George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue (Llewellyn Williams, Organ Stop Pizza)
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- George Gershwin's famous "Rhapsody in Blue", transcribed, arranged and performed by Llewellyn ("Lew") Williams in 1996 on the then 4/67 Wurlitzer organ in the Organ Stop Pizza restaurant in Mesa, Arizona. The instrument, which was originally a 1927-vintage 3/15 from the Denver Theatre and was rebuilt in the original Mesa OSP in 1975 as a 3/23, then had a "Modernistic" or 'waterfall' type four-manual console, built by Ken Crome in Reno, Nevada in 1984, but the instrument's increasing size (already four manuals and over forty ranks, it grew to 67 ranks when OSP moved to a new site in Mesa) led to its replacement in 1997 with a new French-style console modelled on that of the Brooklyn Paramount. It now has 78 ranks. The Waterfall style console now controls the 4/32 Wurlitzer at East Sussex National Golf Course, here in England - the first theatre organ the uploader ever got to see and hear live.
Huge thanks, as ever, to Lew for so kindly sending me these fantastic recordings and consenting to their being uploaded to CZcams.
What a spectacular organ and such an accomplished organist. A real pleasure to see and to hear THANKS
Who in the #$%@ would thumbs down this video? Someone who is very jealous, as not have this kind of talent, or a lack of understanding to the appreciation for fine engineering.
Lew's careful thought given to organ voices makes this a prime example of what the theatre organ can do orchestrally in the hands of a true maestro!
My favorite Gershwin piece ever. I spent a year in 1982 learning and memorizing the piano and played it with our local symphony orchestra. It's such a beautiful masterpiece, but extremely demanding and exhausting to play.
WOW!! Fulfills the designation of the instrument by Robert Hope-Jones as a "Unit Orchestra!"
I remember spending over a year learning “Rhapsody In Blue”, and playing with our civic orchestra. Although I have never sat and played it again, it is still my most favorite Gershwin composition ever.
Excellent performance on a truly magnificent instrument. Unit Orchestra is CORRECT. Thank you for posting and thank you Lew, for allowing it.
Just discovered this amazing performance. The comments below say it all. A fabulous player in all respects, complete mastery and management of this immensely complex instrument and musicianship and feeling that are extraordinary. The textures and nuances of this Gershwin masterpiece are captured fully and expertly by Mr. Williams. BRAVO1
Astounding performance!! These Unit Orchestras could really imitate an orchestra!!! The timbre of the clarinet is virtually identical to the real thing and that trumpet stop is damn close!!! WOW!!
Andrew Larson With 80 some ranks of it there should definitely be something decent out of all that.
watch 02:14! here we hear the so called serpent. an post horn variety with a thinner more brighter tone than the original post horn..sounds like some trombones are playing in fff
The stops of oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, English horn, bombard imitate very well almost really real instruments because they are also reed, unfortunately the trumpets will always have a sound too close to the oboe or sax because it's difficult for a metal reed manages to simulate a labial reed. I have always wondered if it's possible to find an alternative for trumpet, French horn, tuba etc. to the classic reed which always makes the sound too metallic, even if I have heard tuba stops very similar on occasion
@@nasinopuzzolente5396 there are labial tubas,oboes,saxophones etc
On a trip east from San Diego, I purposely stopped in Mesa just to see this magnificent instrument at OSP. I'm glad I did. The recordings are wonderful but nothing compares to being there.
Sufferin' Sucatash !! The wonderful Mr Williams gives us another musical masterpiece ! Completely amazing & awesome ! Oodles of thanks for uploading !!
He's a fantastic performer. We've had him back here in Norman, OK to play a restored instrument of the OU organ building program. It came way too late. I got a second degree there in 2003 and if they had the organ building program in 1981 I would have taken it back then.
one person should not have that much power! absolutely beautiful!
Maybe - but if that one person knows how to handle that power - the results are breathtaking! As is this performance!
This is what You Tube is for. Thank you for sharing this.
I live in Florida now but i was raised in phoenix as a kid and this is one of the things i miss most and home sick for i try to explain too people about the experience but its nothing compared too being there ty for the great memories organ stop pizza
OUtstanding Wonderfuil!
OMG. Absolutely amazing and accurate. Love these jewels within CZcams. Thank you.
Wow! Job well done! So talented. Brings back good memories. Thank you for sharing
I listened to this organ at Organ Stop Pizza when it was downtown Phoenix (it was a three-manual organ then), I was at Luke AFB in Glendale, then later after retiring from the A.F. I visited Organ Stop in Mesa, just on the other side of Phoenix. I have some CD's of Lyn, Charlie, Lew, they are all great organists.
Heard nd saw LEW play this in person last week. Simply phenomenal. Several members of the River City Theatre Organ Society - Omaha, were also at Organ Stop with me. Fabulous!
Brilliant. Theater organs were prevalent in Gershwin's time. Never heard of him playing one. But this piece was conceived on a keyboard originally so it works so well here. Plus these seem to have pianos attached to them as well. What a great sound!
