...from WESTMINSTER ABBEY to a tiny Dorset Village

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[@garya4997]

My grandmother was born in Wimborne but she and her family left in 1912 for Canada. I spent a week traveling around to village parish churches to the west and south of Wimborne where her own ancestors had been baptized, married, and buried for 300 years or more. The experience of visiting those little churches which are still so lovingly maintained was incredible. What a brilliant idea, Ben, to create this program that focuses on those small churches and highlights their organs, as well as history.

[@TheJojo01902]

It’s a treat to listen to a collection of pieces which are quiet and reflective. Thank you for blessing us, Bearded Ben. 🙂

[@SalisburyOrganist]

My pleasure!

[@NiallMS1]

We better have a whip-round for a razor!! Thanks Ben; great clip of that lovely old church, which has five bells! BTW if you're seeking a good acoustic try Milton Abbey!

[@nattance1]

No razor, pls.!

[@lizwilliams14]

Neither of my sons had a beard when they were younger, but they both had “hair adventures”. Pony tails etc. Some years later, I had my older son’s university grad photo on the wall. He had glasses and a fringe(bangs) hairstyle and was holding a rolled up diploma. I said to his daughter “who’s that Violet?” She looked at it and said “Harry Potter!!” There you go Ben! Years later your youthful hair adventures make your 3 year old thinks you’re something from a movie! Liz❤

[@alannakennedy5273]

As an American I love the music and history. However the bonus is the views of the English country side. Thank you.

[@davef.2329]

Outstanding, as always, Ben.Your videography and narration skills rival those of your musical talents. Thanks.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Excellent comment 👍

[@bcd4562]

Thank you so much for these beautiful concerts you give us. I also enjoy the scenery and the history of the church and the instrument. Your selections are excellent and well thought. I am not alone when I say you are appreciated. Love from Chicago

[@marccheban194]

Ben, it is a joy to watch your hands caress beautiful music from the keyboards of an organ. There is such respect and Love in your playing.

[@davidthompson3415]

Wow, where are these guys hiding? Don't they know that the world needs more of them. Beautiful organ music and faith in our God. 😊

[@helena9665]

Everybody admires your play. It's realy marvelous. I as a foreigner admire your English too.

[@user-ji9dv3jr1c]

Ben, the beard is coming along nicely! “Where’ere you Walk” was one of my mom’s favourite pieces. I do believe she could hear from heaven your lovely rendition. Thank you.

[@annenewton5403]

Oh such amazing music, Handel’s funeral music for Queen Mary is so hauntingly beautiful.

[@matthewstokes1608]

Your films and music are a gift to this old Englishman - a Thanetian living in exile in central Mexico. The magnificence of God is embedded in these churches, in the music and words that you so beautifully revivify - and the land itself… Your work is just excellent. Englishmen must turn back to God properly through Christ or the country will soon be swept away into godlessness or the perfect reward will be misery.

[@marye7798]

Well said. Amen 🙏

[@dolvaran]

I fear it is too late. The country was swept away into godlessness several decades ago now. We are reaping what was sown.

[@matthewstokes1608]

@@dolvaran indeed… It’s Biblical. But remember, after the worst comes the best! God is already Triumphant in our eternal victory… God Bless now

[@wisjoh1]

Thou Art a sincere Lad ..... It's a wonderful Thing ... 😊

[@larryboekeloo5514]

What a master at the keyboard! You always select music that treats us to the tonal quality and range of the organ. Thanks so much Ben! Have a great and blessed Easter with your family!

[@joschmoyo4532]

Big Ben does it again. Nice one son. That's an excellent example of exterior case work. Walker Organs are top notch.

[@Green11Xish]

It´s indeed one of those amazing musical discoveries to hear the inscrutable works of God´s blessings when an organist like Ben Maton is at the keyboards.

[@waynevaughan7159]

Beautiful, peaceful, and grand, for a royal queen, Good Queen Mary!

[@jacoboVE_Cultura]

¿ ?

