]

Compton is for Whitlock, and this Brombaugh is for Scheidemann. There is plenty of fullness in those principals, by the way.