Musically satisfying! Thoughtful registration and careful articulation; an excellent illustration of many of the possibilities of the theatre organ. More please.
John S. Batts n
Wonderful and even more wonderful!!!!
This piece would make a great silent theme. I can see steam train chases, lady tied up to track, collapsing water towers, a guy picking a random flower, a kidnapping, a few brawls, the getaway, the car chase, maybe an aerial chase scene with hot air balloons, and in the end the big crescendo with the lovers finally almost kissing until the heart shaped fade to black.
Completely Extraordinary!!!!!!
Stunning stuff! Who needs an orchestra, eh?!
True, they called them unit orchestras back in the day when they started replacing the small bands that played in the silent movie years. Theatre operators could install an organ and make payments and save money on hiring a band. In one of our rare remaining original theatres, the depression hit and they couldn't make regular payments. So the Kimball company got a repossession order and showed up with the truck and workers. The workers then realized that the pipe chambers were permanently installed inside of columns of Egyptian marble. They decided that the labor involved in removal would exceed its value. So they worked out a payment plan.
@@burtward895 good ! One for the little guy and we all won
Outstanding performance. Thanks for posting - I listen to it at least once a week!
...absolutely beautiful.
Lew is the best! Rosa sends regards.....thanks for this...John
Last I heard Jonas Clark was it was 81 ranks and growing! Go to the Organ Stop Pizza website and you can view an entire stoplist and chamber specification. It's really cool. I had the honor of playing this organ in 1981 after hours. My mentor was Chris Gorsuch (RIP) and we went out and he played as a guest organist that night. One of the coolest things I ever did. Like driving a Mercedes.
Genius at work! [Play?] Superb!
agree
Truly amazing!!!!! Fantastic! How well registered and all those colors!!
Awwweeesssooommm!!!!
Tout a fait étonnant, et surtout très réussi .
As the mighty Diapason is to the concert organ so the fluttering Tibia is to the Mighty Wurlitzer. What a wonderful rendition, absolutely perfect. I wonder that the Piano could not have been in a chamber. Most of the Wurlitzer organs were in chambers to provide expression. Remember that they had a lot of stops but few ranks. This was Robert Hope-Jones innovation.
robert shaw I think you mean Tibias plus out of tune billy goat, I mean Vox.
Amazing - I only wish we could see the player in action. It's almost impossible to believe that came from only one pair of hands and feet!
If you can get to Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa,AZ or Organ Piper in Greenfield, WI or Beggars Pizza in Lansing,IL you can see *and* hear the only remaining theatre organs and organists in pizza parlors in the USA. Please support them!
This is great - virtuoso performance and showing the full range of dynamics of what a theatre organ can really do. Makes me depressed too though - in comparison it sounds like I struggle with Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star! lol
Great touch and voicing choices!
If I didn't know it was an organ, I'd think it was an orchestra. Very skillful use of the organ.
Okay, now I've listened to the entire thing... The only thing this is missing is the siren glissando into from the Maclean version. But the Maclean copy is missing the ride cymbals in the right spots... This thing gave me chills. One of the all-time greatest American orchestral songs, designed for a pianist AND a full orchestra...all replicated by one man and the great Unit Orchestra.
Jonas Clark A unit orchestra that has become obese beyond it’s original intentions or concept just for the sake of getting large, and rumor has it competing with San Filipino. Keeping up with the Jones’ more than thoughtful organ design.
Last time I checked it has 80 some ranks, and pretty much every type of rank imaginable. Even a '34 diaphone and bombard.
@@praestant8 I'd say that they use what they have extremely well at Organ Stop. I wouldn't call it "keeping up with the Joneses" because Sanfilippo has not grown. There's a new contender, the Carma Labs organ, which has over 100 ranks, and OSP is not building further to compete. OSP has, in my opinion, everything an organist needs for nearly every type of music, and I'm sure every rank they have gets regular use.
You want organ vanity, go look at the bizarre consoles (and everything else in the Organ Room) at The House on the Rock in Wisconsin. The lowest three manuals of the fifteen-manual theatre-style console were actually intended to pay something like 27 ranks, installed in two chambers and winded, but a lightning strike fried the electronics and they weren't replaced.
This is an incredibly good arrangement and sound to the original! Well done!!!
Hold the anchovies 🎶🎹🎧❤️🎤🔥
The way it was meant to be! Perfect chops, registration and very skillful editing.
BRAVO!!
Well Played. A Swell job.
I'd love to hear you play this at Macy's in Philadelphia! I'd love to see you take on the Wanamaker Organ.
First of all the application of the Theater Organ to the piece is very much in line with the origins of the instrument. Lew shows his real mucial abilty in that he "sticks" to the fundamental orchestration as i hear it - especially the piano, although it does lack the subtlety of the "touch." The performance is as good as it gets.
Astonishing ...quel virtuose ! Un orchestre à lui seul ..
Stunning!
Bravo !