[@tomarmstrong1281]

I was a choirboy in our parish church from age ten till about fifteen. That would have been 1950 until 1955. Most of the hymn tunes you play take me back to those times.

[@thomaskrafft9890]

Thanks! Your videos are so thoughtfully narrated and recorded. I love that you give history, liturgical perspective, and musical lessons in an unrushed manner. (The beard is looking distinguished-don’t let it get unkempt. 😊) cheers to you, Ben!

[@noelbolingbroke-kent3009]

My God, how wonderful thou art, thy majesty how bright; divine when played on an organ once in Westminster Abbey. Even more divine is Handel’s hauntingly beautiful Where’er you walk. Old organists like old soldiers never die, they simply fade away. Ben will never fade away and might even be Sir Ben Maton in 50 years’ time.

[@amber40494]

My piano professor had a sign on his studio door that said, "old pianists never die. They just lose their tinkle"

[@Quince828]

@@amber40494and old organists never die they just lose their wind

[@StSergius415]

A perfect Holy Week offering. Great to hear this chamber organ played by some of the Great and Glorious of Westminster ... and now by you. Thank you for your dedication and for sharing your passion.

[@smmcb647]

Deliciously sombre. Yes, to hear that plaintiff, soothing pipe organ sound is a wonderful relief from the noise of everything else in our humdrum lives.

[@alainriviere7950]

Thank you for everything you do , Mr. Ben Maton

[@drvonkrauss490]

You can feel the presence of God in this beautiful music.

[@matthewstokes1608]

Indeed you can… His perfect magnificence

[@maureenwhiteley2052]

Ben thank you once again for your beautiful video. I particularly loved you playing " Where'er you walk by Handel. Very reflective and prayerful. Thanks.

[@2Hearts3]

Ah, Dorset... land of the filming of "Goodbye Mr Chips." (1969 Peter O'Toole and Petula Clark) Beautiful 🐑👨🏻‍🎓🎶

[@Musician-Lee]

Very enjoyable Ben. Aside from the really beautiful music, you are a phenomenal videographer and producer. Compelling from the start to the very finish!

[@dshey6802]

Another winner by Ben. Thank you so much, Ben.

[@mirandarudzki]

Very inspiring. I enjoyed Purcell’s Funeral March for Queen Mary and also the beautiful words with Handel’s Where'er You Walk.

[@canoeman621]

Thanks Ben, I am a Yank with ties to England through friends in Devon, London and Nottinghamshire. I have not been back since the Pandemic and I so enjoy your channel, commentary, and of course the music!

[@jacoboVE_Cultura]

The pieces chosen to be performed on this historic organ from the famous Westminster Abbey are very successful. I am impressed every time I listen to the piece composed for Queen Mari's funeral. The church is very beautiful and looks very well cared for, upon discovering Ben's KZbin channel admired his love for these magnificent instruments and I decided to follow him from the distance of my city in the east of the Kingdom of Spain next to the Mediterranean. A virtual hug from a fervent follower.😊👏♥️ P.S. I see a certain charm Ben with that unshaven half beard that flatters your appearance.😄

[@z.l.burington1183]

A beautiful organ indeed. The keys have had so many hands pass over them that they are discolored.

[@catherinechiara3914]

Glorious!!! I learn so much from your videos. A thousand thanks 🙏

[@jacquelinehartnett997]

It was lovely to hear ‘Where e’er you walk ‘ again. I remember singing it at school 60 years or so ago and I have always remembered the tune. Somehow I associate it with Shakespeare and Puck. Thanks

[@ericalbany]

Such a Gracious sound

[@gregcrease8066]

The soft (flute?) stop is particularly beautiful. This organ seems to breathe the country air. I like the over the keyboard shots so I can work out what key you are in, and appreciate your manoeuvre of the bass line without pedals! The Handel piece brought back memories of accompanying my cousin at many family Christmas concerts.

[@amber40494]

Thank you for the Purcell!

