Fun in Frankfurt

[@Advent22mix]

This might be one of your best organ demos/tours yet! I don't think I've ever seen the complete tracker system from key to pipe shown and explained so clearly. What a fantastic instrument blending old and new technologies for the best of both worlds. I particularly like the "power steering" on the manual couplers. Thanks for another excellent video Fraser!

[@markcooke729]

As always, a fantastic video! Informative without speaking down to or over the heads of the novice or the knowledgeable and with great humour.I always look forward to your posts! Thanks once again!

[@FraserGartshore]

Thanks Mark! Sadly, not everyone gets the humorous intent! Even organists are real people too!

[@dixonsindorset]

Hi Fraser, I presume that you noticed during the editing that your new fangled microphone wasn't working and that all the sound was still being recorded by the phone/camera. Hope you get it working for next time! Glad you're better now.

[@timmclaughlin601]

The lapel mic is not working

[@FraserGartshore]

The joys of new toys. It turned out we missed an adapter - all sorted for future videos.

[@timmclaughlin601]

I do look forward to watching your next video with the mic working. You'll be able to do so much with it appreciating the freedom it gives you while recording into the camera on wide shots.

[@dixonsindorset]

@@FraserGartshore Glad you know about it and can get it sorted. Looking forward to the next episode! BTW, I loved the detailed explanation about tracker organs. Are they better than electrically controlled organs? If so, how and what do you prefer to play on yourself? What are the advantages of electrically controlled organs?

[@dulcian3230]

@@dixonsindorset I would say it depends. A mechanical tracker organ would fit a church in Baroque, Neo Baroque and Gothic style as Mitteregger and Schnitger in the North German Baroque style built only mechanical ones. An electrical or electropneumatic would fit a concerto hall, a romantic church or if you were to build an organ with a large number of stops. Advantages of electrical organs are the small resistance but that could fall on the delay between key press and pipe sounding which is not preferred if you were to play a fast figure as in Widors 6th organ symphony in the first movement.

[@davidredmayne7269]

That's a great sound Fraser...and I can see you're enjoying the radio-mic!!!

[@Nik-bo8di]

Never heard of Fraser Gartshore before, but living 350 meters away from this church and got this video in my suggestions...thanks google, I appreciate your data security

[@FraserGartshore]

Hope you enjoyed it anyway!

[@Nik-bo8di]

@@FraserGartshore I did!

[@moldenburg909]

Thank you for this nice tour in the inside of the organ. Really interesting. And of course thank you for playing. Thank you for sharing.

[@neilanyon4792]

Thank you, Fraser, for perhaps the best introduction to pipe organs I've seen. I will suggest this to anyone who asks about the organ as an instrument.

[@williammitchell1864]

I like the way Frazer explains everything in detail when things get technical!

[@dcminingtv9427]

Those string stops made me feel like I was in heaven.

[@BassBusMusic]

You might have been away for a while but you haven't half come back with a goody. Absolutely fascinating. The amount of work that goes into building an instrument like that is mind boggling. Stellar playing as always.

[@ssmows6]

Another fantastic video! I really enjoy watching your content and enjoy your playing. Keep up the great work!

[@RenzoColameoIrlanda]

Wow.... What a beautiful Organ..... Thanks a lot Mr. Fraser & Welcome back !!! . I really enjoyed all your explanation & your wife did a great camera work. Hugs & All the Best from Ireland: Renzo * The Italian.... :-)

[@TheMuteSwan]

What a beautiful organ, with a fantastic sound. Very informative vlog, and clear explanation on how a pipe organ works.

[@EventHorizon618]

Thanks for walking us through the mechanics and letting us hear all the various wonderful sounds

[@user-74652]

You honestly seem like the kind of person I would love to meet. Too bad I don't anticipate being able to go to Germany at any point in the future.

[@ianmiles]

Thank you for a wonderful Tour. Greetings from New Zealand.

[@wcdeckerjr]

I teach video recording classes and one thing I talk about is if you are not careful you may be recording with the mic in the camera when you think you are using the lapel mic. To be sure scratch on the mic to make sure you are using the one you think you are using. When you get back home it is too late..

