"Come, Sweet Death" - Bach - Berlin Reed Organ

Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh (Come, Sweet Death, Come Blessed Rest) is originally a piece for solo voice and basso continuo, which expresses the desire for death and heaven, written by J. S. Bach.
You might have noticed that this same video was posted over 10 years ago on my channel, but I was asked if it was possible to remaster the audio, as I was using primitive equipment at the time. This is the remastered version.
Recorded in April 2011, on a reed organ manufactured in 1897 by the Berlin Organ Company, in Berlin (now Kitchener) Ontario, Canada.

[@darryledwards4217]

Your "Largo" or even "Grave" Interpretation is vibrantly soul-grounding. Thank you, Rodney.

[@ReedOrgans]

I think it is Grave, maybe a little below the grave since it takes a while to crawl along :)

[@timheiberger9134]

Amen to that. Very touching piece

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@ReedOrgans I followed along w/ the Sheet music of the Virgil Fox arranegment, & yeah it's the Virgil Fox arrangement transcribed for Reed Organ.

[@CharlesLangSamuel]

Wow wow. What a display of the artistic capacities of the instrument. The Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall organ recital for Halloween has nothing on this, despite being an instrument a thousand times larger.

[@JB-ru2zb]

I was wondering why this was re-posted. Now we don't suffer the bandwidth lag that would make this take 8 hours to upload. The fullness of the sound now is amazing.

[@davidk2158]

This is my favorite piece played you've posted. I was trying to figure out why this "new" video sounded so familiar. You're channel keeps re-inspiring me to return to my own reed organ. Thanks for your continued uploads over the years

[@TJDuffy-ip3ue]

Dude, awesome performance, not too slow, great expressions. One of my favorite pieces from Bach. Always will be. Halfway through I thought, "I hope he plays it an octave higher so I can hear those reeds." Thanks for reading my mind.

[@quickfoxxes]

My goodness what a magnificent instrument!! This Virgil Fox version of Come Sweet Death is the best one. Your skill and love of the instrument and the music you've selected on your channel are evident and much appreciated. Thank you for sharing with those of us who appreciate your efforts, even if vicariously. DJ in Knoxville TN

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Yes that's the Virgil Fox arrangement played on Reed Organ. It's very expressive in its dynamics by how hard you pump the Foot Pedals & if Virgil fox played the Reed Organ he would've played it this way

[@quickfoxxes]

I have my grandmother's reed organ, which has been in use within the family for years. To keep the bellows full not only requires pumping in variable speeds, but the knee paddles also help with the dynamic sounds.@@RockStarOscarStern634

[@ZeldaZelda-RichesToRags]

Yes… loved hearing Virgil Fox play this on the Tomaskirsh organ. But Rodney plays this to perfection!

[@ZeldaZelda-RichesToRags]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 but Virgil would have asked Rodney for a few pointers!

[@cnidariantimes]

The warm reedy parlor tone really works well for this.

[@ssmith9745]

Wow! Beautiful! I didn't know such subtlety was possible on a reed organ - and I have played them since I was a child! I've always thought that there was no musical sound better than that produced by organ *pipes* filled with air; but I now have a new appreciation for the sound of a bunch of brass reeds set a-buzz by the (carefully-controlled!) rush of air pumped by foot into the wind-chest beneath them!

[@new-zelind]

Such an amazing interpretation of this piece! The reeds adds so many layers to this already spectacular piece. Amazing job as always! (Bonus points for uploading Bach right before Reformation Sunday...)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I recognize this one. It's Virgil Fox's arrangement played on the Reed Organ. Virgil Fox was a great Organist, & if he had a Reed Organ he would've been able to play his Pipe Organ arragements on a Reed Organ for a new sound. You were starting out quietly & as you pumped harder & harder the instrument sounded louder & louder. Reed Organs & Harmoniums are the most expressive Organ on their own by how hard you pump the Bellows.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Remarkable. A most impressive performance.

[@michaelsullivan3233]

Yes I agree. Previously I have never thought very much of Reed organs.

[@markmartin5248]

This is great, I am an old choirboy from 1962 -1974 Corpus Christi Church in NYC. I mis singing for all events. I even played the King Of Instruments at communeon. Cant spell it cause I am a jew being hidden by a Mother in fear. You folks understand. I ended up in marrage to two nice jewish women as time went on and mom admitted misteakes and not buying me a dog ta boot. Alone, and happy.

