The Reopening of the Notre Dame Organ Was Ruined?

[@richardkallio3868]

As an organist myself, I think these comments are 100% on point. When trying to showcase an instrument to the general public, play something tuneful and melodic! Leave all the dissonant and esoteric stuff for organ conventions - and even then, present it sparingly!

[@marcwolf60]

France still has the guillotine

[@tytn9978]

I enjoy pipe organ music when I recognize the tune. THIS seemed to me to be nothing more than a "noise concerto" with sequential notes that may be magnificent singly but have NO beauty when collected as a group. Truly disappointing, especially on such a joyous occasion. I recall a music festival adjudicator saying about a performance: the organist played every note correctly, but there was no JOY in his playing. Ditto for this performance!!!

[@brandingwire1366]

I've been to Notre Dame and love cathedral organs. I've attended organist concerts. I've taken the Bull Ride to Duke University for it's daily concert. The Notre Dame organist is trash. I bought a CD of the organist's music... confirmed. Horrible.

[@stuarthall7283]

...and perhaps familiar... then jazz it up, but not too much

[@geoffroydelaitre5966]

Well, the thing is that the organ benediction is not a showcase. It's a liturgical ceremony that is not meant to flatter the ears of the public, but to join the bishop and the organ in a dialoguing litany manifesting a benediction. It's not meant to be a show entertaining a crowd nor a demonstration of the technical abilities of an organ. And from that perspective, as a catholic, I found these pieces to fit very well this moment. I think that a large part of the criticism comes from a gap between the "exhibition opening" many auditors expected vs the religious ceremony that actually occured.

[@colleenheater1652]

I am so glad to hear from an organist that the music was inappropriate! I was shocked and baffled and I did not find in the newspapers any negative comments about it. So, I am relieved to hear someone validate my negative reactions. Thank you.

[@tetracor]

Seemed to be something satanic.

[@rebeccabrown5014]

The sounds were just terrible! I was so relieved when I saw comments shortly after that confirmed my feelings.

[@alxp-zd1zj]

deliberate. out with the old, in with the new world order.

[@teppo9585]

You´ll find the official story in the newspapers, doesn´t matter if its about music or science or historical events, while sometimes having a vague resemblence or connection to actual events often is just in another reality alltogether. Thing is, you probably don´t think you know of most things in this world to a level where you feel like you should have an opinion that you value over the experts that narrate the official story. Here in an event involving music, where you feel comfortable having a differing opinion you dare to cherish it. But the thing about official story being separate to actual events applies where you don´t really know much about the subject matter also.

[@johnlloyd3224]

​@alxp-zd1zj That's the one. 😵‍💫

[@MarkMills-g4c]

They had the chance of a lifetime. They blew it! If you don't take your listeners with you, it's not music. It's ego.

[@garygsp3]

This 1000% are you playing for yourself or your audience? As a performer you play for your audience or you end up performing for no one. As a performer Latry sucked.

[@Jppx31]

Absolutely true. Some of these highly skilled organists are some of the most self-indulgent people when they play. This won very few new friends to the organ. I am not at all surprised that it happened as it did.

[@ferdinandgbarreiro7641]

Was disappointed with the presentation, in that it was more about the organist than the organ. He should have played a more relatable tune, like Joy to the World😮

[@rjd3wine]

Where the organists having seizures? Do they want people to never come back?

[@Rocky-fv9ey]

@@rjd3wine lol, perfectly said!

[@catherine-e9s]

On avait tous hâte que cela s'arrête derrière notre écran de télévision,j'imagine les oreilles des présents à la cérémonie !

[@pattiday431]

C'est yucky.

[@LisaJohnson-h1f]

Watching and listening to the performance live on KZbin, at first, put me in shock. Then I started reading the comments and they were most entertaining! As a matter of fact, the comments had me howling with laughter, and they eased the assault on my ears!

[@susettemclachlan8765]

So good to hear this. It was so disappointing to listen to this non melodic, non spiritual, cacophony of blaring sound which would end any future appreciation of the organ for most of those present

[@tytn9978]

Yes!!!

[@jcolbyt82]

I absolutely love the pipe organ and have since I was a child. So you know something is wrong when I start watching the organ performance on tv and change the channel. I had a feeling that the organ performance would be just like it was. Olivier Latry is a wonderful organist but he, like a lot of other famous and accomplished organists, in my opinion likes to play improv pieces that are essentially show off pieces. Now I know that this type of improvisation is a French specialty, but it is one that I detest to be frank about it. I find nothing musical about it. To me it is a jumble of dissonant chords without any musicality whatsoever. It’s like turning all of the stops on and just going to town on the manuals. I also frequently find that famous organists, when playing actual written organ music tend to play the tempo of those pieces extremely fast to the point that it all jumbles together just like the improv playing. Please don’t misunderstand me. I absolutely love French organ compositions. I love the sound of French organ reeds blaring through the nave and the compositions that showcase the reeds and powerful pedal pipes. Playing several of the pieces by the great French composers would have been a spectacular way to rededicate the organ at notre dame. Instead we got a bunch of noise. That’s really all that I can say that it was. It certainly wasn’t music in my view.

[@cocapipimonster76]

My wife said it made the ceremony look like a horror movie.

[@alexwyler4570]

i thought so too! very Dracula of Transylvania indeed ! hihi

[@TheRickuren]

Yes, exactly-even though I am a huge fan of modern classical music, I remember thinking that this sounded like music for a horror film!

[@Guarneri-ep6hg]

Your wife was right @cocapipimonster76

[@jrk9357]

Bunch of obtuse idiots.

[@Ro1Gg2Bv3]

The role of the artist: mirror the audiance (Shakespear)

[@janbaker3683]

Church music is meant to raise hearts and minds to God! People were frowning in pain.

[@sfoster2911]

church attendance in France is abysmal. When I attend I see the few parishioners flee for the doors when the organist starts to crash around on full organ at the postlude. There is a time and a place for Messiaen et al. But it is not mainstream for audiences. Saint Saens organ symphony or Widor Toccata is mainstream.

[@valerietaylor9615]

​@@pianotechlifeThe common man doesn't appreciate Saint-Saens.

[@sfoster2911]

Empty seats versus filled seats. If you want to call it pandering then so be it. Save the esoteric for the esoteric occasions. This was prime time worldwide audience and political leaders.

[@alanmichel613]

Heavenly Hosts? More like Hellish demons!

[@stonerrocky]

Well after all, as mentioned trump was there, so no one would feel uplifted!

[@micheleblouin2945]

Commentaires très justes. Merci de dire tout haut, ce que la plupart des gens pensent tout bas. Quel dommage d'avoir raté l'occasion de jouer de grands classiques appréciés par le commun des mortels, au lieu d'avoir subi un concours de performances improvisées par des organistes à l'ego surdimentionné.

[@TheoVosloo]

The cacaphonic noise was not sacred music at all. It was a disgrace to say the least.

[@tangiemann5284]

THEE HOLY SPIRIT should have flown thru his fingers and HEART. HE SHOULD HAVE PRAYED before his reicital. IT is as if HE WAS ANGRY at the ceremony and USED his INSTRAMENT to {perhaps} PUNISH those non CHRISTians visiting the Cathedral for accolades? Just a thought.

[@comtnlady125]

@@pianotechlife I disagrree. The reopening of the cathedral of Notre Dame was a celebration of it's rebirth and the music should have been appropriate for the occasion. The restoration of Notre Dame was a blessing and the moment one of joy. No one was there to celebrate the devastation of the fire. Many musical pieces would have been appropriate, not only "Amazing Grace". To refer to a love of beauty as being simple minded has a cold cruel ring to it and seemed meant as an insult. I would suggest that the music of devastation would have been more appropriately played during a war with bombs dropping all around you . . . . .

[@comtnlady125]

I heartily agree that the music played was totally inappropriate for the reopening which was to honor the triumphant rebirth of Notre Dame. The music should have had an uplifting spirit and the hall filled with the essense of joyful celebration in honor of a renewal for the church and for the human soul.

[@hessu3]

@TheoVosloo I am a professionel organ player, and I agree fully to you.