[@wcdeckerjr]

Exactly! I usually record two channels as you describe. I usually watch KZbin with my earphones, and I could hear the audio switch from left to right as the camera was rotated in the above recording. I love Fraser"s videos. I have a pipe organ in my house. I am an electronic engineer not an organist. Go figure.

[@thomasstokhof5370]

Once again a very explanatory vlog! Thank you.

[@davidredmayne7269]

...also I noticed when you played at the end, how close the sound was to a theatre organ...just missing a bit more tremulant and you'd have been hard-pushed to know it was a church organ! Nice!

[@wolfgangb.schaffrath7507]

Hallo! Eine sehr sehr schöne Dokumentation über die Kirche und der super Orgel!! Qualität zahlt sich aus! Weiter so!!!!

[@michigancarwashchannel6353]

That is just a fascinating organ!!

[@ptgnyc9310]

There's a church here on the Upper East Side of Manhattan whose name I think is the English counterpart of 'Mutter vom Guten Rat'. It's 'Our Lady of Good Counsel'.

[@redmondmacdonagh7557]

I dare say that Mr Gartshore is not a papist!

[@herrickinman9303]

"Our Lady of Good Counsel" and "Mother of Good Counsel" are a few of the many traditional Marian titles.

[@TheOpus480]

I loved when you played that bach prelude in G. You should play more Bach. Especially when you show us how you learn it, it's really useful and gives me motivation lol

[@kelvinsmallwood6315]

This is the best organ demonstration I've heard & seen ,especially of the innards where you demonstrated how everything works. It must have taken months to build this organ. It would be interesting to know how long it took to build this organ? My compliments to the designer. A wonderful sound & beautiful church. I hope the church members appreciate this organ.

[@aschkinable7748]

👍🍻

[@SingerGeneLeonard]

Love that organ!!! Love they it’s all laid out from the pipes to the stops. Great presentation !!!!!

[@carlstenger5893]

What a beautiful instrument. I thoroughly enjoy your videos. Thank you so much!

[@danw1955]

Wow! What a sound! That organ is voiced perfectly for the space it speaks into.😁 I like the hybrid design with the tracker action and the electronics for the combination action. The stops actuate quickly but quietly. This would be a fantastic instrument to do a Hauptwerk sample set with! Fraser, glad to hear you're back on top of things... it's been a tough winter for everyone I know, and it's not quite over yet. Anyway, thanks for the demo. The Albiez organ sounds fantastic!😉🎵🎶🎵👍👍

[@krzysztofgentkowski4910]

tolle Videos mit Orgelpräsentation, viele Grüße aus Danzig

[@stefanschwarz1232]

Great video, GREAT organ! Love from Kyllburg. :)

[@MenelionFR]

A magnificent organ and a great description, thanks!

[@Mr05241948]

Thanks for your interesting and clear explanation of how the internals of a tracker organ works. This is a beautiful pipe organ. Glad you are feeling better, and looking forward to your new recording.

[@CaesarNeptuneStudios]

Another great organ with some nice features! These videos are truly addicting! I hope that organ will be cleaned it deserves some love!

[@papie7647]

"Mother of good Counsel" - wonderful sound!

[@kd5tmu]

Mother (Our Lady) of Good Counsel.

[@Yes_Alex_Cook]

I have fallen in love with these videos as of late. Thank you for making them! I am a music student in Massachusetts USA and I have recently taken up organ as my new project to learn. Getting to see the inner workings of instruments like this helps fuel that passion. Can you say anything of the Winddrossel stop on this organ? Is this some kind of wind pressure control? What would that sound like?

[@jacobwoods8738]

I just love seeing your videos. My favourite by far has been the organ with the xylophone at St Peter’s. On the note of cinema style organs (my area of enjoyment in the organ world), have you ever considered doing a video either at the Babylon Kino Cinema in Berlin, with Germany’s last original installation cinema organ or with the 4 manual WurliTzer, in a museum environment, at the Musikinstrumenten Museum? I know this comment leaves lots of logistical concerns out, but I thought I might ask as I love your videos on church organs despite my favourite organs being cinema ones. I look forward to more videos and surprises, they always are so fun.