[@HikikomoriHimitsu]

Nothing ever sounded any more real to me than this. 💚💀

[@SteffieStev]

Beautiful Rodney! Very impressive! This piece is perfectly suited to a reed organ because of the volume changes. Best regards from Holland!

[@bodiend8033]

A stirring interpretation, Rodney. I am floored at the depth, resonance, and power you rouse out of a single manual parlor organ. Soli Deo gloria!

[@jimbo3847]

Those low reeds have such a lovely purr

[@andrewkessinger5966]

Beautiful. I think I want to learn this on my reed organ.

[@duaneadams5210]

Wow !! Wonderful pedal control. Absolutely beautiful. Couldn't have been done better on a pipe organ. What a great organ you have there, and you know how to get the best out of it. I watch and listen to all your videos and really enjoy your sharing of your talent. Thank You so much.

[@gregorylagerstam2488]

Stunning!

[@Aeolian4]

Brilliant playing, you are a true artist.

[@coxqt]

Wow!

[@BartManNL]

I am at a loss for words, absolutely beautiful

[@wheidelberg]

Brilliant execution!!

[@vikingbeard]

Wow! I've listened to a few reed organ and harmonium videos recently and this sounds nothing like the others. Amazing, thank you!

[@patrickhenderson3108]

I always sing or ATTEMPT to sing the lyrics when you play and this song and your methodical playing are a great duo 🙌🏽. Please keep em coming, I hope I can purchase a reed organ one day

[@EugeneVet]

that was really beautiful

[@vacbrewernut]

Wow. I never heard this before. Thank you for moving me.

[@ollehedstrom3536]

Haunting piece of music.

[@hazman1001]

this is amazing. how do you record the organ? i struggle to get such a clear and rich tone in recordings.

[@brazilchannel9697]

I love this interpretation

[@ZeldaZelda-RichesToRags]

Rodney… I pray that you and your family are doing well….my husband and I are struggling with serious health issues.. but I’m still playing my beautiful pump organ… I play The Lords Prayer every day… my pump organ was fully restored and in like new condition… was $195 asking price and when I played it.. I was in heaven and tried to pay her much more.. she refused to take a dime more. Its my biggest blessing ever. If you run across another Berlin.. I’d be interested in purchasing it

[@3YearsApart1613]

Really like your use of dynamics.

[@CommunityGuidelines]

Very nicely done, an expressive performance.

[@mkshffr4936]

Inspired interpretation brother. BTW would love for you to do a video on the cost, care, and feeding of a reed organ. Might be the perfect instrument for an off grid cabin.

[@timdaugherty5921]

Ohhhhhhh

[@Zoom_1012]

Is there a pedal board on this organ? I can't believe such a low rich sound is coming out of a relatively small organ. It's amazing.

[@timheiberger9134]

Hi Rodney, I purchased my first reed organ yesterday. Its a beautiful Beckwith (Sears & Roebuck) in excellent condition with the bellows having recently been refurbished. The reeds do need to be cleaned and tuned. I need to check it with a tuner. It seems to be 448-452. Is your Berlin organ in this pitched at 440? Thanks for making these videos. This song and Highland Cathedral on the Packard are my favorites! Also are some of the organs you have pitched at 440?

[@jrzzrj]

👍......

[@Engineer9736]

It's beautifully played, and audio quality is generally good, but there is quite a disturbing hiss in the recording, as if a bicycle wheel is leaking badly. Not meant to denigrate your work (it's amazing), but maybe something to keep an eye on at remastered version 2 🙂. I see that the original recording doesn't have this hissing noise.

[@jasonsummit1885]

In the video it looks like the right knee lever is for volume and the left is a bass coupler? We used to have a Berlin reed organ which I loved to play but we had to sell it. Didn't want to move it to our new house, and it was in a state of disrepair.

[@howinteresting2]

Where can I get the printed music for this, I wonder? Great piece 👍

[@howinteresting2]

Any suggestions please?

[@Mr-Prasguerman]

Ragtime please

[@Engineer9736]

no

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@Engineer9736 He's working on that & that requires an 88 Key Reed Organ called a Pianorgan

[@Engineer9736]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 ok