[@strobx1]

God Plugged his ears!

[@a.m.g.karlsson7165]

Listening to the opening improvisation reminded of the old joke about the singer’s post-concert remark to an audience member, ‘Did you notice how my voice filled the hall?’ ‘Yes,’ came the reply ‘and I noticed several people leaving to make room for it.’

[@chickenindoubleC]

*gold*

[@francoisebekaert8137]

Wonderful!

[@peterderycke5766]

@@a.m.g.karlsson7165 🤣🤣

[@brucek5405]

😂

[@hanspeterwortman7726]

@@a.m.g.karlsson7165 I'm using this

[@LorraineFielding]

Thank you for the wonderful explanation. As a church organist for over 50 years, I was at first shocked and then so disappointed.

[@elizabethfermor344]

Joy to the world would have been so much better!

[@sergioracig]

Something with Harmony rather than Dissonance !!!

[@micheleblouin2945]

Et le Magnificat de Bach ? Quel dommage !

[@gillesblanchard1699]

@LorraineFielding - Many American critics have limited themselves to a narrow selection of music, considering ignorance as their basic knowledge.

[@beatricejann9023]

I’m no musician. My first impression was that I was listening to a free jazz improv. The first part, the reawakening, ok. But then the archbishop asked the organ to play to inspire, and then again to comfort: still dissonance. only when he asked about the spirit of Christ it was a bit melodic. It was a … corageous choice, to put it mildly (from my point of view), which left many baffled.

[@michaelraiger623]

Your commentary is spot on. The problem with most modern art is its self-conscious concern with the artists’ own technical prowess. Instead of pointing to beauty they put themselves out in front.

[@jamescarroll6954]

Some of this is the musical equivalent of a piece of “art” I saw demonstrated: a large white canvas with a banana duct-taped to the center of it

[@subzerokari8342]

Thank you. I watched the live broadcast. It was painfully disturbing to hear this gross mess played out in this divine setting. I appreciate your insight.

[@georgemccoy5028]

Agreed!

[@rapunzel39]

💯

[@pyraledubuis9744]

I could not watch till the end, I gave up after the third improvisation (out of eight) totally disgusted... horrible ! Thank for your video, showing that I'm not alone.

[@jayjaychadoy9226]

The Devine left, too.

[@suehamblin9652]

Yes! Agree!

[@blackhartDE]

Even the bishop was like, "Dude, seriously?!"

[@matthieudayet6577]

Not sure about that, after all he is the boss. He could have put an end to this, instead he endorsed the role is playing. Hard time to be Catholic these day in France. Come Jesus come

[@WouterTukker]

What on earth is wrong with the archbishop? He is used to Olvier´s improvisation style, like no one else ...

[@etorepugatti9196]

@@matthieudayet6577 Very nice garments, sponsored by Lidl ?

[@tubeyou6794]

Very good video

[@adrien691]

Unfortunately his taste in everything in catastrophic, garments, furniture, organ,...

[@AhnaBarefoot]

Like the child who saw and said, "The Emperor has no clothes on" a child would hear organist Oliver Lantry and say, "That sounds horrible, it hurts my ears."

[@sandrosandalo4687]

the child would probably prefer chicken mcnuggets rather then a 3 michelin stars restaurant... and i"m not saying i don't like chicken mcnuggets

[@davidkennedy4845]

I love pipe organ and it hurt my ears too.

[@maryferreira141]

You are so good to tell us your honest opinion about this! At 4:51 I love how you emphasize the misicianship from within the person, not just the technique that it demands. I realy appreciate your commentary.

[@JustMike2022]

I’m glad it wasn’t just me. The organ music presented in the service I heard, was just awful.

[@debsg2024]

👋👍 Terrível mesm!

[@Anagrams458]

Ben could have done better.😉

[@mikesoule1352]

​@@Anagrams458Ben's vlog this afternoon was absolutely awesome!

[@peteacher52]

Except for the middle part of the circus when an 18th century French organ mass was played.

[@lesterpace5625]

Somewhere, a monkey is out of work because his organ has been stolen and placed in Northa Dame . Most recognized love birds there were Jill and trumps ego. God save this place so the poor will have shelter when all the rich are dead. A moment to greed. Just like the pyramids. Greed at its finest. Love.

[@joywatts4839]

Well said. I was SO disappointed by the organ playing and felt sorry for the attendees.

[@michaelhanrahanmoore1622]

You're an ignoramus

[@smartladylr]

I think this is what about everyone felt like, and I an musician, awfull !!

[@sfoster2911]

the looks on their faces- devastating. Not joy, but horror.

[@whdbnrm3023]

The attendees were lucky . We not only had to listen to this nonsense ,but also saw a madman pounding down on the keyboard like he just found out a cop was putting a parking ticket on his beloved Peugeot . VIVE LA FRANCE

[@r.p.8906]

agreed. Their faces said it all.

[@marysmith-r7e]

I am so glad you have made public what so many of us experienced. All I could hear was noise: no music, no rhythm. The people in the Cathedral must have been deafened. The epitome of a lost opportunity.

[@gravityissues5210]

Thank you for making the point that being technically proficient on an instrument is not the same as being a great musician. Technical prowess is a means to an end, and that end is communicating the trascendent in that way that only music can. I have heard more than a few highly-decortated musicians who bored me to tears because, while they got all the notes right, they had nothing to say. It's like an author who has mastered perfect spelling and grammar and has an amazing vocabulary, but no one reads his books because his stories are schlock.

[@OrganCarillon-g8j]

Thanks for respectfully expressing your point of view.

[@uptoolate2793]

Yes, in the middle of the road. With the yellow stripe and the road pizza skunk.

[@WouterTukker]

@@uptoolate2793 I believe that was meant seriously, not as something to make fun of ... Respect merits respect in return ...

[@karenhenline1906]

​@WouterTukker key phrase here....'you believe' i do NOT believe that frequency of sound was meant with respect....something was very off about the entire presentation... Therefore , I am not obligated to respect with comments or otherwise

[@WouterTukker]

@@karenhenline1906 I meant "believe" in a Christian sense, if you happen to know what that means at all ...

[@kylebrown3734]

An articulate and intelligent analysis of the situation. Well done young man!

[@uptoolate2793]

Really? I thought he sounded more like someone trying to spin an answer to a difficult job interview question.

[@alaynayoung23]

Except for the British music at the French cathedral reopen

[@charlottekluever180]

Totally agree. So many wonderful organ masterpieces that could have been chosen and this organist chose to showcase himself instead of the magnificent instrument he was playing.

[@gracybotha1791]

Well done God bless all those who it fixed it

[@ds1868]

​@@alaynayoung23If you refer to Handel's Alleluia Chorus in the first Mass. That's the best thing I've heard ever sung in Notre Dame, and the highlight of that Mass.

[@beni4136]

Right on Titus !! I am feeling better now that i know that i am not the only one lol

[@jamesmiller4184]

Count me in on that also.

[@rjd3wine]

The soundtrack to a nervous breakdown. And I'm a former organist!

[@catimini-uo1xl]

This "music" sure didn't give me a taste of Heaven! It didn't even give an idea of the full scope of the range of this magnificent organ, the depth of its rich and warm notes. Quel boucan! What a rockus! It shouldn't have been about showing off one's extreme virtuosity - frankly speaking no one would have noticed a false note - it was about the awakening of the organ which represents the voice of God. If that is His voice, it is the God of the old testament, terrifying and full of wrath.... although God has quite a few things to be angry about! 🤨

[@BlackStump172]

@@rjd3wineGiggle ! I am loving all of these comments . I am no musician but I love music and not noise . Even HipHop would be preferable.☹️

[@ds1868]

Everyone is with you on this. So disappointing.

[@ritajames7797]

Your commentary makes perfect sense - glad I did not have to be present on that occasion.

[@yhssd6573]

Actually, since this is Notre Dame, a hymn in honor of our Lady would have been a much better choice than the cacophony we heard!

[@Mar--Mar]

Best answer. A good improvisation on Salve Regina for example would have been appealing.

