Elgar's Nimrod performed live on the Royal Albert Hall organ (BBC Proms 2020)

Organist Jonathan Scott performs his own arrangement of Elgar's much-loved work live at the 2020 BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall.
Watch the full Symphonic Organ Prom on BBC iPlayer:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...
For more Proms performances head to BBC iPlayer: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...
Listen to and download a selection of Proms on BBC Sounds: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b0...
Dig deep in to performances, articles, photos and more at: www.bbc.co.uk/proms

[@andrewkessinger5966]

Jonathan Scott is one of the best organists of all time.

[@garethonthetube]

May years ago I took a visitor from Canada to the Proms. The LSO played The Enigma Variations. He couldn't believe you could just rock up, join the queue, and listen to the pinnacle of English music played by the LSO in the Royal Albert Hall. He was in heaven.

[@wbrett77]

4 years on, I recognise the comfort this has given- sublime

[@olafzuberbuehler3015]

To hear this is reason enough to go on living ❤🙏🏻

[@airborneyvb6544]

This is Remembrance for me. I remember my Bothers lost in Afghanistan, everyday I’m thankful to have known you and fought alongside you. Airborne Warriors. Ready For Anything.

[@6024kingedward1]

What a top comment. Thank you Sir, for your service and that of your lost Brothers. We will never know...

[@airborneyvb6544]

@@6024kingedward1 thank you. Humbled by your comment. Very much appreciated.

[@stjer1]

What a tragedy! This music peace is indeed remembrance and salvation at a deep soul level. My thoughts are with you today after reading your comment. 🙏🏽

[@wallbars8684]

Respect. A fittingly patriotic piece of music for our armed forces heroes.

[@airborneyvb6544]

@@stjer1 thank you for this reply, my apologies for missing it, I don’t know why. Humbled.

[@greerbox]

How can anyone give that a ‘thumbs down’ Jonathan, that was a beautiful rendition of my favourite piece of music. Thank you, you are a wonderful artist, my best wishes to you and your brother

[@adorabasilwinterpock6035]

Maybe the terrible audio quality, the deafening static ruins it

[@ds1868]

@@adorabasilwinterpock6035 The RAH is not the greatest venue to record. When it was built such issues were not considered. It's not a satisfying place to perform either. You just need to accept the uniqueness of the venue and get on with it.

[@adorabasilwinterpock6035]

@@ds1868 It is not the venue, but the microphone

[@ruthjanes3551]

Jonathan deserves more recognition, he's certainly not pleased with himself!

[@avpmobi]

​@@adorabasilwinterpock6035 obviously your playback system!

[@martinhunt3341]

One of the finest pieces of music played by one of the finest and best organists on what is quite possibly the finest sounding organ in this great country of ours. Absolutely spine tingling!

[@kyrvhy]

So touching to hear this music, usually shared by an enthusiastic audience, played in an empty hall and filmed for us to enjoy.

[@xaviox]

The greatest young organist of the northwest.... I'd say the uk. Absolutely amazing as per usual.

[@6024kingedward1]

Just the UK?- I think he ranks (pardon the pun!) up there among the world's greatest...

[@dementedgamer0810]

The pipe organs are not just recognized as scary sounds from horror movies. They are also recognized as absolutely AMAZING instruments! Their sounds can bring every single emotion at once. For me, Nimrod is best played by a pipe organ, to really capture and express the feelings of this song. Elgar is a wonderful artist! This song literally makes me feel like I'm ascending and floating in the sky, as if I'm in heaven. Especially the part where most of the stops (which are the draw knobs in the side) are pulled! It feels so amazing! Imagine seeing someone play a pipe organ up close. Just...wow! Absolute 10/10 for me!

[@bmbutler2]

Who recognizes them from horror movies?! Good grief.

[@Montecarlolou]

This was my wedding march 37 years ago. So stately and uplifting, building as I got to my groom

[@garethwilkinson3456]

Bravo and God Bless you. Both.

[@tommaxwell4470]

King of all instruments

[@MrAsBBB]

Best proms ever, well I am biased I spend all my time listening to the Scott Bros. When you spot genius you know it!

[@lfricmunuc4534]

It is so weird seeing him outside his usual channel on a BBC one instead. It must just show how good he is.

[@edwardnah6739]

This is magnificent and graceful performance.

[@billace90]

Goosebumps. After all these years (I am 71), Elgar still manages to raise my pulse, and activate my lachrymal glands, upon hearing this. This rendition is impeccable. Thank you very much!

[@ricowilko]

Me too.

[@SANDSCORCHER]

Well said. I couldn’t agree more. 👍🏻

[@BikerBytes]

I'm an expat living in Australia originally from Worcester, Elgar's city. If anything can make me homesick its Nimrod.

