"Mad Rush" (organ version) by Philip Glass - Adrian Foster, organ

"Mad Rush," for organ, by Philip Glass.
Live performance, July 7, 2016, at the Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul, Montréal (Québec).
Organ: Casavant Frères, opus 1457; 1932/1978; Caron, Gagnon, Baumgarten, 1992.

[@SashaGobbels]

Just learned that Mad Rush was written for organ on the occasion of the first public address of the Dalai Lama in North America in 1979 in the cathedral of St. John the Devine in New York. But please notice the young woman in the first row on the left completely wrapping herself up in the music. All my love for this woman.

[@TrevorTwiggenVIII]

A fine performance--and the people slowly filing in and out give this a dreamlike Werner Herzog-esque quality. Really beautiful.

[@lydhavet-music]

It could almost be the waiting room to the afterlife in a sense.

[@paulvallance4347]

Yes and gradually more people are seated as they come under the spell of the music.

[@willemfrederikhilarius6285]

Yes Werner Herzog-like indeed! and best healing music ever - it works of the package.

[@williamthompson7829]

This music was WAY ahead of it's time. Probably not until the late 80s did his music begin appealing to more " normal" people, and even then most who heard it thought it was too strange.. I have to admit I fell in love with Glass's music at first listen...the soundtrack to Koyaanisqaatsi and since then I love everything I've heard from Glass.

[@ramonmorenorodriguez4509]

A mi me pasó algo similar. Escuche por primera vez (en la radio) fragmentos de The Photographer en los años ochenta. Pero a principios de los noventa fue mi definitiva fascinación con la presentación en vivo del video y la música de Powakatsi, en la ciudad de Guanajuato, en el Festival Internacional Cervantino. Fue una verdader alucinación ese video y esa música. Estuviero a los teclados Philip Glass y Michel Reysman.

[@flinxsnicopert]

One of the best living composers of our generation! Unfortunately some will only understand the mysteries of Philip Glass's notes after he is not here but when the time comes it will be too late!

[@Nine-Signs]

Everything is temporary, and all that is solid melts into air. What I've learned from Mr Glass having only found him in the last 5 years. Existence is a fleeting experience my friend, and I would give everything I have to have had half the existence Phillip Glass has had and will leave behind, for the last few generations to come.

[@docteurquenotte3853]

Moment majestueux d'une musique qui se laisse prendre. On est à l'opposé de la répétition "hard" des débuts de Philip Glass. Un toucher exceptionnel et envoûtant qui se laisse écouter dans le silence spirituel. Infinie.

[@greatsewing6061]

Break my heart till there's nothing left. That is what this music does to me.

[@johnny.3693]

It's a shame that only advanced minds can fully comprehend the mysterious beauty of this piece. So many walked away.

[@souleater307]

those 40 or so people got to feel something special that day. i wish i coulda been one of them.

[@vinijohnson4695]

Honestly if I had been there while he was playing this piece I would have had to Shazam it. And yes I would have stayed.

[@Zitat-ist-auch-nicht-mehr-das]

What Markus Gabriel is to philosophy and the Dalai Lama to compassion and spirituality, Philipp Glass is to music. I bought a piano because of Philipp Glass and quietly and slowly began to empathize with this music. In my opinion, Mad Rush is one of the most meditative pieces of music out there. Adrian Foster's interpretation is perhaps the best.

[@Purplelightningtiger]

Philip Glass a wonderful contemporary classical musician love mad Rush, such depth and powerful to listen to. As if Life is a Merry Go Round.

[@goldenlover9803]

Found myself tearing up listening to this. Beautiful performance.

[@georgeterbush2976]

I was practically in tears towards the end when all of the little busy bees settled down and realized they were in the presence of greatness.

[@gregrice1354]

Mr. Foster appears to be performing ENTIRELY from memory! I see NO MUSIC MANUSCRIPT on his clear/glass music stand before him.

[@frankryan2505]

Crazy seeing people standing up,cannot imagine walking away from a performance like this..

[@Tinotinha]

If I was there, praying, it would go as follow: "Dear Jesus, thank you for this moment, it's a blessing that I wish to keep with me for eternity".

[@ghegun]

That is a superb interpretation of this classic Philip Glass piece !!!!

[@vap0rtranz]

is it an interpretation? the piano version is interpreted, no?

[@MGJS71]

Glass himself originally played this on organ. Piano version came later.

[@plpl5472]

It's across music some humans talks with god. Beyond the words. Great Philip Glass. Respect 🙏

[@vap0rtranz]

first 10sec and I'm already crying!!! this is how Glass wanted this played! on organ not piano

[@taoscom7145]

I don't think so.