I'm ecstatic ... !
organ stop pizza is the most se coolest resturant that. I have ever visited in phoenix Arizona. to bad that I don't liver in phoenix Arizona. I live. in eauclare. Wisconsin and my uncle is lucky because he lives. in phoenix Arizona.
Super excellent with very good interesting photo
it would be fantastic to see you play this live
Yes this is one of the most over played tunes and you know what, I'd like to hear it a hundred more times. When it is played well as Lew is doing here, just can't get tired of it. Oh and if what Jonas says is correct, then I need to revisit OSP sometime before Christmas this year.
gehrwin ( ira and GEorge) In a master class
Well done. Bravo!
wish i could visit organ stop and munch on pizza while enjoying the surround sound
To a degree, he seems to be replicating some of Quentin MacLean's recording on the old (Marble Arch?) Christie. Very nice. Next time I'm at OSP I'll have to ask if he'll play this!
Yup, it was the 4/38 Christie in the Regal, Marble Arch, now owned by a consortium including Richard Hills and I'm told undergoing restoration. I think this one sounds quite different but I haven't had a chance to listen to the two back-to-back. I think, though, that this is testament not only to the versatility of the Wurlitzer (here in its old 4/67 incarnation with Waterfall console, just after the move to the new site) but also to the exceptional capability of Mr Williams.
Delightful
WOW!!!!!
Nice work sir
Amazing!!!
Excellent
Magically delicious! Wonderful!
It would've been fun to hear the piano on the traditional solo sections; it would've allowed the pipes sound more "orchestral", too. But I understand these console-controlled pianos don't have any expression, that it's just a limitation of these setups. At least Lew tastefully refrained from overusing it, for that reason. A very ambitious and enjoyable performance!
They most certainly do have expression. (Pianos in organs) All organ stops have expression with the exceptions of the Concert and Church organs where only specific sections of the organ have dynamic control.
This should be must-hearing for any organist. There are no shortcuts here and complete respect is given to original orchestrations. There are very few places that sound like 'organ trying to substitute', if you get what I mean, usually only to play strings. Most organists (myself included) shorten Rhapsody from the original length and conveniently edit out the most technically demanding passages, but not here.
What courage and chops! Best I've ever heard. Screw the siren. :)
Personally the part that sounded like organ trying to subsitute was the low brass solo in the beginning. But still amazing performance!
Uncanny. The closeness to an orchestra.
On larger organs it is common to have a pneumatically operated piano attached to it and operated through stops from the keyboards. On at least one of the manuals you can usually select Piano 16', 8', and 4' to get access to 85 of the 88 keys. The 16' and 8' ranges are also normally available on Pedal. I'm not aware if any attempts were made by builders to be able to play the lowest 3 notes on it. Usually the only control you have over the piano's volume is the swell shades if it happens to be enclosed in one of the chambers. I don't know if there have been attempts made with MIDI adaptations to install velocity-sensitive keyboards on traditional theater organs or not, but if there have, they might allow being able to modify the attack from the keyboards.
Ozzman Osgood Velocity sensitive keyboards would be at odds with the second touch.
After visiting OSP the Yamaha grand is on the 2nd floor open balcony, not behind swell shades.
I would love to see a much higher quality audio recording of this!! It's amazing!!! Great job!!!
but it is not bad as far as recordings go. part of it is the obvious distance is heard. I think to do better would require a lot of mic'ing of sections, piano etc. yes the room sounds big and washy, but the fidelity is good. kind of a miracle, really, if you consider that the piano is probably 50' away from the stereo mic-pair. ??
By the way, do you know whether Organ Stop is still at 78 ranks, or has it grown slightly? I know there's another two 32s now, one on the rear wall and one in the diaphone chamber.
tank yoy,RUDOLPH WURLITZER !
Better than many an orchestra version when you take into account this is controlled and played by one person. As the chap before me says " Stunning". Jerome Kerns Ole man river from the atlanta Fox is about the only peice to beat it ive ever come across. Have a listen and see if you agree !!!
This is an amazing performance. But, knowing this music, it is obvious there were quite a few cuts from the score.
I have a yamaha el90 but the best organs I've played would be the Blackpool tower wurlitzer and the mulholland in the ulster Hall Belfast
4:43 my favorite
Was there a separate piano player or was that a stop on the organ?
It's a physical piano that can be played through the organ I believe.
+lolphat You take a separate piano, unhook the keyboard to hammer mechanics & replace them with solenoids driven from the organ keyboard via one of the stops.
4:42 my favorite or 5:00
Yamaha grand playing through the organ.
AnOrganCornucopia was gonna say, Rhapsody is one of the most piano-heavy orchestral pieces. EXCEPT during United’s safety videos...
Is the image on this photo the OSP or Radio City music hall NYC. H
It's Lew Williams at Radio City.
As an organist, I wanted to watch the performance as well...
O.o
^
holy crap.
Is this published anywhere?
4:58
Just found out yesterday Ken is one of my dad's cousins. Go figure.
What, Ken Crome?
n