[@harrietharlow9929]

This brings me to tears every time I hear it. This is a gorgeous rendition. This is used in the famous scene in "Dunkirk" when all the Little Ships are approaching Dunkirk, though that is an orchestral version. Thank you for for posting this.

[@johnanderson3700]

Love this piece: don’t get to hear it often these days. Well played.

[@drbobdrake]

Too bad the BBC will not allow the posting on KZbin of Jonathan’s entire Proms concert. His transcription of the entire Saint-Saëns “Organ” symphony was spectacular.

[@jscobie4]

Absolutely stunning

[@KayTeaPie]

Very relaxing to wake up to on a Sunday morning in Sydney. Thank you. ❤️ Wish we were all there. (Was in 2017!)

[@xaviox]

It's from this year's prom... He spoke on it on his recent upload

[@KayTeaPie]

Sorry, I meant I was there in 2017. It was 7am, that’s my excuse! 😃

[@jakesrailwaychannel]

what a beautiful arrangement of this very powerful piece of remembrance music absolutely beautiful

[@Ryan.C.Hallengren]

Immediately upon graduation from college... Royal Albert Hall now and forever.

[@ricowilko]

Wonderfully stirring.

[@kelvinsmallwood6315]

beautifully performed. A beautiful piece of music & the most popular in the complete variations.

[@elainekerslake6865]

Immense performance.

[@marknightingale1850]

lovely

[@merledoughty5787]

If you ever want to test how your stereo sounds this tune is the best tune evr it hits the hi and mid to low ranges of my old analogue sytem well and the speakers handle it well, I can feel the air out of one speaker that sits up close to where I am on the computer

[@martyrrt]

Ten fingers and two feet produce the Glorious.

[@tangofizz77]

Good 'ol beebs. Putting on their best, no matter the situation. Entire hall lit up to an audience of none, all the engineers putting in their best effort. The show must go on. So proud.

[@SANDSCORCHER]

Astonishing.

[@horsewithnoname547]

This is one of the moments I realise what I lost when I left the UK 3 years ago (not on my own accord, mind you..).. I'm so f.....g homesick... I'm homesick, and not even british, but I was forced and didn't want to leave in the first place... Wish I was home 😟

[@YoutubeBasque]

Superb

[@darthlinathegreat7489]

I just noticed by watching this video is that at 3:48-3-50 as the camera is panning out from the organ, right above where the organist is sitting…uh above the mirror you will the face of a person on the organ with sunrays coming out of the person, I though this instrument has a face of its own. Like in the original move of Beauty and the Beast from the 1990s VHS tape there is a scene where the organ Maestro Forte comes to life. I thought it was amazingly creepy and cool if any of you comes across this while watching this video. 🎶🎶❤️👍. Still love this instrument.

[@amangogna68]

Amazing !

[@FelipeMadinav]

Hearing Jonathan Scott play the organ live is a dream that one day I would like to fulfill. The passion with which he does his "job" is wonderful. I recommend that you visit his KZbin channel (scottbrotherduo) where he uploads videos every week and sometimes plays with his brother Tom. Thank you very much for this delight!

[@juliandolby]

Seeing the glorious BBC Proms in an empty hall brings home the tragedy that the pandemic has inflicted on the arts. The camera even panned over the seat, now dark and lifeless, that I had for the wonderful first night of the Proms in 2018. The vaccine cannot come soon enough.

[@vrfvfdcdvgtre2369]

Add SJW-conductoresses with agendas, and the culture is gone.

[@JohnHaslamMusic]

@@vrfvfdcdvgtre2369 look ma, a misogynist!

[@iseriver3982]

At least there's no coughing. Which is ironic.

[@robertoc2485]

PLANDEMIC my friend. And look what that experimental 'vaccine' has done.

[@petek7822]

And empty for what? Makes my blood boil 😡

[@elizabethsmith1803]

Elgar lived through WWI and then the Spanish Flu. Average age of death from Spanish flu in 1919-20 - 28. Average age of death from covid 2020-1 - 82.

[@AsteroidTVGaming]

wow

[@anthonycox5705]

The best of British.

[@accyreferee]

Sometimes in life, words are not needed.

[@fredandchris2024]

Très comment dire Église...belle orgue...

[@alejandrovidal6441]

Wonderful music! Brings tears to my eyes...No doubt Elgar and Handel are Britain's National Composers

[@ds1868]

We have many 'national' composers, not just Handel and Elgar.

[@alejandrovidal6441]

@@ds1868 It's only my opinion

[@MS-19]

Handel wasn't English, though he was 'adopted' (as was his music) by England, especially after having composed "Messiah" which was set in English and given most of its performances in the British Isles, both during his lifetime and increasingly after his death.