[@peaceandlove544]

Ave María, Salve Regina, but Macron wanted those atheist organists for sure

[@jm08050]

@@peaceandlove544 I hadn't thought of that: Macron may have been the one to tell Olivier to play an over-the-top improv. Macron is defintely an atheist and an egoist, so it's quite probable.

[@vittoriobacchiega9118]

Totally agree. This is France catholicism (see the plant by fruits).

[@ds1868]

​@@peaceandlove544Totally agree. If no French masters then BWV 565 would be great instead of the horror show given here!

[@Allons-y.Charlie]

I felt this was equal to going to le Louvre and seeing a banana taped to a wall.

[@elizabethmoini2902]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👏👏👏👏👏, Thank you for giving me, a much needed laugh!👍😉🍌

[@aceairstream]

Wrong museum- you need le centre Pompidou for that... But what was the reaction to the Glass Pyramid being constructed at the Louvre- lots of criticism at first, but its very much part of the museum now and hardly raises an eyebrow.

[@donaldgeorge3717]

Good one.Spot on.

[@vcie515]

​​​​ @aceairstream No, he named the right museum: a classical environment with a horrific piece of modern art. Same for Notre-Dame : a beautiful Gothic cathedral and a horrific "improvisation" on a wonderful organ (wich could have be impressive for the reawakening, but sadly wasn't.)

[@aceairstream]

@ well our tastes differ, what type of music do you like? Personally I thought the improvisations were exactly in the spirit of the Notre Dame style that has developed over the years, and which was reawakened. Did you actually listen to all the improvisations, which were in different styles, some very classical in form? Not all are played in this video.

[@TheBenwarwa]

This organ music represented more the destruction of Notre-Dame than the reopening. It was music from hell!

[@iamlalapalooza]

bingo! and sitting in the front row was the hellbringer himself.. with his sidekick a few rows back.

[@uschik5875]

Macron is satanique

[@dianecernak7130]

That's who is there....

[@MonaLisa-lu8zi]

It reminded me of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". If that was their intention, I would have enjoyed a little smile, were they to have an actor in role, sitting at the front, turn around, horrified.

[@beccagee5905]

@iamlalapalooza Poor baby, you'll get over it. After all we had to put up with Joe for 400,000,000 long years, or so it seemed.

[@jmccarty3]

I was impressed by this young man's well-considered and tactful commentary.

[@miaohmya92]

Oh no! what happened that you became unimpressed?

[@rjd3wine]

I love the expressions on peoples faces! Boredom, disbelief, holding back laughter, puzzled looks of "What the #@&% am I doing here?" The kind of music only a music theory major could love!

[@gabriellakadar]

Just because he was pounding the keyboards didn't make it music.

[@strobx1]

Bach rolled over in his grave!

[@BeverlyMurphy-j5m]

@rjd3einr. CANNOT STOP LOL THAT WAS SOOOO TRUE I REALLY DID THINK THAT EAS THE LOOK ON MUSKS FACE BECAUSE HE HAS SUCH A GOOD SENCE IF HUMOR I DID THINK HE WAS TRYING NOT TO LOL WITH TRUMPS SENCE OF HUMOR I BET THEY HAD A "HOWELING GOOD LAUGH ABOUT IT IN PRIVATE" 😂😂😂😂😂 SO FUNNY & HOW SAD THAT SO CALLED ORGANISTS SCREWED UP SOOOO BADLY 🤨😵‍💫😱😢

[@BeverlyMurphy-j5m]

Correction MUSK. NOT EAS my DAM phone 😡

[@cvbzizou]

It was physically painful. You could see the crowd was not impressed. A historic moment ruined by someone’s grandstanding and ego. Notre Dame deserved better. And I hope the people of France don’t forget this performance. When you should be glorifying God, you chose to glorify yourself. Humility please.

[@ligmasack9038]

Typical of the French to f*ck up something so simple

[@emilywallace4247]

Believe me. Olivier Latry is devoid of any humility whatsoever. In 2001, I watched him conduct a master class for organ students. His attitude and behavior toward them was reprehensible. He fed his ego by belittling students. I walked out. I have not and will not purchase any of his recordings.

[@owinstan]

I agree with you about the organ. As for glorifying God, it seems to me that the French (the elites at least) gave up on that centuries ago. I found the entire ceremony to be uninspiring. Unfortunately not surprisingly so.

[@beaulin5628]

Those groaning sounds did not "glorify" anyone, anywhere.

[@beaulin5628]

@@emilywallace4247 You mean, that organ pounder was a professional musician? He is fooling himself more than any other.

[@PatrickBotti]

As a French born orchestra conductor, and church music director, and having played a number of organs, I was not surprised by what was played at Notre Dame the other day. It was obviously all improvisatory in that typical style of the French school of improvisation. You could hear, Debussy, Messiaen, and many other 20th century composers' styles. For having gone to Notre Dame so many times in my college years, attending the Sunday morning mass and the Sunday afternoon concerts, and having the honor to briefly touch that organ's keyboard once, I can tell you that the biggest problem at Notre Dame is the reverberation decay. The decay time for a sound is at least 15-20 seconds. If you play extremely loud and extremely fast, in a style of music that includes a lot of dissonances and clusters of sounds, the end result is a cacophony. but it also happens with all styles of music. I heard played at Notre Dame Baroque composers as well as French 19th century masters. I always noticed the same thing. It is a magnificent organ and I know there is not much one can do about acoustics. The "resonance" in a large cathedral is an issue. I have to agree with a number of comments to your video I was watching live from the US on French TV and after listening to the organ, I was exhausted... and I was not inside the cathedral.. Those organists, Olivier Latry and the others are phenomenal organists, the cream of the crop. It seems to me that if they wanted to highlight the palette of colors that organ can produce, they could have managed to play other, recognizable music. When the archbishop does five times an invocation to the organ, was it necessary for the organ to respond with such a huge, angry sound? The call from the ambo does not ask for that kind of response from the instrument. I hope I am making sense here. One quick note here. The chancel organ was totally destroyed. It looked to me that it has been replaced. At times, the choir was not accompanied by the Grand Orgue but by the orgue de choeur. My two cents (sorry for a long posting).

[@cantusfirmusbecker7825]

Der Meistro kannte die besonderen Klippen des Nachhalls. Das hat ihn gar nicht interessiert, wie das für die Gottesdienstbesucher als Lärmgetöse und Gebrüll ankommt. Wenn ich ein Auto vorführe, fahre ich auch nicht ständig mit Vollgas. Französischer Stil hin und her - in dieser Form klingt es nach Weltuntergang.

[@josephshields2922]

You sound like the guy who was trying to explain to me that a bunch of eggs thrown at a canvass was actually art.

[@RWorley3sl]

Thank you for explaining. We have a odd ceiling at my church and they destroyed the stage by cutting it back. Stand in the middle and you don't need a mic: everywhere else the sound dies.

[@muhc8550]

I wanted to hear more of the organ music but I like the tradition of improvisation

[@lapetitefeuille8684]

C’est le premier commentaire sensé sur le sujet.

[@nikiTricoteuse]

I'm not knowledgeable about music and know next to nothing about the organ so, it's actually a relief that it wasn't just me that was puzzled by this..

[@sfoster2911]

It could have been glorious…. Not a difficult thing for skilled organists to achieve but here it was sadly an ego trip of massive proportions.

[@NerinaRSA]

I am so glad you mention it. For me it was ugly

[@arosefortes6507]

It was more than ugly! More like the organ was throwing up! As if he's trying to play hard rock! On an organ?!? It's not suitable, it sounded grotesque!

[@johnklein233]

Congratulations on this very professional and enlightening critique. I agree that a rare opportunity to garner appreciation for the capabilities of the organ was missed.

[@MRantzWI]

​@@Lady_Victorias Totally blew it huh ? Guess rebuilding and reopening the entire cathedral in 5 years, and doing a stellar job at it as well isn't the most important thing huh ? It's the choice of tunes the organist happened to play for about 10 minutes that's the focus and made for such a disaster huh ? Seriously. Get some perspective.