[@josephososkie3029]

@@taoscom7145. Agreed. I don’t hear the magic transcribed. If I played organ maybe it would be different. But I don’t think so.

[@povertyspec9651]

@@taoscom7145 It was originally written for organ.

[@taoscom7145]

@@povertyspec9651 I think of the interpretation.

[@vap0rtranz]

Phillip did say he was comfortable with the piece as piano interpretation now, and even played it on piano himself. All I meant is I prefer how the original organ makes a fluid sound. Some pianists have also made the fluid sound emerge, but others have made the piece very choppy via staccato.

[@wabi5abi]

The crowd and their walking meditation makes an interesting play with the zoom and the music. I find there is something carousel like to the music, round and round, up and down and with the linearity in the paths of the walkers, well, I like this little tune and video!

[@AsteroidTVGaming]

This video is the solely reason I began to learn music, thank you again sir.

[@derzemmi1425]

Playing piano/organ pieces requires an enormously delicate sense of timing and intesity for the tunes to sound as they were thought to by the composer. And I think you are very talented concerning this particular delicateness, hence you play in a way that the whole composition ist just as harmonious and fullfilling to hear as it could possibly be. Thank you for your works!

[@docteurquenotte3853]

Dans l'au-delà musical

[@docteurquenotte3853]

Superbe. Dans l'au-delà musical

[@blendyboi2087]

ive tried. and i can honestly say its a gift to be able to accomplish anything close to the composers vision, always incomprehensibly amazing to hear it like this. i agree with you in every sense.

[@ramonmorenorodriguez4509]

Entrar al mundo sonoro de Philip Glass con estas melodías y ejecutadas al órgano es una prueba dificil. Comprendo que los asistentes estén entre desconcertados e indiferentes.

[@Mooseman327]

Glass composed this piece with the intention that it would be played on a pipe organ in a big cathedral. Makes so much more sense this way. Really lovely.

[@willemfrederikhilarius6285]

Very wonderful music transporting to the land where all thoughts absorb into a rich rest.

[@blendyboi2087]

wonderful performance. the player really captured the timing that Philip would appreciate. i applaud with tears. completely underrated.

[@FunForAllification]

It seems to me that this represents Philip Glass’ reception by the masses. Many will not understand and leave. Others will come, stay for a bit, then leave because they could not do the deep dive. The remains few will stay. And stay. Because they understand. Philip is not for the masses - he is for us. The deep, deep divers. Peace and rejoice all.

[@JeffH59]

Philip Glass was, and is, for everybody, always. This is truly accessible beauty. Absolutely everyone on the planet should have as much exposure to beauty, balm, and uplift as possible, from whatever source is most accessible and meaningful to them. This gives me all of that, and has done since I first heard it, on Glassworks, on my Walkman on a train journey through the beautiful Scottish Borders in the mid-1980s. It was at an extremely difficult time in my life, and it cut through everything and soothed, re-centred, and re-grounded me. I have never forgotten that. And I *would* wish that on my worst enemy, in the hope that it helps heal whatever hurt has made them so angry, hurtful, and destructive, and that they might find a more peaceful, loving, way forward. And I'm very very far from being a religious person. I'm just a bloke, from a really good, loving family and a really good working-class community on Teesside, UK.

[@johnny.3693]

Oh yes.

[@vap0rtranz]

Well said! On the other hand, someone could say I haven't transcended well enough to understand street rap. ;)

[@spratch]

thank you to bring beauty to our world

[@_Michiel_]

I am afraid I have mixed feelings about this performance. In the one hand it is executed perfectly and the sound is majestic! On the other hand the quick passages tend to be blurry. Not as crisp as on a piano. But of course that is due to the acoustics and to the characteristics of the instrument itself. But I am glad you posted this gem and I would have liked to be attending the performance. Thank you.

[@perlfarben]

The king of instruments beautifully played.

[@lukescomb]

Thanks for taking out time to comment, I can't return all the love that's been showed to me through these comments ,Thanks for viewing. Where are you from?

[@jeremyphillips3087]

Ahhhh yeah! This my jam! You KNOW when the needle drops on this I gots to stop what I'm doing and listen in appreciation until the music brings feelings out from deep within my soul that I've buried for so long and with it tears on my face, dawg!

[@mechaike]

Absolutely amazing, Adrian. Your performance is incredible.

[@luismanuel2612]

Beautiful. Thank you for uploading

[@castelmonte]

Beautiful. Thank you ...

