Virgil Fox-Phoenix Program

From: Richard Blacklock

[@craighuston2629]

No one, and I mean NO ONE, has ever exhibited the complete mastery, the absolute and utter control over his instrument like Virgil Fox. A musical genius and legend, without a doubt.

[@sathya999]

He returned a year after his "death" as Cameron Carpenter

[@craighuston2629]

@@sathya999 Can Cameron Carpenter play the entire works of Bach from memory?

[@eameece]

@@craighuston2629 I don't know if either Fox or Carpenter played ALL of Bach's works from memory, but both play from memory when they play. They are both amazing. Both were on the show-biz side; Carpenter perhaps too much emphasizing his own skills over the music and the spirit. On the other hand, in his later concerts at least, Fox tended to miss more notes, whereas Carpenter's playing is perfect as far as I know. They are certainly kindred spirits. I don't know if Cameron is really the same guy though. Who knows? I think in this concert and comments Fox put spirit over show-biz, and that's to his credit.

[@rogersteigleman4785]

That’s. Right. Virgil Fox. Is. The. Greatest. Organist. Of. All. Time.

[@stuartmclaren2402]

I agree that Maestro Virgil Fox was a great master. He pioneered digital recordings with his direct to disc recordings. He sometimes made slips on the manuals but his pedal work was flawless and at terrific speed and he could even play 4 notes with 2 feet. But there are other great masters who have followed in his steps. I don’t particularly warm to Cameron Carpenter’s playing ( that is only my opinion ) but I do like Maestro Hector Olivera.

[@joespeciale5875]

Truly one of the most extraordinary musical talents of the 20th century and of many centuries. An incredible sense of rhythm. But also he was extraordinary “practicer ,” known to often spending 10, 12, 14 hrs a day practicing-and even more into the wee hours of the morning,before a concert..

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

This man is.... and always will be a legend.... His ability to read and truly understand the music is why he is the greatest of the greats.... Let future generations see his work and determine to shine along with virgil....

[@robertglass481]

Dont forget his incredible memory. I have never seen him play with music in view.

[@joespeciale5875]

Exactly.

[@rogersteigleman4785]

VIrgil. Fox Plays. These. Works. OF. Bach. With. Precise. He. Is. The. Master Of. The. Pipe. Organ.

[@rogersteigleman4785]

Virgil. Fox. Is. The. Greatest. Organist. Of. All. Time. He Will. Be. Missed.

[@rogersteigleman4785]

They. Should. Do. A. Cd Of. All. Of. Virgil Fox’s. Recordings. To. Honor One. Of. Greatest. Organist. Of. All. Time.

[@georgeleejr535]

This is a very powerful instrument with a 32ft Bombarde; powerful indeed!! With Virgil Fox at the helm and the master himself!! A legend in his time and forever will be!!

[@robmcginn4484]

Dry acoustic is always a test for an organist! Virgil’s amazing skill with rhythm and articulation are very evident! He was my inspiration back in the 50-60s!

[@robmcginn4484]

“IS” very evident… my sister headed up an English department!

[@rogersteigleman4785]

The. Master. Of. The. Pipe. Organ. Virgil. Fox. Is. The. Greatest

[@rogersteigleman4785]

Virgil. Fox. Plays The. Organ. With. Great. Skill. And. Precision

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

I so miss this great humanitarian and organist... Ohhhhhhh to meet him on the other side.... How fantastic that will be... To be able to study at the feet of the great masters....

[@ejmaki55]

Thank you! What memories this brings back.

[@suhndog]

I was there for this service. Wow..

[@suhndog]

Virgil could play over 200 works from memory!

[@drdylanman]

That earth-shaking reed in the pedal is phenomenal! :-)

[@joshuawitte573]

32 feet tall. Unmistakable and powerful. That would be a bombarde.

[@pipedreamin]

Virgil’s introduction to Come Sweet Death is humbling knowing he was about a year from his own death. You can almost hear Him saying that for himself.

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

I wonder if Dr. Schuller knew that Virgil was dying... By his reaction I think he did...

[@raymondbeecroft4209]

A dry church is a curse to a good organ and a great organist. It is tough even on the best of choirs B

[@Sthunderrocker]

Thank you!

[@johntiggleman4686]

I've been waiting for some concert footage besides the short clips here on KZbin. So nice to see this. I recently discovered Jonathan Scott, and that guy can play; but most times, he has music in front of him. Virgil, not so. It would be nice to have more information on this: where, when, the organ, etc.