[@augustusdaniel9727]

The organ may have done a better service playing by itself.🏰💒🏰🎹

[@christineeckelhoefer8337]

@@johnklein233 yes, really! And that is not a joke.

[@beaulin5628]

This ugly performance has cured me of listening to organ music forever.

[@salomitaherrera9888]

I am a classical concert pianist and my exhusband is an organist. I know about french musicians and tradicions because I studied at conservatoire national superieur de paris. Órgan repertoire has some many different kind of intimate, sacramental or majestic and great pieces. Doing those HORRIFIC improvisations in such a special worldwide event where the organ had the musical opportunity of being a king, is a real musical SHAME!!! I feel sooooo angry 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@reggiebosanquet1525]

Completely agree!

[@anselmo4952]

Is a similar music that the played in the movie "The Carnival of the Souls".

[@cindysaurber7119]

Well, they were responsible for the Olympic debacle…need I say more? The French have lost their way.

[@BeverlyMurphy-j5m]

@salomitaherrera9888 I TOTALLY AGREE REALLY SO UPSET WITH THIS NONSENCE SUCH A SHAME & A WAIST OF A "ONCE IN A LIFE TIME OPERTUNITY 🤔🤨🧐😱

[@josephsantori327]

Too bad none of you complainers haven't attended visual art schools, where we learn that confrontational art forms are high art. The horror of the burning cathedral expressed well followed by moments of revival was most fitting!

[@jerryofsanfrancisco]

The first time I heard Latry perform was in the Symphony Hall in San Francisco, California. I sat in a front row seat. A audience submitted tune was given to the organist. I was shocked as how bad the improvisation was, so much I did not applaud when he exited the stage. I did see that he looked down at me from the stage - I think he saw my disappointment. The next time I saw Latry perform in San Francisco I found his playing to be much more pleasing. I had the pleasure to sit next to the organ in Notre Dame Paris during a mass not long before the church burned. It was an incredible experience! One of the most exciting things I have had the pleasure of in my lifetime.

[@timotheospetros]

I guess that's what the organ sounds like in Hell.

⚜ ...and of course, the antichrist, Donald J. Trump, would be on the front row, for the shocking display!

[@erichkusterer6339]

YES 😂🎉😂

[@peterphilipsen8136]

Some of the new features in the church too. Who created this😂

[@Jean-tu2bd]

I agree

[@knightwatchman]

I had the same impression. But that's the French for you, with their mocking secular attitude.

[@deinodark3806]

Thank you for talking about this! As a composer and music analyst I was astonished by how horrible the cacophony sounds

[@hanspeterwortman7726]

100% agree, but I would have been 100% less diplomatic than you, Pep.

[@patrickmccutcheon9361]

Strange selection of music indeed. Reminds me of the strange opening ceremony of the Olympics.

[@mr88cet]

I think your choice of words in calling for an “ambassador” for the organ, is well-chosen, considering the audience! I agree that the Widor Toccata would have been a really superb choice.

[@53lyric1]

I admit, I was expecting Advent music in keeping with the season. I now know who the Phantom of the Opera is.👀(YIKES!)

[@marie-ctunnicliff513]

Or Dr Phibes - sounded very familiar. Many years ago, back in the 50s & 60s, I heard beautiful music in La Notre Dame - what has happened?

[@ds1868]

​@@marie-ctunnicliff513Dr Phibes with Vincent Price! I agree with that!

[@hl007a]

I missed an improvisation on a Harry Potter theme, at least that would have brought a bit of magic to this weird ceremony. To my consolation, the Adams family punished with their music the celebrities present, a sort of irony.

[@vintagelady1]

Actually, the organ pieces from Phatom are far, far, far more musical than this hot mess.

[@marie-ctunnicliff513]

@@vintagelady1 You are absolutely correct! 😁

[@conniebackus-yoder2799]

All I heard from the organ was... I am a monster and I'm here to show my power. I am here to provide chaos, and cacophony, not uplifting powerful angelic power

[@roygutfinski879]

“Sforzando Macabre”

[@georgemccoy5028]

I thought they were performing an exorcism and the Demons came flying out in the so called "music"

[@brandywineblogger1411]

Perfectly stated! Thank you.

[@soulscry8697]

You NAILED it. That was Satan making a mockery of Our Blessed Mother and her son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan burnt it in 2019 (just before COVID), then thru his depraved influences, he had appointed the most despicable elite freemasons to re-design and symbolically re-consecrate Notre Dame into nothing more than a Masonic lodge in his honor to usurp the intentions that built it in the first place to display the highest forms of beauty and truth for the honor and glory of the triumph of Jesus Christ over Satan and death...

[@leemcdonald5713]

I enjoyed the cacophony part..it was cacophiliceous

[@sandychilese2893]

The organ is in such danger of disappearing. Instruments 100s of years old are being destroyed all over Europe. As someone who works in the church, I love hearing an pipe organ played during mass. But, more often than not, the congregation complains about the sound because we don’t have proficient musicians, the space they take and the cost to repair. And they use those issues as arguments to replace the organ w/ an electronic keyboard. You can’t give them away. This young man was very kind in his review of the piece of music offered for the inaugural performance. The Notre Dam musician is obviously technically proficient, but his ego got in the way of this once in a life time opportunity to demonstrate the beauty of the sound of this grand and ancient instrument to the general population. I was so looking forward to hearing a piece of music I would recognize. Maybe the criticisms of his performance piece will provide him with some humility if and when he realizes the opportunity he threw away.

[@BeverlyMurphy-j5m]

I DOUBT VERY MUCH THIS EGOTIST WILL ACCEPT ANY CRITICISM OF HIS "UNFORTUNEATE MISDEED !!!!!" JUST AWFUL 😵‍💫

[@SharonGWilliams-s1x]

It was not the organs fault. The organist made that mess.

[@emorel48]

It truly sounded horrible! What a sham!

[@hape3862]

“The organ is in great danger of disappearing. Everywhere in Europe, 100-year-old instruments are being destroyed.” - Come on. That's not true. Pipe organ builders have full order books for years to come. Great new organs are being built everywhere and yes, old ones are being thrown away, but only those that were cobbled together cheaply from plywood and electric actions in the 20th century and whose sound represented the aberration of the neo-baroque style. These organs have long since passed the end of their useful life. Many valuable old organs had to make way for them. Fortunately, now they themselves have to make way for instruments in the best old craftsman tradition. This is because new organs are once again being built in the traditional way: mechanical action, the best materials, no money-saving compromises. And the really old and valuable organs that still exist are being restored to their original splendor, with the changes made in less careful decades being reversed.

[@bonnielucas3244]

Very sorry to hear that old pipe organs are disappearing in large numbers

[@Johnnycdrums]

Improvise tastefully, and don't forget the rest notes, as they are equally important. Jazz afficionado here.

[@Caveman57]

It sounded like a horror movie. You know, welcome to hell. I thought there was something wrong with the organ. Such a terrible choice for such a beautiful instrument and such a holy place. Thank you for putting this out so people know what happened.

[@LilA-zl6tf]

So I was not the only one, who thought is there was something actually wrong with the organ. Ok.

[@erikthenorviking8251]

But... But... People FIXATE on Bach's D minor Toccata & Fugue, describing it VERY frequently as dark, gothic. It's one of the most famous pieces of music ever written. And as any music professional will tell you, most compositions have their roots in... improvisation of some sort. However, this event was NOT supposed to be some sort of educational concert. What %age of that prvileged audience even like classical music. That would be interesting, but we shall never know...

[@1oscarbravo]

@@erikthenorviking8251 All Bach's writing and playing was Soli Deo Gloria. Let's not pretend Latry and his fellows were glorifying God with their performance.

[@erikthenorviking8251]

@@1oscarbravo Let's not pretend that you know anything at all about improvisation in the liturgy in France. Organ improvisation is something the French are renowned for, and I for one should be very disappointed to attend a religious event/service in F, and NOT hear the titulaire improv ise. And for those in any doubt, the Archbishop of Paris was also taking part. Obviously, now that some people seem to be getting over the dementia paralytica stages of TDS, they feel obliged to "hate" on something else.

