Tonal Demonstration – 17 Rank Symphonic Pipe Organ

Jack Bethards and Nigel Potts demonstrate the 15 stop, 17 rank Schoenstein organ at Christ & St. Stephen's Church in New York City. Jack, president of Schoenstein, explains the tonal characteristics of each stop and Nigel, organist and choirmaster of the church, plays short examples from the organ and transcription repertoire. You will see and hear how the stops fit into tonal families and then combine to create a musical color palette that the organist uses to “orchestrate” the music. The Schoenstein Double Expression system is illustrated. Other organ design principles that can make a small instrument sound like a much larger symphonic organ are explored. Extracts used in this Tonal Demonstration are: Opening: Elgar - Organ Sonata in G (slow mvt) 4:00 Whitlock - Scherzo from Five Short Pieces 4:20 Pierné - Cantilène from Trios Pieces 5:20 & 5:52 Haydn - Clock Pieces 6:30 Brahms - Es ist ein' ros' entsprungen 7:28 thru 9:28 Bach - O Mensch, bewein 10:48 Elgar - Nimrod 13:13 Wagner - Prelude to Act 3 from Die Meistersinger 14:15 Widor - Adagio from Symphony 5 14:57 Pierné - Cantilène from Trios Pieces 16:02 Elgar - Nimrod 19:03 & 20:02 Guilmant - Sonata 8 in A major (4th Mvt) 23:09 & 24:05 Elgar - Sea Pictures 24:46 Bach - Prelude in A major (BWV 536) 25:05 Daquin - Noel Grand jeu et duo 25:45 Bonnet - Lamento from Douze Pièces 26:45 Wagner - Prelude to Act I from Tristan und Isolde 28:00 Bairstow - Prelude on Veni Emmanuel 28:46 Wagner - Siegfried 29:17 Bach - Aria from Suite No.3 30:12 Franck - Cantabile 30:42 Hollins - A Trumpet Minuet 31:05 Bliss - A Royal Fanfare 31:45 Hymn - Old 100th 33:50 Elgar - Nimrod Here is a link to the specification list: http://www.schoenstein.com/pdfs/153_Christ_&_St_Stephens_NY_3.pdf Nigel Potts recorded a commercial CD of Wagner & Elgar on this organ with Mezzo Soprano Sarah Rose Taylor. The CD includes the Prelude from 'Tristan und Isolde' and the 'Wesendonck Lieder' by Wagner, and 'The Angel's Farewell' and 'Sea Pictures' by Elgar. Full details of the CD or to order, can be found at: http://nigelpotts.com/nigel_potts_cd_releases.php For more information about Schoenstein Organs, please see: http://www.schoenstein.com