"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Monday, June 20, 2022
Classical corner
Bach's magnificent Toccata and Fugue in D minor:
Bonus video! Orchestras pranking their conductors with "Happy Birthday".
I heard theToccata and fugue played on the huge organ in Duke University Chapel many years ago; I felt so many chills, I thought I was coming down with something! - Paco
Xaver Varnus' Toccata and Fugue in D minor now has over 12.5 million views. I would guess that well over 100 of those are mine, since I first watched it about a month after he posted it. For the first 3 years it only slowly gained views, but then for some reason in the last two years it really took off. Not sure why, but probably because it's one of my favorites, and everyone wants to be like me. :-)
I was visiting my brother in Raleigh (2015, I think) and when they asked if there was anything I would like to do, I suggested a visit to the Duke Chapel to hear the organ. I did get to hear it, but unfortunately it wasn't T & F in D minor. :-(
Still, it was my first time hearing a large organ played live. It is quite an experience.
The T & F in D Minor has to be one of, if not, the greatest pieces for organ. I would love to have heard it done on a monster organ! Congratulations to those who have had that experience.
Thes gentlemen had an incredible birthday. Who wouldn't, after a symphony plays Happy Birthday in your honor!
The Toccata never fails to send shivers up my spine.
ReplyDeleteI heard theToccata and fugue played on the huge organ in Duke University Chapel many years ago; I felt so many chills, I thought I was coming down with something! - Paco
DeleteXaver Varnus' Toccata and Fugue in D minor now has over 12.5 million views. I would guess that well over 100 of those are mine, since I first watched it about a month after he posted it. For the first 3 years it only slowly gained views, but then for some reason in the last two years it really took off. Not sure why, but probably because it's one of my favorites, and everyone wants to be like me. :-)
ReplyDeleteI was visiting my brother in Raleigh (2015, I think) and when they asked if there was anything I would like to do, I suggested a visit to the Duke Chapel to hear the organ. I did get to hear it, but unfortunately it wasn't T & F in D minor. :-(
ReplyDeleteStill, it was my first time hearing a large organ played live. It is quite an experience.
That's one of my favorite pieces of music, even though it will forever be linked in my mind somehow to vampires.
ReplyDeleteIt does have that Gothic horror vibe, doesn’t it. - Paco
DeleteThe T & F in D Minor has to be one of, if not, the greatest pieces for organ. I would love to have heard it done on a monster organ! Congratulations to those who have had that experience.
ReplyDeleteThes gentlemen had an incredible birthday. Who wouldn't, after a symphony plays Happy Birthday in your honor!