[@bobh5087]

Many thanks for this very interesting demo of an exceptionally well-appointed/designed instrument. And, yes, it's wonderful having all that space in the cases. All that's missing is a (real) 32' Untersatz and a 32' Kontraposaune. BOOM! 💥 - 😊

[@FraserGartshore]

Hi Bob! Yep, a stonking 32' would really fit the room well. As for the space behind the console - it's like Interstellar in there! Just a bit filthier! And fewer time dimensions...

[@alexispieltin9379]

Nice instrument, it sounds like perfect, even if the dirt seems visible "in the corners". This instrument was built perfect to show how it operates. Thanks to the size of the building, the size available without walls or pillars has certainly helped it's factor in achieving a particularly easy to access instrument. And there is still plenty of room left for choirs, and a rest room (where is the coffee machine?). It's beauty resides in it's apparent coherent simplicity: every function is evident. I also love the way the added technology adds confort, but not to the detriment of traditional sound quality. I think these late 1980 organs mark the return of more traditional factors, with a preference for simpler but perfect mechanical sounding instrument. I've seen early 1950 electromechanic organs sounding miserably, to finally get unplayable as the technology failed to match the desired durability. Mid 1970's quasi midi organs with electronic drums or other rarely performed tricks are also questionable. The strange tunes arrangement keys, pre-shaped dodecaphonic keyboard arrangement, or whatelse "à la Stockhausen" are kind of "interesting. But who cares if you are too play for everyday audience and offices? How much is spend in these devices, that is more satisfying spend on a more durable and fair sounding instrument? The lower tones trick is here way more enjoyable than most electronic rendition. It's a fairly good compromise that don't sound fake! Even if there is sufficient place for many more registers, the classic essential (and more!) is there, for a church of that size and acoustic (not too resonant for a concrete building, anyway with a impressive delay of a much greater size). Definitely a great instrument, and a great factor! I've seen other organ much more filthy than this one, and of course that's a matter of pollution. However, in a nice and quite recent church building, some air filtering and cleaning solutions are probably available. Once the organ is clean, you got to keep it clean. There is also some kind of problem with your microphones, as if the only functional one seems to be the camera built. Sound is still great, but when you turn your head or demonstrate your new freedom of movement, the sound fades away and the effect is missed. Maybe a balance and control problem. But anyway, thank you for your brilliant and clever demonstration!

[@afb1487]

Re the microphone, turn your head away from a clip-on microphone, and the effect is as you observe here. It happens every time our vicar turns his head when (for example) thanking a guest celebrant during the notices. To avoid this, the body has to be turned too, which no-one instinctively does.

[@farahmohammed1963]

Oh wow!! What a glorious sound!! Thanks Fraser for that wonderful piece of music!! And for the informative explanations on how this tracker organ works.... it’s mind boggling! One time in the future, would you be able to explain how an organ works with a detached console? How does it all connect when the console is on a stage of a concert hall and there are no wires or wooden sliders attached?? Thanks again for this wonderful video. BTW, I am furiously practicing BWV 582, to be able to keep up with you... you are such an inspiration! I’m sure it would have sounded absolutely glorious & majestic in this church!!😊💕🌺🎶

[@FraserGartshore]

Thanks old chum! Detached consoles these days are connected with one single network cable. Rather boring really! I shall be including as much technical stuff as possible, where allowed/convenient!

[@tom7601]

Such a marvelous instrument!

[@MultiKs22]

Frasher well come back you give a lovely lecture always on the organ I was fascinated to learn how long the keys are from to the back which you don't see at the front . love you blue v neck jumper. it really suits you .

[@gamers7800]

Glad you feel better.

[@philippowell3320]

‘Mother of Good Counsel’ is the title referenced for Our Lady.

[@WCM1945]

I love this organ, looking forward to hearing a concert from it!