[@georgemurphy2579]

No one like him - ever! Always began each program with Bach's, "Deck Thyself, My Soul."

[@vincentiaquinta2119]

I think VF knew his time was coming. Personally, I think PC is the male equivalent of breast cancer. VF knew he would soon cast off this earthly shell. He is now one of the great organists accompanying the choirs in heaven.

[@bryceword7450]

I miss thee, my beloved.

[@jhbidwell]

OMG thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mr.booker9263]

Yes, this is the Austin at N.Phoenix Baptist Church...still there, but unused and unloved. I'm sure that the current leaders would love to get rid of it to remove the possibility that someone might want to hear it again. The acoustics in that church are very dry, so in a more suitable environment, the organ would be spectacular. This recital must have come quite close to the end of Virgil's life, and his illness has taken its toll, but the musicianship is still evident.

[@James_Bowie]

It's run by a "Pastor Noe Gracia" -- who maybe should receive some mail about his jerk attitude to this wonderful instrument.

[@georgemurphy2579]

Austin at its best! Sorry that it is wasting away.

[@joespeciale5875]

A sad realization…

[@PalmSpringsPatriot]

The Basilica needs a new instrument this one could be updated and rejoiced and kick butt in that room.

[@amyluvsfun]

virgil was the BEST

[@horacerumpole7629]

i was there

[@MrMaxsPapa]

So was I.

[@gerardhawkins17]

I still believe he is Bach re-incarnated. I believe he did well with Carlo Curley and John Rose

[@charleslayton9463]

Please give us information: date, (year), and organ specifications and builder. It's a great instrument.

[@marksuter7946]

Judging from the console and speakers I think it is an Allen. Virgil 's first two touring organs were Rodgers and his third was an Allen. I heard Virgil's last recital at Riverside Church, New York city in May 1979. You can tell that his faith in God was strong, listening to his commentary. His body at this point was wracked with cancer and he knew that he was dying, but he continued to concertize. His final concert was in September 1980 with the Houston Symphony. The first performance left him so depleted that he was unable to play the next evening fir the second performance and a substitute covered for him. He passed away about five weeks later on October 12, 1980.

[@pipedreamin]

I’m pretty sure this is at North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix AZ. It was an Austin installed in 79. This may well have been the dedication concert. Unfortunately the instrument fell silent years ago, I don’t think it’s maintained at all or even playable at this point. It I should note I have no first hand knowledge of that. Last time I heard it played was at an AGO AZ organ crawl around 2007 or so (maybe earlier). At that time I don’t think it was getting used except for non-church events. My guess is that most who go to NPHX now don’t even know that one of the larger instruments in AZ sits behind the light shows, smoke machines and projection screens. Truly a shame. And no, I’m not an old codger grumpy about contemporary worship, I just think there’s room for both and feel that worship has lost something with the decline in some of the traditional registrations of music used for that purpose. Austin Opus 2619, 85 stops (source: Austin website) and I think 92 ranks (source: questionable memory).

[@mitchweisiger5904]

@@marksuter7946 this isn’t an Electronic organ.

[@richardgrayson3463]

@@marksuter7946 R.I.P. Mr.Fox You are greatly missed.

[@carsonlanning1485]

@@pipedreamin I had the chance to play and go look at it the other day. It is very playable, obviously it needs some work but I would say 80% just needs a little tuning. I plan on becoming an organ tuner when I grow up and my goal is to save this organ.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

A musical evangelist.

[@Sthunderrocker]

This is only the first half (just for context).

[@georgeallan6550]

I never would of suspected Fox as being so underdeveloped in the use of his voice. He literally is tone deaf when he sings. Often the case with keyboard players.

[@antoniboleslawowicz8095]

I did notice in the comments that the Austin organ on which Fox plays in this video is “unused and unloved”. So typical of evangelical megachurches. It could be removed and revoiced to suit a more favorable acoustic, and the church (whose membership has gone down from something like 23,000 forty-plus years ago -- when this concert took place -- to slightly under 5,000) could make some money. If an organ isn’t used or tended, it deteriorates. Fox was a genius, to be sure, but he worked like a dog all his active life to get the results he was after. In the end, he lost the struggle against metastatic prostrate cancer. And playing from memory is worth the trouble. It frees the player to think in terms of sound and structure rather than of notes.

[@joespeciale5875]

I wondered about that. I lived for a number of years in Phoenix until 2010, and never knew of this massive instrument at North Phoenix Baptist Church.