54 cathedral, church and chapel organs playing a single work

[cat]

Bach’s Toccata and Fugue played on 54 cathedral, church and chapel organs, each organist playing a tiny part:

In aid of the Cathedral Music Trust's emergency fund:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cathedralorganistsplay

[vinteuil]

.

... but why o why o why - from all of the miracles of Bach's organ works do they choose this wretched dubious 'attributed' piece - and then call it "iconic"

enuff to make one despair (once again... )

.

[cat]

I should imagine they chose it because it's very widely known, even among people who know nothing of organs, and the aim of this exercise is to raise funds while showcasing the variety of great organs in the UK. It's also quite amenable to being chopped up into lots of bits.

[Serial_Apologist]

.

... but why o why o why - from all of the miracles of Bach's organ works do they choose this wretched dubious 'attributed' piece - and then call it "iconic"

enuff to make one despair (once again... )

.

To "diddle diddle you..."

and

"diddle diddle me.. too.."

[Pulcinella]

I should imagine they chose it because it's very widely known, even among people who know nothing of organs, and the aim of this exercise is to raise funds while showcasing the variety of great organs in the UK. It's also quite amenable to being chopped up into lots of bits.

Maybe they should have included a Hammer Horror cinema organ version too!

[ardcarp]

.

... but why o why o why - from all of the miracles of Bach's organ works do they choose this wretched dubious 'attributed' piece - and then call it "iconic"

enuff to make one despair (once again... )

.

I can well understand why, for reason of its popularity as mentioned above...and why not? Mr or Mrs Average-Organ-Music-Lover isn't too bothered about the authenticity issue. Two other reasons (1) it's a relatively easy piece to chop up into small bits and (b) no-one has to practise too much!

The miracle is how the producers fiddled the pitch of all the organs to agree!

[Vox Humana]

It's also quite amenable to being chopped up into lots of bits.

Ooh, I wish!

Seriously, I'm sure you're right.

[Finzi4ever]

Great cause and very well edited, especially in view of pitch variations (eg sharp Lichfield pitch). A few significant cathedral absences, to say nothing of Royal peculiars and yet they go to St John the Unfinished to end! Of course David Briggs should be there, even to end it, but on a 'toaster' - I mean, really?!?

[Keraulophone]

on a 'toaster' - I mean, really?!?

It’s at least a Dualit toaster!

Their Aeolian-Skinner suffered smoke damage in the fire on Palm Sunday 2019, but it will be heard again from next Easter IIRC. However, SJD does have five other pipe organs to choose from including smaller Aeolian-Skinners and a Flentrop. Presumably David wished to conclude the piece with a massive noise plus reverb.

[Finzi4ever]

I note your appropriate use of the phrase 'massive noise'. perhaps far better to have used the new, 'in memoriam John Scott' pipe organ in St Thomas, 5th Ave instead.

This is not a criticism, merely an observation: among the notable absences from UK, 3 beginning with 'W'... plus at least 2 other English cathedrals and several Welsh ones. Anyone want to play?

[Wolsey]

[...]
This is not a criticism, merely an observation: among the notable absences from UK, 3 beginning with 'W'... plus at least 2 other English cathedrals and several Welsh ones. Anyone want to play?

To avoid any misunderstanding, it should perhaps be mentioned that the invitation to participate was not selective. A letter from the Cathedral Music Trust was e-mailed to all members of the Cathedral Organists' Association and the Association of Assistant Cathedral Organists in July but, understandably, some were on furlough and therefore unable to receive it. Also, recordings were made in August when some might have been away.