[@willemkossen]

Goede Raad (Dutch), Good Advice. That is a great organ. Interesting building. Maybe if I;m ever there, I'll try and have a little visit there to see it in real life. Do you ever play with other musicians? As a child (15'ish) i visited a concert in Norway where the Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke was performed amongst other pieces. A trumpet player and the organ. Just i very small church somewhere in a little town. It was the best thing i ever heard. And a few years ago i had the opportunity to play with my daughter in a church, us both on recorders, tiny church, small organ, small choir, christmas setting. It was so great to make music together and blend with the organ, and then climb above and solo. musical 'collabs' would be great for youtube :)

[@AndrewMundellAndrewJMundell]

Glad to heave you back again Fraser and I agree this is one of your best organ demos. I'm not going to get technical because when it comes to Organs I'm no expert I'm more a Stings man. Really enjoyable Video as always.

[@IslandStone_]

Wonderful video!

[@kenfraza]

Fraser, I think this was one of your BEST tours! For one, you were able to literally SIT inside and easily explain the tracker concept most clearly. I loved as you did, the layout of the Stops on the front of the console. How natural and intuitive the way they were grouped with Principles together, the Flutes, then Reeds. On the Swell division in the Flutes, did the first two Stops constitute a Celeste? It sounded like it. I was not impressed with the 10-2/3 in the Pedal division. I really hoped for at least a true wooden Flute 32’ even though they are enormous. Also on your concluding piece of music, I had hoped you might have contrasted the three manuals.... though I do enjoy your lighthearted playing!

[@pinkdispatcher]

I really have to listen to it in both languages to learn all the special terms in English and in German. I still find it unbelievable that modern mechanical organs are built. Absolutely brilliant engineering.

[@ukilectric]

If this doesn't end up on a new CD, I'm going to be disappointed.

[@drellsworthledrew1122]

I am curious how your Hauptwerk exploration is going? Perhaps a program. Last fall your comments started me into converting my Allen organ and now greatly enjoying wonderful organs that I would never had a chance to play before? Always enjoy your engaging presentations!

[@transcanada9028]

This is wonderful. I would love to see the blower system and all its workings too.

[@fjbrady]

Hi from the U.S. Love your videos

[@barthiddema3594]

and also, good lord I want you as organ teacher!

[@billchase659]

Sadly, your body microphone was not working in this video. When you get it all squared away, it will be a nice addition. It is so wonderful to see you at work again. Glad you and your wife are feeling better.

[@dawidspangenberg4699]

Hi Fraser! Thanks for another wonderfull video. I really enjoy your crawling around inside the organs. I have a keen interest in organ building, but the only organ rooms i've been in are small electricly controlled organs. Nice to see the mechanical workings. To me though, not complicated at all. I've done quite a bit of reading up on the subject, but have not seen it up close. This is a truely great organ. Wonderfull sound, especially the tutti. A nice bit of chiff on that 2' Spitzflöte. And O yes, can you please play the whole Bach prelude in G ????

[@tracygriffith9041]

Nice looking and sounding organ

[@amangogna68]

You are a great organist !

[@VincentKemme]

'Our lady of good advice'

[@chevillot.christian]

Bonjour et merci pour cette bonne vidéo!LIKE 23!

[@Samanthareneeheart1]

A nice looking organ. When you were away from the camera your mic wasn't picking you up very well unfortunately. As for the one stop it was a bit hard to hear at least for me. Speaking of organs & recordings what is going on with the CD's? I did buy one so kind of wondering where you are on that. I understand you both were sick last month so the delays are understandable due to that & other issues with the previous company.

[@daniyarsharafutdinov820]

I love the organ!

[@martinwright4125]

scott bennet, a max r lover and my former choirmaster and organist, recorded all of reger's works, as part of his requirement for his doctorate. i'm not a real fan, but dr. bennet sure likes him. btw, bennet studied several years in germany and he played for several lutheran churches and several catholic churches and cathedrals. perhaps you knew of him? extraordinary musician, particularly organ and academia---composition and harmony.

[@dulcian3230]

What was that piece at the end? It was so majestic, I thought I was part of a really good movie. That continuous C-minor figure was as if there is a wall that impassable. What I love about your music is, that I can almost interpret the musical structures in the pieces.