[@ds1868]

@@MS-19 Handel was a naturalised British subject he wasn't adopted. He simply followed his master the Elector of Hanover to London, the Elector becoming King of Great Britain and Ireland in 1714. The King wasn't adopted either by the way. And please remember the English are a Germanic race who invaded the island of Great Britain from Northern Germany in the 6th and 7th centuries, including the area which covers Hanover today. Same difference, with 1,200 years in between.

[@MS-19]

@@ds1868 It's a good point, though for all those that would claim Handel as a national English composer, one might argue that there were/are better candidates. Handel himself rated Henry Purcell very highly, saying once that he believed Purcell would have outshone him had he lived longer.

[@sallyogden9151]

💖

[@elizabethmh_465]

I listen to this when I am thinking about my grandad who I lost to cancer in October 2023

[@wolfgangresch1650]

👍👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏❣️

[@MM-we6yr]

He is truly an angle disguised an organist !!

[@bengosling3838]

We're all connected right? ❤

[@erzsebetkovacs899]

❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊❤❤❤❤👍👍👍🤝🤝👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@yohannesmebrahtom1916]

Amen Amen kale and kale kale green green kale kale green kale

[@Ryan.C.Hallengren]

If I ever land on british shores, I will find Diana everywhere.

[@bertspeggly4428]

The registration at 0:40 and at 1:52 interests me, the notes that Jonathan "thumbs" on a different manual seem too loud to me and don't blend as they should. I would like to hear what he has to say. I usually find absolutely nothing to criticize in his technically superb and splendidly musical performances. Thanks!

[@Ryan.C.Hallengren]

This tells me, the phenix rises from the ashes. Some could have actually consummated to a piece like this.

[@nevillepalmer1]

I didn't really like how he cut from full volume at the end to pp.

[@MrMelonMuffins]

That's how its suppose to be bruv.

[@MS-19]

There is meant to be a diminuendo, but it is quite hard to achieve on the organ, because the boldest pipework is unenclosed, and always speaks at the same volume, whereas players of orchestral instruments can alter their volume and tone via breath or bow pressure and speed. For the organist, it's a case of shutting off the louder pipework as quickly and smoothly as possible - but however hard one tries, the effect will still be a bit bumpy.

[@6024kingedward1]

I noticed that too, but for me, it didn't take away from the sheer artistry he displayed throughout.

[@WillSuda]

There is a serious audio glitch at 4:10.

[@ds1868]

Nope. That is simply a change in registration by the organist.

[@WillSuda]

OK - I see it now - but the reduction of volume is so radical, it is almost inaudible.

[@ds1868]

@@WillSuda Yes I think it is a little too abrupt!

[@jacquesbrown3214]

Cause they just like Boom Boom Boom from the big sub woofer in the boot. It’s not what we call music. But what is music ? Discuss….

[@bmbutler2]

Needs forward movement to the musical line. Sorry. Just flat (not on pitch) sounding. Doesn’t move.

[@gmfamcdonald1465]

Lovely, but Jonathan looks pained and uncomfortable, as though the instrument is stiff and unco-operative. I prefer his rendition on the Taiwan organ. And, BBC doesn't cover it as well as Tom would.

[@ds1868]

This instrument is very comfortable to play. Jonathan is just expressive in the way he plays.

[@daviddent5734]

I'm afraid I can. Elgar didn't write it as a dirge. This performance as sickly slow as Bernstein's notorious orchestral version.

[@avpmobi]

This is certainly not a dirge, just slightly slower than written, slightly! It's organ not orchestra or military band. Expression!

[@enochpowelghost]

Dian bish did better version "nimrod"

[@Video7Rose]

NOT on your life!!!

[@westernshipway3115]

Terrible where did they get this organist from? His lack of experience showed on his footwork all over the place!

[@westernshipway3115]

He doesn't have a clue.

[@OrganMusicYT]

@@westernshipway3115 Perhaps you should check out Jonathan Scotts KZbin Channel - Scottbrothersduo

[@MS-19]

Western Shipway He's a leading concert virtuoso in the UK, and has been performing for many years now. Be assured that he is not lacking experience. Virtuoso players will use multiple playing aids with hands and feet; in a transcription like this one, and on an organ such as this, it's often necessary to be "all over the place." As another great virtuoso, Dame Gillian Weir, used to say to her pupils, "I don't mind if you play with your elbows, if it achieves the desired musical effect."

[@professorcynic]

YOU clearly know nothing! Little Pleb.

[@tobytopp9985]

To be honest the chapel organist we used to have at school could play this better than he can. But he was taught by Sir David Willcocks at the Royal College.