[@vwcreativetechnology]

That was just great. Really enjoyed that.

[@AsteroidTVGaming]

This is amazing, thanks for uploading.

[@lo-fitronics]

One of the best version I've heard, Thanks!

[@jacobabarber-rozema2812]

Best thing I've ever heard

[@nickwyatt3243]

I am not a christian, but I think that this music is entirely to their sacred spaces.

[@vap0rtranz]

Joseph Campbell would agree with you. He said ancient caves with art drawn by "cavemen" could have a spiritual affect. And a cathedral even for a non-Catholic. I don't think these spiritual spaces demand orthodoxy; its society that puts a label on the front of these buildings and spaces.

[@edgarzaragozamoreno8774]

This is amaizing!!!

[@olivechristian9082]

how wonderful is it, Mad Rush is ful of feelings, sensibility.... Cette musique reste pour moi associée à un personnage, Yukio Mishima, une musique pleine de force, de passion, de violence. Elle est vraiment digne ce cet homme hors du commun, merci Mr Glass. Piano or organ, always wonderful. Arigato gosaïmashita Mishima senseï

[@davidmayhew8083]

Stunning.

[@m.unsinn3093]

Magnificent

[@andreapaul9869]

Beautiful

[@mariolaubli3877]

Grossartig, Adrian! Ich schaue mir das 2-3 mal pro Woche an und es wird immer besser..

[@lydhavet-music]

I hope this gets recommended to more people.

[@marktankersley3618]

Thank you

[@_chary990]

beautiful video

[@bettermentprojectnotes808]

The beautification of monotony through subtle variations.

[@lucturcotte4007]

Ça me ramène constamment au mouvement perpétuel de la Mer Soit douce où fureur... à chaque instant. Mad rush écrit pour le Dalaï lama en 1979(visite) Newyork Philip Glass

[@chrisbowsher959]

Art

[@asterixborden-koi6881]

Omg 😲 why is everyone leaving!

[@machngunjoe]

I like how some are just walking by not knowing what to make of these sounds in their mind.

[@dagwould]

I have often joined or departed lunchtime concerts in a dreamlike Werner Herzog-esque manner!

[@deeplistening5379]

Staying, Leaving, Coming, Leaving, Staying - For the Happy Few

[@tripas.depiano]

A W E S O M E !

[@Mackinstyle]

Gorgeous. It is very hard not to make Glass all muddied on organ in a cathedral.

[@Zitat-ist-auch-nicht-mehr-das]

Sure! Here's the translation: In the Tripitaka, we find the Satipatthana Sutta. Augustine of Hippo found the stairway to paradise. And Philip Glass composed the music for it with 'Mad Rush.' This is Unio Mystica.

[@blendyboi2087]

if love was a sound

[@robertwalker7924]

❤

[@m.marzana567]

Y la nave principal se llenó, pero muchos se fueron. Qué halago para Dios, resonar de esta forma; y que tristeza que algunos mantengan su distancia. Ese día Adrian Foster levantó a los ladrillos de su cimiento y junto con los que se quedaron se transfiguraron y se fueron al espacio, donde prevaleció la música elevada de Glass, que renunciaba a todo, para interceder por la especie, al minuto 12 se cortó la vibración por nuestro llanto que nos hizo regresar.

[@joshuapocalypse]

Would have totally been there!

[@sandisdruvins9067]

😍😍

[@kevincaldwell9700]

Maybe the audience was told to get up and mill around the cathedral during the performance to experience the sound from different places? Otherwise it seems odd that they would just get up and walk around (I don't think they were leaving).

[@user-uk4ve5hg9l]

I would have to agree - it appears to be meditative strolling rather than purposeful walking - if not from different places then from different perspectives.

[@timplatts4550]

Bravo Adrian, saw this played at Bridgewater Hall 3 years ago, but not quite this good. Love the Herzog comment

[@timplatts721]

Here again watching this piece It could be an extra chapter to Koyanisqatsi

[@jejejerororo]

why are they leaving ?!

[@FernandoAlgarraGarcia]

Tourists, I think...

[@vap0rtranz]

my old neighbor could not stand when I played Glass. it drove her mad. so some ppl there may not like it but this is magnificent to hear even 2nd hand.

[@lesb_socal]

This piece is obviously a call to stir up the zombies. The ones leavimg are out to ravage the population. Beware the Glass!

[@giuliosiciliano]

Might not be leaving. When I go listen to the organ in the Oratory, I'll sit, but sometimes, I walked around a bit to hear the soundscape change from one place to the other, or to get right up close to the pipes. Is the camera set where the pipes are? I would guess so.