[@andrewstrathdee1469]

Thank you once again Ben for the highlight of my day. The Purcell March was particularly haunting and delightfully played on that specific organ. Keep on with producing these excellent videos, please. Donation made! A.

[@ianwilliams2632]

Lovely flint coursing on the middle bits of the church tower. Very quirky place.

[@alanstewart1596]

I get a charge out of reading all the comments of affection people experience in your music and your dialogue. You are making the world a better place. Thank you.

[@stephen4355]

Now you are venturing west into Dorset. A must video is of Sherborne Abbey. An organ in the most amazing building . Its organ has been changed rebuilt many times . Some say disastrously in the past . Be interesting to have your take. Enjoying your programs . Thank you.

[@wry6read]

The Purcell funeral piece is eerie indeed - each phrase seemingly a repetition of a single statement/question/glorification of some sort, ending in a way suggesting resolution has been withheld!

[@joantennant5579]

Thank you Ben for another wonderful video it’s always a pleasure to listen to you play the different organs 😊and the lovely churches you visit yes ha ha your beard is growing take care till next time we have your pleasure in taking us to visit another beautiful church and organ 👵🏻

[@tomfurgas2844]

The Ground by Purcell is one of my favorite of his works. I used to play it at the piano. At one time I knew all of his eight Suites, but have gotten out of practice.

[@franceswood3966]

Wishing you a Happy Easter Ben 🎚❤️🙏 Thank you.

[@jamesv9221]

Fantastic Ben, the best video so far and that's a lot because they are all fantastic

[@jpadiver]

Another fantastic discovery and recital, thank you Ben for what you do! The history of these small village churches is a source of unending intrigue.

[@user-zq3kb7ug5c]

Greetings from Ireland Ben!☘️🇮🇪You have truly been gifted by God. Thank you for sharing . Like the beard also! Happy Easter. John Noel

[@freddyjoe8561]

My goodness Ben, the "likes" is ticking over like a car speedo. Thanks for your lovely poetic presentation. Does the sun ever come out in England I wonder?

[@gracewenzel]

The sun does come out in England, but only when it’s inconvenient

[@tonycross5801]

Hey I like the cloudy weather in old blighty. I think the Purcell just evokes the right atmosphere.

[@stephenmorris2420]

He-he!! I live in South Wales and trust me Wiltshire and Dorset are positively arid in comparison 😊

[@moonloversheila8238]

Yes! It’s been gloriously sunny here in Lancashire recently. Real spring days with a blue sky.

[@patrickharris5903]

The beard suits you. I enjoy your videos . Take care ..dare I say mate ? ;-)

[@user-id9fv6of6x]

How I do appreciate your enthusiastic & gleeful joy in presenting these types of musical offerings & presentations. As always, I deeply appreciate the musical tutorial & musical lessons that resonate so deeply for me as an individual possessing only modest musical skills & knowledge. Your last musical selection instantly brought me back to my youth since this was a selection of music I had to prepare & perform for voice recital over 50 years ago. (in German, no less) I sincerely appreciate how these offerings do bring back memories that I long ago had forgotten. Yes, I do enjoy your channel & will gladly continue my support of your efforts. This is Peter; out!

[@user-id9fv6of6x]

Please now accept my apologies for my musical error. I should not watch your channel "under the influence of"! In rewatching this wonderful musical offering & tutorial, I now realise that I 'MIXED" Handel with Bach. Indeed, my error!!! My only defense was that I was "drunk" AND quite moved by the music at hand. What I sang was "Bist du bei mir"!!! But, I have sung "where'er you walk" in recital too! Please accept this clarification from an old FOOL! I do appreciate your channel, I am subscriber, and I do occasionally offer financial support. But, I am embarrassed for my error. But, thank you for your wonderful offerings!!!!!

[@joschmoyo4532]

Excellent video Ben. Really enjoyed that. You communicate coherently and with sincerity. Your videos are real gem's and so is that Walker. Thanks for quickly crediting the builder and showing his makers plate. It was much appreciated. You have the soul of a poet and that makes all the difference. I suspect you were very fortunate in your mentor's. Thank you again.