[@mm5aho]

That lapel mic isn't so great at the beginning the camera mic seemed to be doing all the work and when you looked away volume looked away too!

[@Rollinglenn]

HI Fraser, Glad you and your 'Missus' are back in good health. The new mic was vey clear but your monologue level was much lower than you usually have it. As a result, the organ demo parts seemed to be screaming. I had to constantly play with the volume to keep from annoying my household. I'm sure it will be an easy fix. Thank you for the look-see inside. That tracker system seems spacious and well laid out. Keep up the good work of finding interesting instruments and locations for us to see. I'm stuck here in the US so I really appreciate the view into your part of the world. Ever consider doing a retro trip back to your homeland for a wee tour of the instruments that helped you become the Fraser we enjoy?

[@FraserGartshore]

Thanks Glenn! One day I'll get back the UK to show off a few organs. Let's wait and see how the political nonsense over there pans out!

[@jbobmusic8070]

Hello your are very talented 👋

[@wouterattheorgan]

wow fraser what a organ sound, i am playing around on HauptWerk, and this organ reminds me of the sampleset: Friesach by piotr grabowski. like someone else said it the comments only thing this organ really needs is a real 32' Contra-posaune. greetings from holland, do you have any tips for playing in a real church? i know the organist from a friend of mine, and i'd like to be well prepared to play on a (real)organ.

[@celticqaidbear]

Wonderful. Can you play Lammen's Fanfare.? Thinking might good for wedding march.

[@barthiddema3594]

yes goodnight! you forgot that one in the beginning ;)

[@at0mcollision]

It would be so cool if you went to Cologne cathedral and its amazing Klais organs.

[@stuiterballetje5982]

You should go to the netherlands there are a ton of organs there

[@Kenlwallace]

Tracker organs Completely beggars belief ... amazing !!!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

All the stops are numbered.

[@jtoutenhoofd]

Thank you for the amazing video! For the church name I would change "suggestion" to "council". I think it makes more sense.

[@FraserGartshore]

Let me have a little bit of fun!

[@JackReimer]

Thanks, Nice video ... beautiful setting. But what happened to the Bach Passaglia and Fugue instructional walkthru you began a month ago. Waiting for the next 8 bars of guidance!

[@xReMmiXX]

Bombarde are always bombastic :D

[@ukilectric]

Ayy welcome back sire

[@martinwright4125]

here's one big one to you buddy. drink up---you certainly could kill 4 or 5 if you had to listen to that old c--su---r i have to suffer hearing every few days, salut! what an organ. i love big organs. generally, what would an organ this size and rank + console cost in germany at this time? i appreciate the explanation re: tracker touch and assisted electric contacts. helps explain some of the sound differences that have distracted me in the past. thank you.

[@y11971alex]

I’ve recently had the privilege of listening to not only a 32’ but a resultant 64’. There’s lots of criticism about acoustic bass stops but personally I think it’s quite effective. That is admitting I have never heard a genuine 64’.

[@mastered38]

You say that is an open church, but, I am an organist and I can play free at this organ ? (sorry for my english)

[@janovlk]

I'm not good in German. Does this table says a guest organist is allowed to use presets 3000-3999 only?

[@FraserGartshore]

Yep, exactly that!

[@ukilectric]

Whenever I watch your video I get inspired to play, then I realize I only have keyboard (instrument) and get sad.

[@_meggie_5038]

Magnificent Video and Magnificent Organ! But one question: are you using some kind of (electronic) damper for the recording with the "big" microphones for the organ? I'm asking because, at least for my ears, the organ sounds very quiet and very soft/damped in comparasion to when you speak... It sounds a little bit like playing on a piano with a damper and without a damper.

[@jeanfi76]

Please come to the cathedral of Brussels and its magnificient Grenzing organ

[@АнатолийЯмщиков-д8р]

You should go to Marktirche Hannover! Sie haben 3 Orgeln there.

[@FraserGartshore]

Been there many times. Wonderful organ!

[@georgellendorff]

Oh, thanks you are back, I thought you got lost!?

[@bridgediscovery1011]

Have you heard of the scootbrothersduo

[@dogsbody49]

Be great if all three did a colab.