[@edennis8578]

​@@erikthenorviking8251 Well, goodie for you. You're one of the 1 percent of people who would have appreciated that wretched sound. Btw, I've been a Trump supporter since 2015, in spite of conflicts with family and friends over it, so TDS has zero to do with my disliking an organ being mishandled in that egregious way.

[@waltstrony5382]

Amen! Thank you for saying what needed to be said.

[@beaulin5628]

Really, they insulted the whole world which tuned in to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame but was shocked to hear this "organ-grinder" horror perpetrated on a captive audience who spent money, time, and security details, to go there.

[@janegainsford3869]

I agree with you. A missed opportunity to showcase this mighty instrument. Even the Archbishop's expression says it all - confused by what he is hearing.

[@SkyBlue1031]

It was his responsibility to know what was being played. You don't leave things like that to chance.

[@zigouigouix]

In a normal world, the organist should be jailed, and never play in any church again

[@testman9541]

No be sure he had chosen the color of the improvisation 👌

[@ilselauwers6009]

@@pianotechlife how about understanding that it was not about the organist and his technical skills and virtuoso ego at all but to jubilate the rising of the church after many many people worked together to get it done . …. If he wanted to express the horror of the fire in music he should have also ended his improvisation in pure uplifting harmonious melodies , representing the hope and resurrection the moment stood for . That would have made sense to my poor simple mind …. Me far below your feet with my simple mind mr Maestro Piano technique expert

[@sfoster2911]

@@zigouigouix in my church the organist would have been released for drunkenness

[@4.0.4]

It was probably the biggest spotlight an organist could have in this world. I believe there isn't an international blacklist for "should never touch an organ again in their lifetime", but maybe one could be created.

[@malcomgain]

My sentiments exactly. Uninspired improvisation for colleagues rather than showing this great organ off to the world.

[@joschmoyo4532]

Speaking as an Organ builder I just wanted to pull the plug on the blower just to stop that infernal racket. It was just a cringe inducing celebration of Satan's little helpers. Firey French reed's are no excuse for dragging us through five minutes of auditory hell. It's pipe organ abuse too. Improvisation my arse. Improper utilisation more like. I'm surprised the Organist didn't start another roof fire while he was up there. If he had locked the doors first I would have given him a standing ovation but unfortunately every last bstrd one of them got out of Notre Dame alive. Hell is empty and has left the Cathedral.

[@jamesmiller4184]

Perhaps it was intended, so as to curse the "little helpers" by sonic bombardment? 😏

[@peaceandlove544]

Evil Macron chose those evil organists

[@peaceandlove544]

Sooooooo true. That's what I thought. He was invoking something and surely was not Our Lady.

⚜ Given that the antichrist, Donald J. Trump, was on the front row, it's no wonder hell's bells were heard.

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

Tell us what you really think! Lol 😂

[@SeniorScooby]

100% agree with you. A missed opportunity for such a mystical and triumphant moment in history. The triumphant of creation over destruction.

[@testman9541]

That is exactly what the improvisation was all about 🥂

[@carmelitequotes]

I loved Latry's improv and the improvisations by all four of the titular organists. Insiders know that Latry, Escaich, Dubois, and Fajoles are the masters of French improv and I expected them to improvise in the same way they do at every liturgy. Why should we expect them to play any different at the rededication? We have 21st c. Tournemires on the bench.

[@wrx38qpk]

Finally a sensible comment. The improvisations were spectacularly wonderful. And I'm sure the great majority of those present would have been impressed just as most congregants remain after Mass to applaud Latry's and others' improvisations.

[@marie-jeankotze9080]

It was not sacred music, but just a blasting noise and not music that the audience could enjoy

[@stevenmichael3426]

@@marie-jeankotze9080 go listen to Yankee dood on the one string guitar

[@erikriza7165]

it was hardly edifying--not even close.

[@stevenmichael3426]

@erikriza7165 words of a philistine and a person with a musical appreciation of a roach.

[@erikriza7165]

@@stevenmichael3426 I know an unjoyful noise when i hear it. I am familiar with the word philistine. I am not one. And I do appreciate music.What that organist did was a French thing. It takes a lot of talent to do that. I just didn't like it. I don't think it was edifying. De gustibus non est disputandem.

[@stevenmichael3426]

@erikriza7165 the only unjoyful noise is your mouth sweetheart

[@barbarapiazza-georgi3831]

THANK YOU! You've cleared up a major question mark I had about this opening ceremony. I am no organist, not even an expert of organ music (although I love classical music and I am fairly educated in it), and I was puzzled by the performance of the organ. Thanks to your explanation, I am no longer embarrassed about having disliked it. I may not be an expert, but I am certainly not a deplorable uneducated listener, and if this was totally beyond me, then it was an elitist choice, inappropriate for the occasion, disrespectful of the audience.

[@BeverlyMurphy-j5m]

DISRESPECTFUL TO "THE ALMIGHTY" & PERHAPS IF THAT ORGANIST IS A LEFTY LOON HE MAY HAVE "INTENDED TO BE DISRESPECTFUL 🤨

[@AmyDLong]

Exactly

[@beaulin5628]

Total contempt for the audience. How "grand" would the "grand organist" have been had they all wisely rejected the invitation to be so insulted?

[@Ernesto7608]

Loving classical music and being fairly educated in it... makes you an EXPERT. You recognize MUSIC by its definition: melody + harmony + rhythm that please the ear. What was heard at Notre Dame was not music but... noise! Or, to be a little kinder... sounds! And yes, this was totally beyond us educated people in music appreciation. We don't need to be experts in ANY musical instrument, but simply be qualified to judge its sounds.

[@beaulin5628]

@@Ernesto7608 Actually, it seemed like a calculated attack on Christianity itself. So violent and ugly. Residue from the French Revolution which brought unprecedented HORROR to France instead of "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity" ?

[@neilhemsworth148]

I'm so GLAD that you OPENED UP this topic! I thought I was just the only one who was APPALLED and VERY MUCH DISAPPOINTED to the superlative DEGREE on the organ music played by that IRRESPONSIBLE & SELFISH ORGANIST! I said SELFISH because he just cared for himself and played at his own whims to satisfy his own ABNORMAL creativity. If it is to show the other organists how much he could do in improvisations, then he FAILED to captivate the normal people, US! I am an architect and designer and the performing arts and music aligns with our craft. Our common denominator is ART! As an ARTIST in my own right, I can HONESTLY SAY that his music during the inauguration on Dec 7 & 8 are SO NOISY and really so apallingly WITHOUT TASTE! The self-centered organist RUINED the chance of showing the beauty of ORGAN MUSIC. Yes, a simple "Joy to the World" music choice could TREMENDOUSLY MADE AN IMPACT compared to a NOISY LOUSY & INCREDULOUSLY LOUD UGLY SELECTION! He doesn't have to prove that he is a master of the organ. We know that already. I hope he din't take things too personal as to uplift his image but rather SHOWCASED the beauty of the ORGAN MUSIC thtough a different universal music choice. He cannot be considered a GREAT ORGANIST after playing a selection like this. A GREAT ONE would not JEOPARDIZE that UNIQUE MOMENT of playing a GREAT MUSIC. One would instead play something that would have a UNIVERSAL APPEAL. Something that is NOT NOISY, LOUD and UNCOUTH! I thought I was the only one who noticed that a lot of the church attendees irritatingly looking back towards the organ upon hearing the LOUD, CORDLESS, out of TUNE piece. If they can only SHOUT and say "STOP THAT SHIT", they would have done so! The second day of December 8 was also the same. From the North pole to the south pole, when you hear the Holy Mass and when the choir is at rest during communion, the organist takes over. And USUALLY, they play really SWEET CHURCH MUSIC...chords that are mellow in touch and palatable! But in the Holy Mass of December 8, he played differently too. The organ music choice is so HIDEOUS! I feel I want to SHOUT at the organist if he could only hear me! The WHOLE WORLD WAS WATCHING last Dec. 7 & 8. The magic of UTube has given us the opportunity to watch what was happening inside Note Dame during those two inaugural days. If was not only the guests inside Notre Dame that were DISAPPOINTED with that ORGAN MUSIC, it was also the WHOLE UNIVERSE who watched it! We just HOPE that that ORGANIST WOULD NOT be given the FREEWILL again to choose his repertoire. A COMMITTEE would have to choose the appropriate music to be played. Not him. Those improvisations can only DESTROY the newly repaired keys of the organ. One SHOULD NOT EXERCISE ONE'S VANITY to show off and tell the world that you are a great organist. ONE SHOULD INSTEAD THINK of the OTHERS...what is the APPROPRIATE MUSIC for the occasion and not the appropriate one for yourself!