[@horatiohornblower868]

Excellent choice of music in this Holy Week, Ben! Thnak you for that.

[@lapianissimo]

Oh, I love that last Handel piece! Thank you for another lovely video.

[@MaryAnnLaRue]

THANK You Ben so love filled

[@alexandermenzies9954]

Well chosen, Ben, this episode itself could have been a scene from Tess. Your camera work is excellent.

[@marie-annecody83]

Thanks for this ben, i love purcell .. I think i enjoyed his bits of the video best x

[@myboibill]

Very nice offering this week. You appear to have lost weight over winter and have become very photogenic. I think television should find a place for you as you are so informative in a very nice way.

Totally agree, but 25 years too late for the insane BBC.

[@LS-rj3xu]

PLEASE NO TV! Your individuality is what makes your channel so special ... it would get eroded by others.

[@myboibill]

@@LS-rj3xu you have a rather valid pointe.

[@rgnotdead]

@@myboibill 🙂

[@gwm_john]

you keep getting sexier in every video Ben I love watching them and hearing you playing beautiful music ❤️ thank you 🙏

[@stewarthartley7613]

James Turle was the first organist at St. JAMES Bermondsey where he inaugurated the 1828 Bishop Organ. Said to be the first with Pedal division with a small keyboard for a second player to play the pedal part.🎉

[@cloviarice1593]

I think this one of ur top videos. Just wonderful. ❤

[@giuliakhawaja7929]

I really appreciate all the work which you put in to give us these gems each week Ben. Thank you again.

[@davidwilliams8405]

Oh that's right, I did walk past Handle's gravestone/monument when last I was in Westminister Abbey last August, wasn't able to take a photograph because of all the crowds. Glad to know that chamber organ was given to a rural parish church. Well done Ben for another quality and informative video.

[@walterbutler4261]

Ben, thanks for bringing the world of the English countryside and beautiful old churches to life for those of us 5,000 miles away across an ocean. I also appreciated your noting Purcell's descending bass line. Your comments complements the work of one of your fellow English KZbinrs - ("Listening In") - who did an extensive study of the "Lament Bass" and its use from the early days through modern times. Thanks for mentioning this - a significant part of music history.

[@bindatek8801]

Ben, Immediately you started to play this instrument....one word came to mind....quality!

[@dianedurham2896]

Thanks from amidst the Pondarosa pines of the Tonto National Forest, Arizona. Your videos are always a pleasant surprise.

[@markbell9973]

Am Mark from Apache County, currently though in Salt Lake City. What happened to me when suddenly I noticed your comment and saw the familiar markers of the national forests in our home state? Ben's so agreeable, beautiful English. Ditto for the English countryside, church and organ. Similar scenes, clear as day but from memories of childhood and teens. It all someow aligned and came together. The two spaces really do have their similar, also parallel resemblances. The White Mountains with its lakes and dense fir forests are where our family spent lots of happy time. Greer, to be specific. But sure that wide open feeling of the ponderosas around Flagstaff and elsewhere. Both types of forests have their magic. And they are still pretty much uninhabited and undeveloped. Much to be happy about in this year 2024! Knew I'd be saying this to s/o who totally gets it. Thx for listening.

[@barbaraturner8534]

What a wonderful tone to the "Westminster Organ" Turl st Oxford? around the corner from The Sheldonian Theatre. Where I attend many wonderful concerts.

[@8000Christopher]

18:10 Handel's Where'er You Walk, a beautiful piece,. Nicely played and thank you for playing it, maybe someday I can sing it while you play !

[@allegro1234]

Bryn Terfel sings Where’er You Walk on his Handel Arias cd. Gorgeous. I knew I’d heard it before when you started playing it.

[@elizabethtallman3280]

I love Thomas Hardy, especially his description of the constellations in Far From the Madding Crowd.