[@FraserGartshore]

Of course I have! Wonderful videos and marvellous playing!

[@FraserGartshore]

2 organists and 2 filming? Sounds like fun!

[@johanbrand8601]

Mr Gartshore is a world class genius musician, a wonderful person with a stunning personality and is a virtuoso.

[@millsjw]

Based on your voice going in and out plus fading left or right as your wife turns the camera, I’m thinking you are not plugged into your wireless. You sound great facing the camera. On the stairs, you get louder as you approach the camera.

[@afb1487]

One cause is the mouth turning away from the clip-on microphone (on neck of pullover) as the head turns. Common problem. Have commented elsewhere.

[@andrewmurray1550]

You need to be a mechanical engineer and electrical / electronic engineer and a musician rolled into one to understand this stuff!

[@IndyMAB1964]

Are the "Speicherbereich" the buttons that store the stop combinations? I was trying to understand the sign that was taped to the organ music stand. I understand that it is a note to the guest organists.

[@herrickinman9303]

_Speicherbereich_ means "storage area" or "memory area"

[@Rich-on6fe]

To anyone who plays electric guitar, the octave-lower effect is what you get with a power-chord.

[@FraserGartshore]

Spot on!

[@dominikkruyer4826]

17:45 Rück heißt back 😂👍

[@frederickgerth5853]

Maybe you could say Mother with the good advice

[@timm5365]

Great video & a fascinating instrument. What was the piece you finished with? It was great fun!

[@FraserGartshore]

Thanks Tim! Just something improvised for the occasion!

[@dulcian3230]

@@FraserGartshore What? Because I would love to be able to play that. It's so wonderful and I hate myself for not being able to improvise that well.

[@hugobouma]

Nice video as always! It appears that the "Tutti" doesn't strictly feature every stop-is that common, and if so, why? And another question that has been bugging me for a while: you occasionally mention particular organs/stops as having a typical "French" or "English" sound but until now I haven't been able to gather what exactly is meant by that, and I would love an explainer about these different styles.

[@jackstewart2095]

I think you can usually tell by the reeds. French reeds are usually a little brighter, and English reeds are usually rounder. For example the loudest stop on the organ at St. Sernin of Toulouse is a chamade, but on the organ at Salisbury Cathedral the loudest reed is a tuba. Then the "German" sound is buzzier, which is usually thought of as bad, but is great for Bach and Buxtehude. The most famous builder from England was Father Willis, and the most famous builder from France was Cavaille-Coll.

[@FraserGartshore]

Yep - the others are right - the Tutti (at least, if programmed properly!) just includes all the "Big Stuff" as I said in the video. Strings and Celestes and chirpy little flutes are not really audible in the din created by the tutti, so they're left out to save wind pressure for the big guns!

[@hugobouma]

@@FraserGartshore Ah of course, air isn't infinite! Hadn't considered that -_-

[@johanbrand8601]

Vox Celeste and mutation stops do not form part of Tutti.

[@bridgediscovery1011]

When is your next video 🔜🎹

[@FraserGartshore]

Very soon! Updates on a few projects!

[@dougdavis8367]

How hard is it to press down a key on most organs ? Thank you

[@thomas_vanaken]

It depends. The keyboards can be mechanically or electrically linked with the stops/pipes. On electrically controlled organs the keys are fairly easy to press down. If the keyboards are mechanically linked, the "hardness" depends on the amount of stops and manuals that are pulled/coupled. The more stops are pulled (and the more manuals that are coupled), the harder it gets to press a key down. At 11:40 min. Fraser actually mentions that when you couple all the manuals "you've got the weight of 3 mechanisms" and "that it could get quiet heavy". The organ in this video is a hybrid, Fraser actually explains it really good at 12:08 min.

[@dougdavis8367]

Thomas Van Aken thank you for taking the time to answer

[@aschkinable7748]

👌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 🍻

[@kieraningram4758]

Great work! I hope you had a good night celebrating brexit night on the 31st January! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@FraserGartshore]

My wife and I had a quiet night in ignoring British politics! As I have been doing for some time now!