[@OrganNLou]

Latry was BRILLIANT! Its called IMPROVISATION (look it up!).

[@MichaelStBede]

@@OrganNLou But it certainly wasn't prayer, friend (look that one up).

[@ds1868]

​@@OrganNLouTotally the wrong occasion. The audience was horrified. Everyone thinks it was just ugly. There is a time and a place. This wasn't it. A real turn off and a big disappointment.

[@Eva-MariaEdelkötter]

Es war die große Demonstration eines sich selbst liebenden Organisten

[@OrganNLou]

@@ds1868 Totally RIGHT occasion! This is a STRONG tradition in France ( I am an organist and have been to French churches when this was done) and many were enthralled by the performance! Stop whining!

[@kenrickmervine4979]

While all four organists are consummate musicians and brilliant performers, they might have considered presenting Denis Bedard’s “Huit Invocations,” composed for an organ dedication. The eight short movements are appropriately demonstrative of the organ’s color, capabilities, and reflect the specific text of each invocation.🎹🎶🙏

[@rogerrice1772]

The organ demo sounded like the opening score of some vampire movie, wholly inappropriate for a church, regardless of denomination

[@hans9894]

It was totally in the style they use there for many many years, what is inappropriate? Gossip and judging. ! This is Art with a capital.

[@multi-purposebiped7419]

Come on now, be serious. Vampire music is way better than that.

[@stevenmichael3426]

@@hans9894 these haters here are totally ignorant

[@เรียนภาษาอังกฤษวันนี้]

😂you know nothing about French organmusic. Nothing.

[@stevenmichael3426]

@เรียนภาษาอังกฤษวันนี้ exactly...the music was glorious, and certainly up to par with Messiean, Tournemire, Langlois. Litaize as well as their contemporaneous.

[@brianlooksaround6125]

I am an American organist and I have to strongly agree with you. It was a tremendous opportunity missed. Had this event happened at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London or St. John’s Cathedral in New York I am certain that it would’ve been a more approachable experience for people. I understand this is the Frenchstyle and has been cultivated for many many years. But you, sir, have hit the nail on the head.

[@aleksandarjovcic]

Pfft “French style” ask the French public if that’s their style and I think they’d tell you they would rather be American than have that associated with them!

[@paunitka7]

Come on, French music includes approachable organ pieces too. ;)

[@stylusfantasticus]

Arrogant style-

[@vintagelady1]

As a non-organist, I certainly learned something: how awful an organ could sound. Appalling, heads should roll.

[@faivregeoffrey6221]

Heads of people who don't know what they're talking about giving peremptory opinions ?

[@NigelsMusic]

I thought it was magnificent! I felt it captured a spirit of triumph, of the church and organ rising from the ashes with the most dramatic intensity! The live sound inside the church must have been absolutely stunning. (And there are a lot of favourable comments on the KZbin clip I saw of this, so I'm not the only one who was impressed!)

[@wrx38qpk]

Spot on! I too was absolutely impressed. It was indeed stunning.

[@redabdab]

well said!

[@dorothydennis2953]

Very well said! An horrific sound to celebrate such a wonderful event! Disappointing!

[@quinquiry]

Macron turns everything he touches into sh*** , Macron having any respect for the audience ? Its a dream

[@lokey-1607]

LOVE your idea of playing “Joy to the World” because it is an absolute joy to see this beautiful structure so lovingly restored! Also, some of us have very sensitive hearing…I would have left the building with a major headache. Such a shame to waste a wonderful opportunity to celebrate joy.

[@vintagelady1]

ANYTHING would have been better than that noise. If they'd opened with "Entry of the Gladiators" (the "clown" music) it would have been better.

[@CulvertCulture-r1z]

Thanks for showing some of the online comments and facial expressions during ceremony.

[@MoonOfPisces]

Hilarious!

[@loisannarter2263]

What a horrible mess! Someone showing off that backfired. A wasted opportunity.

[@thomasjorge4734]

That was the musical equivalent of burning the Cathedral down again.

[@SurpriseMeJT]

I honestly thought that this is what he was going for. The audible equivalent of a building burning down.

[@beccagee5905]

@@SurpriseMeJT I honestly thought it was the musical equivalent to the opening of hell.

[@Manna515]

😂😂😂that made me laugh

[@vespucci964]

ouch! good one

[@PierreSeattle]

@@thomasjorge4734 excellent transposition and observation

[@DanielleRosaria]

Thank you for explaining this. I’m a devout Catholic and have a doctorate in Historical Performance Practice, violin. I am used to hearing music like this as part of music history. It was interesting to me as a musician, but as a Catholic is think it glorified the organist rather than God. It was shocking music to probably most people. As musicians, especially church musicians, we need to consider the purpose of our music which in Mass is to lift up prayers to God.

[@drbobdrake]

No, the archbishop issued 8 challenges to the ORGAN. Each challenge answer was just that. Latry started with the cacophony and anxiety of 2019 and the following answers brought us to the glory of 2024. All four titulaires clearly had a plan for the 8 answers. They are the best improvisers in France.

[@DanielleRosaria]

@ Thank you so much for this! I appreciate the explanation very much. Like I said I find the performance very fascinating and musically it deserves respect. Obviously to me he is an outstanding organist. I just didn’t hear the organization resolution or anything that would particularly lift up the non-musicians listening to the prayer and glory of God. It was so dissonant as to create a rift between those who understand this musical language and those who don’t. I myself found it inspiring to think of the darkness and light that is in the spiritual life but I wonder how many others of the world-wide prayerful who were listening were able to make this connection. Music in church serves and glorifies God and uplifts the congregation. If the language is too unintelligible then it misses its mark.

[@sfoster2911]

@@drbobdrake Reaching your audience and reading the room are important aspects in musical performance. Judging from thousands of comments, and the looks on the attendees faces, these great improvisers were a bit lacking….I've heard many organ “eveils” and they usually focus on quickly recognizable sonorities and combinations. This was all about showing off in my opinion.

[@drbobdrake]

@ ​​⁠The titulaires were responding to the archbishop in a call and response with 8 specific challenges. This was a religious ceremony not a recital. Each response was to answer a specific challenge. The 4 titulaires responded as one organ, which was the entity addressed in each challenge.

[@sfoster2911]

@@drbobdrake I’ve heard dozens of these organ reawakenings so I know how they are done and supposed to sound like. This was a radical interpretation….self indulgent on the part of the organists.

[@SaluVision]

What comes out of the organ reflects the state of the soul of the organist.

[@mikedsjr]

His soul is messed up.

[@Lawh]

@@mikedsjr It sounded like demons yelling.

[@angelikafranz4545]

And the state of mind of secular France.

[@mam-ye5zl]

He was requested to play this by macron

[@vladimirlegrand2917]

The event of the beast

[@Joseph-mv3rz]

It’s so sad that this was the impression that was left on the public. I absolutely love Latry’s improvisations and so can’t quite understand not liking the overwhelming nature of them. But hearing people bash his music makes me quite sad and it’s undoubtedly not particularly anyone’s fault. Can you blame home for improvising like he has been trained to improvise and in the way he has been told sounds absolutely glorious. Should he really have to change his art to accommodate people who don’t want to appreciate it. Idk obviously in a situation like this it might make sense to but I’m not sure it’s so cut and dry

[@wrx38qpk]

It was a spectacular reawakening of the great organ and I'm sure most present would have appreciated it just as before the fire ND congregants would remain behind after Mass and applaud Latry's improvisations. Olivier Larty is a great artist who does not and should not compromise his art.