[@suzanneknowles5361]

I really love Purcell's Music for the funeral of Queen Mary. I remember having to sing the quartet 'Man that is born of a woman has but a short time to live etc.' just three weeks after my father's funeral.

[@timdaugherty5921]

handsome beard!!!

[@lauralockwood1377]

Wonderful video. Thanks Ben. What a quality instrument! It looks so modest too.

Ben Betjeman ! Keep them coming our friend. Super video once again.

[@scottjohnson6173]

That was a beautiful piece!

[@nancyfalciani5499]

Thank you, Ben, for this video with such poignant music so perfect for this Holy Week! It was perfectly beautiful and helped me reflect on God’s Grace and Gift to us on that first Easter morning. Happy Easter!-Nancy F. (I think the beard will be a smashing success!)

[@glorisyoung9696]

You're getting fuzzy! Haha! You had "warned" us you would be growing a beard, and you are! Really appreciate these videos, Ben! God bless you from Las Vegas area, Nevada, USA.

[@williamzehring5279]

Can I spend a year or two riding around with you and visiting all these places and listening to all this music? Dinner's on me.

[@dianawright6285]

Really enjoyed the video. Loved the link to Dido's lament. Thank you also for the poetry.

[@bobbyhendley3084]

Well worth your drive!

[@norahdenovan8658]

Ben, all I have to say is a huge…. THANK YOU 🙏 I so enjoy watching you& your wonderful videos, it makes my day 🙏

[@maryannsall3704]

Thanks!

[@brianeibisch6025]

Amazing to be playing on a 700 year old organ in Church. Maybe someone will renew the keyboard one day but the rest of the organ looks fine; may need the dust removed from the pipes but still sounds pretty good. Cheers love your work here Ben.

[@jacquelinehartnett997]

Thanks

[@56babbi]

I love the Purcell(s). And the thoughtful description of church and countryside. Thanks. Nice beard though 🙂

[@robertmdaniels]

Thoroughly enjoyed the history, music, views, and most of all, your way of bringing those things to life for us.

[@annetaylor7834]

Thank you, Ben. Your videos bring such joy.

[@HansFonck]

Many thanks from Holland/Amstelveen for this video

[@hillabodeRB]

Thank you

[@alwaysbearded1]

Still catching up with you and your channel. I like the beard! Keep it. A splendid church and organ story. Your area is so rich in history.

[@zonabrown9241]

❤luv where ere you walk its a great tenor solo❤

[@meryle.hawkins880]

Your channel is absolutely beautiful I love church organ music and your playing soothes my soul. Thank you

[@meerkat7400]

The denim jacket looks great on you! Wonderful playing and informative video as always :) Thanks

[@DavidSherwood-nj9zf]

I just love what you do !!!

[@federicoprice2687]

Where'er you walk Cool gales shall fan the glade Trees where you sit Shall crowd into a shade Trees where you sit Shall crowd into a shade Another lovely video, thank you Ben. Drive a bit further SW sometime, plenty of beautiful churches and interesting organs down in East Devon. You'll be made very welcome - especially in Ottery St Mary, where you can play the hymn tune 'Ottery St Mary' by the distinguished organist Henry G Ley on the organ of St Mary's Church, Ottery St Mary. And if you do (given you're a fellow SPC scholar), I'll buy you a huge devonshire cream tea afterwards!

[@PortsladeBySea]

❤🎹🎶👍

[@stephenmorris2420]

Thanks very much for another great video. Enjoying very much Hope Easter goes well with you

[@EdwardPietersz]

Awesome Ben... 'Where'er you walk'... One of my favourite precies of music!

[@user-be7wp2mv5u]

Beautiful job Ben I so enjoy your channel the music & history are so peaceful ❤ 21:32

[@heerschappouls7351]

I like to see all this Church, the Organ's to hear, and the information, and like the way you tell us the story's with a wonderful voice to listning to.

[@michaeljking]

Beautifully played and presented. Where can we find the sheet music for James Turle's chant for Psalm 69?

[@Pitcairn2]

Another great presentation and performance😊