Martin Baker Improvises in Westminster Abbey
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Martin Baker improvising at the conclusion of a broadcast of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3 from Westminster Abbey back in December 1996 or 1997. This was the first improvisation ever made at Choral evensong according to what I can remember of the press cuttings at the time, can that be true? The Radio 3 audience were asked to suggest themes, and out of these, three were chosen, 'Come rest ye Merry Gentlemen', 'As shepards watched their flocks by night' and the Westmister chimes. And I almost missed the start of it too, which is why the audo starts so abruptly! As this was recorded off live FM radio the quality is not the best but more than good enough to demonstrate his fine ability. I think this improv is just perfect - melding the themes together seamlessly, magical :-)
Martin Baker (born 1967) is currently Master of Music as Westminster Cathedral since 2000. He served as organ scholar in the cathedral for three years 1988-90, St Paul's Cathedral for two as Assistant Organist and Westmister Abbey as Sub Organist from 1992-8. He won the first prize at the St Albans Organ Festival Improvisation Competition in 1997 and is a very fine practicioner, though has sadly never made any recordings of them to my knowledge. But he regularly includes improvisations in his organ concerts.
The Abbey organ is a much altered Harrison & Harrison of 1937 replacing a Hill organ from 1848, just in time for the coronation of King George VI. In 1986 changes were made to the great, pedal and choir organs, and a new bombarde division was added in the north triforium to help congregational singing and to provide some fearsome fanfare reeds too. You can hear them being unleashed towards the end of the improv, they are very loud! A fifth manual was added at this time too. The organ is disposed in the matching cases on the nave screen and up in the North triforium where all the large pedal stops are located.
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Well of course, George Thalben-Ball famously improvised live on radio at a BBC broadcast of a daily religious service in the second war, and now many of us now play that piece - 'Elegy' 😀
WOW....just outstanding. Martin Baker is an absolutely astounding organist and director. He's also a very nice and generous person. He was kind enough to give me some time at the Abbey organ when he was there. There are no finer church musicians in the UK if not the world.
I remember when he would take requests from the choristers for tunes to incorporate. We loved to ask for TV themes like Neighbours, Coronation Street and East Enders!
Thank you for this outstanding improvisation on Christmas carols on such an impressive instrument. What a joy to hear the majestic organ of Westminster Abbey so very well-produced in the audio of this video. Thank you also for the fine photographs of the Abbey.
Brilliant harmonies, inspiring ideas, lovely registration too. I always enjoy Evensong at the Abbey, I hear some really fine playing and singing. Thank you for posting.
That is just sensational. And live to radio, no less.
this is what it's all about
I'VE LISTENED TO IT AGAIN. !!! Wow. What a wonderful mind you have. Totally impressed. Could listen to you forever and a DAY. Thank you! CVD
Way to go Martin! You have more imagination than a barrel full of Jedi Masters. Blessings on all you love. Christmas 2018 AD... from moi in the USA.
Superb work, as usual, & interesting stuff, as always. I continue to be amazed at the quality of European radio programming vs. the drivel we get here in the States.
The best and finest pipe organ in the world i think so !!!
@TheShadowGuitarist16
6 жыл бұрын
You could say it's the most "Royal" organ in the world.
Martin Baker Is an Awesome Organist and Improvisationalist. I really like his arrangement of the Prelude by William Harris that he played for Princess Daina's Funeral. I would really like to meet Mr. Baker.
Absolutely stunning playing! Thanks for posting this.
I too as a student recorded that choral evensong and the improvisation was stunning..not the first improvisation...as there were ciphers...but the first advertised one. Along with David briggs, martin is one of two to have an accolade for improvisation.
Quite magnificent! Most impressive
Fantastic!
Fabulous!!
che magnifico organo,la voce di DIO.
Fantastic! "Let nothing you dismay." CVD
I wish they wouldn't morph the pictures. Great tone color, great improvisation, great organ. Reminds me of St. Mary the virgin, NYC. Also, so Louis Vierne-ish.
I heard him last night at a recital at St. Joseph The Workman Cathedral. Great!
Prima Baker, Improvisatorisch gehört er zu den Großen unserer Zeit!
Perfect
To be honest it was recorded from live radio onto video tape, then transferred to cassette tape then converted to digital! But on each transfer I have tried to keep the quality :-)
I would love to meet Martin Baker. I love his arrangement of the Prelude by William Harris that he played at Princess Diana's Funeral.
4:20 - epic!
6:14 WHEW! GO MARTIN!!
wonderfull organ sound. it must be so exciting to improv on such an organ. i wish i would have the same possibilities to play my music. 5*
Prestidigitation at its finest!
if I had time - I would love to transcribe this
Il ressemble à mon généraliste ! Belle impro !!!
Does anyone know of a good DVD featuring/highlighting/showcasing Westminster Abbey? One of my desires in life is to see it in person but barring that a good comprehensive DVD documentary would suffice.
@acorntechnique No need to re-upload, just edit the video and type yt:stretch=16:9 in the tags field. Great vid, by the way!
Pipe Organ - the original Heavy Metal.
@jollyzekkariya
29 күн бұрын
😂
Maybe ... maybe not - but would they be as cheeky as *you*?!
@nistorgxx1 Whilst we're about it, how about the apostrophe! SHEPHERDS'! (Glare.)
This is such an excellent video, you should correct the ludicrous 'crushing' and re-submit it. You must have gone to a great deal of trouble over this, and the results are excellent, but why leave it, sitting here, for years, maybe, in this distorted form? Do something about it. NOW!
please fix the title: "Shepherds" as in sheeep herds!
Hahahahahah! Cheeky bog-face!
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FUCKING HELL!!!
@dalerider3124
6 жыл бұрын
surely you can use better language that the above two words to describe your feelings about the Holy place and its wondrous pipe organ!
@jgh548
6 жыл бұрын
Dale Rider No way. The Pipe Organ is the original Heavy Metal!
I want to know who hit the dislike button!
One of the most interesting things about a so-called improvisation is that the composer gets to play it so many times. In short, it's no longer a true improvisation; it's a variation on a memorized improv. Love the ability anyway.
@athecheat
5 жыл бұрын
At one point though, it was originally an improv.. as the description of the video infers, this was the actual improv. And if you listen to Dave Matthews' Band improvisations of songs, they're neverthesame. This organist is a jam organist.
Martin Baker Is an Awesome Organist and Improvisationalist. I really like his arrangement of the Prelude by William Harris that he played for Princess Daina's Funeral. I would really like to meet Mr. Baker
.
@multimapping8303
6 жыл бұрын
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