[@ExecutionSommaire]

Surely if he's a great organist he has control over the degree of complexity he plays with. As a jazz pianist I'm familiar with the fact that certain things just sound "wrong" to the average people, so just keep it simple and it doesn't mean you're not playing jazz. "Qui peut le plus peut le moins" as we say.

[@frenchfriar]

One of the most important parts of being a performer: *know your audience*. Knowing who was attending, it made no sense to play an intensely "artistic" piece, rather than something more familiar to the average person and a *world audience*, not a virtuoso's peers. That speaks of an arrogance and elitism that doesn't speak well of whoever chose those pieces.

[@sfoster2911]

Sadly it wreaked of those organists wanting to show off and engage in self indulgence. Had they done it at a concert, fine, but this occasion demanded a much more universal tone.

[@roberthovencamp]

Spot on!!!

[@aelfrice]

Monsieur Latry ought to resign. Programming is part of his charge. He needs to step out of the way.

[@ankavoskuilen1725]

I have played and sung music all my life, heard more organ music than most, but I can't bear this kind of noise. All the time I wanted to hear the organ, not the organists.

[@DanielBuchanan-i2d]

Did you see the look of horror on the faces of attendees? That noise was like fingernails on a chalkboard. I agree, "Joy To the World" would have been perfect for the Season and the occasion! 😢

[@dmarlowe681]

I couldn't believe my ears. It was chaos and a smashing of all the keyes at once as though writhing in pain as though someone was transcending into the pits of hell. A monkey could have played better. The organist destroyed the beautiful reopening of Notre Dame with a reminder of the FIERY destruction that took the cathedral from us for 5 years. Such a pity. As Donald Trump would say, "you're fired!" Organist. Such poor judgment.

[@ermengard6960]

Donald Trump's presence there sullied the event. He is a psychopathic buffoon & ignoramus, a criminal conman who hawks tacky merch, and an admirer of iron-fisted dictators.

[@sfoster2911]

In my church the organist would have been fired, or at least suspended pending a psychiatric evaluation!

[@JulieNugent-2]

This could have been so beautifully respectful, but turned into an insult of demonic cacophonous noise. How could this not have been intentional?

[@sfoster2911]

I wouid say the organists are delusional and in their own echo chamber, thinking the world would somehow appreciate their raucous improvisations.

[@dianecernak7130]

Showing their "true colors" who they represent.....

[@taraalan1131]

Norte Dame was not consecrated before it re opened

[@pablopicaro7649]

Woke Progressive garbage has polluted the management selection of Organist. Multicultural preparation for the inevitable conversion to a Mosque?

[@ollyperrooo]

@@taraalan1131 That's very interesting to know. You would think it would be.

[@johnvrabec9747]

There is one redeeming moment when they played the "Hallelujah" chorus during the mass with the full choir. I had tears in my eyes.

[@reggiebosanquet1525]

Yes I watched that, really superb!

[@treepazr4270]

This mirrors the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics

[@shenr2549]

yes, when i heard that disastrous noise, i thought: they did it again!

[@steve-4045]

I changed the channel during most of that, but fortunately heard the concluding song. I was surprised by some of the reaction. I hadn’t known that French bishops think Jesus was painted blue and lay on a tray of flowers at the Last Supper. My Protestant Bible obviously left that part out.

[@JustMike2022]

@@treepazr4270 well said

[@steve-4045]

I have a friend who is a professor of French. She explained to me various cultural references in the ceremony for which I did not have the background to understand. That doesn’t mean that I would have wanted to sit through all that, but I do follow that it was a celebration of French culture, even if we non-French missed the references.

[@kylebrown3734]

@@steve-4045 Just like an "elite" professor, a so called intelligent individual, to tell you that you are just not smart enough to appreciate the moment. This is an example of the corruption of higher education.

[@theorgelmeisterakathesoapm8589]

I'm glad it's not just me who thought that. There are centuries of great music to choose from, even music from former composers who played that very organ.

[@lindanason6211]

Thank you for your sensitive but truthful presentation. I did not know about “French Improvisation.” It did not seem appropriate to the moment.

[@stylusfantasticus]

It was utterly horrendous. As organist I feel ashamed that the people inside, tha watching world and THE ORGAN WORLD had to bear that grotesque mockery to the music. Not only a total absence of traditional organ repertory calculated in hundred thousand even little jewels to be shown, but also a deliberated intention to show the most agressive and violent attitude towards that special moment in the history of that already multiprofanated sacred place. ALL NOISE. A DECLARATION OF WAR. The last impro would be suitable for a Muppet second class cabaret in boulevard St Germain.

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

As an amateur church organist I agree. I can appreciate the improvisation but this is the heavy metal of the organ world. A Franck chorale or something more melodic would have been more appropriate. The improvisation would have been better played at the conclusion of the Mass.

[@robertscott4759]

But a Franck chorale or something similar wouldn't have been an appropriate response to the archbishop of Paris intoning plainsong chants like that. Composed repertoire stands alone by itself. Responses to plainsong chants are something completely different. Especially in the context of the musical litergy practiced in French Roman Catholic churches.

[@strobx1]

You mean the Mass exit?

[@johnfisher247]

Yes the organist had a vast repertoire of French organ music to choose from. It reminded me of cinema organ music Why didn't he play a baroque piece? The opinion amongst traditional Catholics is that the new altar looks like half a potatoe upside down, the baptismal font an egg cup, the vestments a clown outfit or something a harlequin would wear. The bews things are stuck in 1960's futurism!

[@gljm]

Duruflé's beloved "Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain," Op. 7 would have been nice.

[@peaceandlove544]

I am a regular catholic, and think the same. Many artists, architects and regular people in France think the same and Even worst. It's a Museum with a Freemason floor light Like a Las Vegas Casino. A sacrilage to the Holly place it is for solo many Christian for almost 1000 years.

[@trompetteharmonique7350]

One of the organists gave two imrovisations in baroque style. Didn't you notice it?

[@francoisebekaert8137]

@@trompetteharmonique7350 I don't think anyone was listening any more!

[@reggiebosanquet1525]

@@francoisebekaert8137 they all gave up and went out to the bar to recover!

[@Jefftheturtle119]

Me clicking on this video : "Come on man, it can't be that bad." Me after watching this video: " w h y "

[@That_One_Player_Piano]

I actually laughed when I first heard it, but now I'm frustrated because this will hurt the reputation of organs in general.

[@andrewolson2227]

@Jefftheturtle119 This. I thought this video was clickbait. As a Protestant (regular Baptist), who is one of the few people at my church who likes the pipe organ, this type of organ playing doesn’t work well in a house of worship, and definitely doesn’t help my church family see the importance of this type of instrument.

[@StackSnackies]

Dude had the opportunity to lay down some serious Castlevania jams, and he blew it.

[@christinereich6050]

Huge missed opportunity. People would be talking about the music if it had been done well.

[@tedtimmis8135]

The vestments worn by the bishops looked like they were designed by the guy who did the infamous Jaguar commercial.

[@JonathanB6023]

Or Google.

[@brandywineblogger1411]

Yes, Bozo the Clown. Disrespect for Organ Music and gross disrespect for the Catholic Church.

[@ttselha64]

It’s wonderful to see colorful and beautiful vestments.

[@jozaine7834]

Yes ​@@ttselha64 I thought they were celebratory & fitting.

[@soulscry8697]

Those are the clown colors of the Freemasonic lodges...

[@antig4555]

Glad to know that I am not the only person who had eardrums blasted. Bach must be turning in his tomb

[@hl007a]

As in former times, Bach was desperately trying to throw from heaven his wig on the organist!

[@vespid8960]

They should have resurrected Karl richter smh

[@demef758]

I started watching some of it. Between the priest and his gawdawful singing and the organist playing like a 60s keyboardist zonked out on acid, it was more than I could bear. I shut it off.

[@schuylerwoodall4603]

Maybe it was a reminder that an Evil presence , was in attendance this day. Beware of the Orange gangster in the front row.