[@WinrichNaujoks]

I think it's because the organist played without wearing a jacket.

[@Wertex_F-19]

Музыка очень хорошо подойдёт для Интерстеллара.

[@nanba25]

It's strange that so many people leave after 1 mn or so. Did they expect something else ? Obviously, lack of communication and advertising beforehand. I guess in Paris, there would have been a crowd there to watch and listen. But is this real organ ? this is an electronic one, not the Big Thing, that really impress you for a long time when you hear it… At least, the musician is facing away from the audience, or it would have been shattering for him

[@lukapitkanen3333]

This song sounds like it was made to be played by organs. Good stuff

[@kai-dj2qj]

The people walking around bugged me at first, but then it kind of added some weird element to it.

[@happyjack1796]

The people leaving seem to hot. It is July. Amusing. I feel like they are part of the performance. Brilliant.

[@Sumthinjay]

Damn

[@iloveyoutubeimonmyipad5832]

Thoughts are with las vegas today, rip

[@nyrongristwood]

Wonderful performance Thanks I bet all those who walked out voted for BREXIT 'Culture what's that' Ha Ha Ha

[@philiphart6688]

It's from the Church of St Andrew & St Paul , Montréal, Quebec, you remainiac moron.

[@shane329]

I get the feeling that half the people there had no idea what they were listening to.

[@brucemarshall3446]

This is the real deal. The piano version sounds just like what it is- a transcription. Glass' swirling keyboard arpeggios don't translate well to pianoforte. Even the best pianists can't quite do it. This is an organ piece. Thanks for posting!

[@returnoftheredeye]

Not quite of this world.

[@diegolorenzi931]

Good performance... it would have been preferable to fixed video

[@lek844]

Good thing they had reserved seating.

[@rodney6405]

is this some french custom to walk around in a beautiful sound of music like zombies? C'est quebesque?

[@user-xxxxxn]

20 grey people that's what going wrong.. young people need to hear this instrument outside the church too

[@Nine-Signs]

union flags in a church? I am sure there is a story behind it. Beautiful rendition.

[@kikiu2619]

A mad rush for the exit.

[@arthurjdale8684]

Not a lot of Philip Glass fans there...

[@RolandStrykala]

so sanft habe ich Philip Glass noch nie interpretiert gehört. aber auch ist es ein zirkel, den er sonst so gerne verwendet, untergang und neuerschaffung, hast du in konstanz umgemünzt

[@egapnala65]

Promo video becomes meditation on the human condition. People come and go, humanity remains only its faces change.

[@jaredburrell6370]

Still undecided whether concert music or martial arts videos have dumber comment sections. Good song though.

[@docteurquenotte3853]

Intéressant de voir les fans déambuler dans l'espace religieux

[@GlenTindal]

I see there are some Phillip Glass haters in here.

[@vap0rtranz]

Not every music is for everyone. My neighbor said it drove her crazy when I played Glass on her piano.

[@GlenTindal]

@@vap0rtranz Most people just don't understand the music.

[@Bemusedlemon1]

I hope the console isn't left there for the celebration of Mass!

[@josephososkie3029]

I admire anyone who tackles this piece. But why organ? That’s way outside my lane.

[@simonknights7526]

It was written for organ.

[@Izaquerm30]

O pessoal andando parece NPC

[@dabaska787]

I thought for a moment the man is gone trow some money at him , is interpretation is ok but I think the people sitting there where not ready for that type of music

[@julian9898]

WHY WERENT THE PEWS PACKED?!?!

[@lesbsocal9107]

Choreographed zombies.

[@HenrySosenite]

If you took lessons for a few years and decided "Fuck this is getting too hard, i'm gonna be a composer instead", you could still be as good as Philip Glass

[@hammones6017]

I can't tell if this is an insult or a compliment

[@salocinorroya]

Good organ player (is very hard play this). But I like other organ version. Bad public. See since minute 10 if you want see good manners in the public :)

[@funkydozer]

Lol. Like asking Andy Warhol to paint the Sistine Chapel. It would’ve been a different result if he had played the koyaanisqatsi main theme. Or maybe No Time For Caution.

[@giannilandonio5247]

Un pubblico (scarso) e indisciplinato poco rispettoso dell'esecutore e dell'autore. Non ho parole.😔😔😔

[@altareggo]

Seriously: why do 99% of Phillip Glass's compositions sound virtually identical??

[@tomkent4656]

Problem is that the heavy reverb prevents us hearing the melodic nuances of the piece, but nice try.

[@IzieMiyagi]

terrible.