[@cantusfirmusbecker7825]

"Soli Deo Gloria" war das Motto Johann Sebastian Bachs. Zugegeben auch ihm wurden Vorwürfe gemacht, das seine Musik zu theatralisch und dem gottesdienstlichen Gebrauch nicht angemessen war. Aber was hier geboten wurde, war schlimmer als schrecklicher Baulärm. Wir musizieren Gott zur Ehre und zur Freude und Erbauung der Gottesdienstbesucher. Wer das nicht will oder sich zu schade dafür ist, hat an der Orgel in einem Gottesdienst m.E. nichts zu suchen.

[@opinionated4219]

I couldn't agree more! The lack of inspiring organ music was extremely disappointing. Instead of being an active participant in the celebration, the organist had it rumbling or blaring in its own space as an exhibition of his skill. Of course, he might claim that he was showcasing the organ's restored capacities, but IMO that would be an exercise for a different audience to appreciate.

[@joeberta368]

It sounded like a child POUNDING KEYS.

[@debsg2024]

SIm. Que rídículo aquela cena. 🙇‍♀🤦‍♀

[@joschmoyo4532]

It was.

[@JennSkywalker.]

That’s exactly what it sounded like 😂

[@michaelhanrahanmoore1622]

You're an ignoramus

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

You obviously aren't an organist. Although I enjoyed the music I agree that it was inappropriate. I don't criticize his playing, just his choice of music for the moment.

[@thomas-xj1hs]

Wrong music for the occasion and what was the archbishop wearing?.

[@fabiolmfonseca5961]

Right at the beginning of the celebration I also found it very strange. But who knows, maybe he is also improvising with the liturgical vestments...

[@sandweiler4640]

The Archibishop wad wearing a creation by Jean Charles de Castelbajac (a famous french fashion designer). In a way it was fitting a “master plan”: to ridicule to a some extent Church and Faith. Music and clergy’s clothing were both awful… Personal opinion of course of a 53 year old French man born and raised in Paris.

[@ds1868]

​@@sandweiler4640I thought it was from the IKEA brochure.

[@adolforosado]

Satanic cult it is at its core.

[@thomas-xj1hs]

@@sandweiler4640 Really bad and showcased a poor aspect of the country.The French designer had obviously no idea of liturgy and tradition in ecclessiastical history.

[@1oscarbravo]

Completely agree. I'm a church musician, not an organist, but I have sung at Notre Dame as part of a choir-in-residence, and listened to Latry improvise on a Sunday before and after we sang Mass. The musical selection for this occasion was absolutely wrong and misguided. They should have played Bach's Toccata in D if they wanted to knock people's socks off. Or improvised on a theme the worldwide audience would either know or understand quickly, as the cello and violin did. Don't get me started on French choral tradition at mass! As for the Bishops' vestments with the primary colours - they were simply taking the piss.

[@salzaward]

Yes the colours really puzzled me too ..... thankfully the Cathedral looked absolutely beautiful and I'd love to see it.

[@reginamemoriesforever-vc8ql]

As a catholic, i concur. This as soul crushing… 😢

[@LonesomeCowgirl]

Yes, Arlequin's colors to top it all! I have a hard time believing it is the church officials who selected Castelbaljac for this!

[@gabriellakadar]

True. What was the meaning of the strange vestments? Any idea?

[@zigouigouix]

Merci pour ces précisions d'un "insider". C'était très choquant, même pour un non-pratiquant. L'origine de ce choix devrait être rendue publique !

[@beatricejann9023]

I could understand the first „answer“ of the organ: it‘s reawakening after the disaster, a huge instrument turning to life after near death. But all of the other times? At least some of it’s “answers“ to the archbishops requests could have been more melodious. It was hard to listen to it at home, via tv, I cannot immagine how it was for the people in the cathedral…

[@sfoster2911]

Agree- the organists seemed stuck in the horror of the fire, and missed that the great cathedral was saved by the heroic efforts of firefighters and artisans. Not to mention giving jubilant thanks to God for the reopening.

[@Pablo-gl9dj]

99% of the audience now detest organ music. Congratulations

[@nowar-g6c]

Mr. Trump's expression was priceless ... ~

[@MarshallArtz007]

Well, maybe that’s an improvement considering probably 100% of the invited guests detest organ music. 😎🎹

[@Deborahbellwj34]

@@nowar-g6c That was the only positive aspect to this.

[@mimibergerac7792]

That is surely false ! It has to be 99.99%

[@cynthiadavis3102]

Pretty much not the point. Congratulations to you.

[@dral9971]

I have been an organist for 45 years and my father traveled around Europe to test organs during the 60s and 70s. I've never been fond of French organs, but that's not why I reacted when I heard what they were doing at Notre Dame. I understand how they were thinking, but was disturbed by the lack of humility. Improvisation is very much about sensitivity, not letting the organ and its possibilities be central, but the occasion.

[@nattiejanes]

I felt it was mostly the organists showing off rather than providing something moving and beautiful for this momentous occasion.

[@ErikN1]

So much excellent French organ music to choose from that is melodic and enjoyable to the general public and this is what they did

[@PyrrhP]

Improv of ANY sort isn't widely appreciated. Something more universal would have been ideal for this. I'm ashamed at the performers for not insisting on it. Did some of them play pieces with clear notes and simple chords to showcase the organ and not the performer?

[@jaredharris1940]

I don't feel that this was a proper time to improvise!

[@ds1868]

​@@jaredharris1940Totally agree!

[@joeywisedrums]

@@jaredharris1940 it worked perfectly so

[@lattices22]

they were just testing if all the keys worked

[@larryfisher7056]

all at once...

[@paunitka7]

Fully agree with you. The first and most important rule of content creation: think about the target audience. Fans of contemporary classical music are a very small niche. Assuming that the cathedral would be filled with them seems like a very weird mistake.

[@aceairstream]

@@paunitka7 in this service, I think the “target audience” was actually God, not Macron, Trump et al…

[@beaulin5628]

@@aceairstream You mean, the organist was trying to insult God? He certainly succeeded in that.

[@lapetitefeuille8684]

C’est l’organiste titulaire de Notre-Dame et c’est le type de musique qui y est jouée habituellement. Désolée que notre musique ne vous plaise pas, mais c’est notre culture. Je suis une habituée de la Cathédrale de Paris.

[@gravityissues5210]

​@@beaulin5628Thanks, now I have an image of God looking down on the assembled and saying, "you see what I have to put up with every Sunday?"

[@stephanesoler3085]

​@lapetitefeuille8684 ok c'est ta culture peut-être (et clairement pas celle de la majorité des français) mais si c'est mauvais c'est mauvais c'est tout, même si le mec est très bon techniquement.

[@mmk5638]

Chiming in (as it were) as an orchestral musician myself - I only heard the final piece and was appalled at that selection. If the entire exhibition was similar, your assessment is spot on. What a tortured mess and wasted opportunity.

[@Forbesfarm]

Thank you for affirming my feelings. I was a church organist in my youth, but the biggest organ I ever played was an electronic Hammond. I was so confused by the organ music during the opening of Notre Dame. My daughter said "Mom it just sounds like they are making it up as they go." Later we learned it was, and it wasn't done well. So much great music out there and that's what they chose? What a shame.

[@VoiceTotheEndsOfTheEarth]

A jazz or bluegrass musician would've done much better, though the bluegrass wouldn't have played an organ. David German's "Festive Trumpet Tune" would've been far better.

[@christineeckelhoefer8337]

@@Forbesfarm This little girl has an excellent judgement. Even improvisation can not be a Lego like structure or an application of learnt rules. Music is from the soul: “ coming out of silence and returning to silence “ ( Claude Debussy about Pelleas”)

[@margieloveland3122]

Missed by 100% . what a complete insult to that beautiful organ.

[@darthazgorath9570]

There should have been no improvisation, it should have been French hymns.

[@OrganNLou]

Yes, all for a "boring" service, NO THANK YOU!

[@darthazgorath9570]

@OrganNLou no, I'm for a church service full of wonder a beauty and not a modern art travesty, like we got.

[@SeattleBoatdog]

To quote Krusty the Clown, “What the hell was that?”

[@klee88029]

Sounded like a horror movie waiting for the monster to jump out from behind the dog to me...