How I learned Bach's Toccata and Fugue when I was 13 years old! - Gert van Hoef
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- čas přidán 21. 02. 2020
- website www.gertvanhoef.nl/.
Kanaal animatiefilmpje: / smalin
Gert van Hoef vertelt hoe hij de beroemde Toccata en Fuga in d moll van J.S. Bach op 13 jarige leeftijd kon spelen.
Omdat hij nog geen noot kon lezen, heeft hij het hele stuk uitgeschreven in de letters A t/m G die je op het orgelklavier terug kunt vinden.
Na 3 maanden ontcijferen en studeren kon hij het gehele stuk spelen.
Met dank aan Content-Orgels Ermelo, voor het beschikbaar stellen van hun Hauptwerk Experience center om deze video te kunnen maken.
www.contentorgans.com/en/our-...
My website: www.gertvanhoef.nl/.
Channel animation video: / smalin
Gert van Hoef speaks about how he learnt to play the famous Bach Toccata and Fugue in d minor when he was 13 years old.
Because he wasn’t yet able to read notes he has written down the piece in the letters A to G which you can find on the keyboard.
After three months of practicing he was able to play the entire piece.
Many thanks to Content organs in Ermelo. They have made it possible for us to make this video in the Content Experience center. www.contentorgans.com/en/our-... - Hudba
And it's funny that his beginners piece is one of the most complex ones.
You're a great inspiration Gert. Anyone who fails to engage with classical music in their lifetime, and Bach in particular, is missing a whole dimension of human existence. Bach was a genius, and recently voted the greatest composer who ever lived. I wish I'd engaged with him at 13, but better late than never. I've always had a musical gene, and last year at age 72, with time on my hands after retiring, started formal classical piano lessons. Discovering you on YT a few years ago gave me fresh determination, and my local church organist has also been very helpful. I hope I can thank you personally on your first southern hemisphere tour.
Bach really is the greatest. He makes even Beethoven seem average in comparison. A true genius.
I would say bach is the greatest too, but he doesn’t make Beethoven “look average”. He makes Chopin look average though.
@@justdev8965 Don't compare two geniuses of their times, that are not comparable. And there are even a lot more geniuses of their kind. Why should one diamond shine more than another. They are diamonds after all.
I was already impressed by your magnificent playing of the organ, but the ingenious way you thought of as a young boy to learn the notes of music and the pedals so you could play the Toccata is mindblowing. That took a lot of time and concentration and the beginnings of a budding maestro. I think you use the same colors today as cues for your registrants. I truly admire you and like everything you play. I hope you get many more viewers and subscribers because the organ is your heart and you play it that way all the time. May you continue to be richly blessed and I look forward to more videos. !!! Way to go Gert. 🤗
I'd like to buy you a drink.
@@Fk67Lg thank you, that is very kind of you but I don't drink.
@@TerryP1922 How about a nice chocolate milk? ;0)
@@wtburns01, how about a nice tall glass of sweet tea? 🤗
♥️
what a nice guy you are.
passion, vision, determination...and look how they paid off... Destiny! A career, and now your own growing family. That is Blessing!
Gert ... I am an American teacher in Japan and I have always believed that children have the ability to move mountains if they choose. To do this they not only need the desire but they need to be surrounded by supporting adults. You obviously moved a mountain at the age of 13 and you obviously had wonderful parents that supported you. Someday, I hope to move a mountain like you. I congratulate you.
Thanks immensely for taking us on your fabulous odyssey through your mastery of my favorite Bach tocatta and fugue. I am a relative newcomer to your channel, as an American church chorister and choral conductor, and have been searching out all your wonderful performance videos, and the very insightful interviews which you have posted, and thoroughly enjoyed and learned from them all. Many, many thanks for your wonderful performances and performance philosophy. Am looking forward eagerly to all your future posts. 👍👍😃😃 !!!
Gert Van Hoef the hasselt version has five million views because it is the best version of this piece on you tube and quite possibly the best version recorded, and i mean most sincerely, the organ, the acoustics, you playing, your right hand men pulling the stops at the right time, it is quite simply the best out there, that is why it has five million views :))))
roger sturgess you are absolutely right, he doesn’t rush, he waits and listens and understands the music so well. Now we all know how he learned this piece, it’s obvious why he plays it so well and so eloquently..
Here, here. I replay that recording at least once a week. Fabulous!
I agree with you, Roger! It is quite simply the best out there, as you said. The music, the way he plays is, is sublime, and being able to watch his performance adds another layer of magic for us viewers. Love watching the stops action.
You have an incredible gift. You have also worked very hard. The world is in a great debt to you. I watch some of your CZcams videos almost every day. It is a great way to relax. Thank you so much.
My wife has had Multiple Sclerosis for 25 years and now lives in a nursing home. She comes home in her electric wheelchair sometimes and she always asks to watch some of your CZcams organ music videos. She enjoys them very much. Thank you.
What a pleasure to get to hear you break this down for us. Your 5 million view video is a Masterpiece, worthy of the music itself!
Goodness me! That sounds so time consuming and complicated, I’m glad I learnt it using the music, that was hard enough, esp the fugue when the pedals and hands come in together. But what a wonderful piece.. thanks for the subtitles, love from rural Australia.
Thank you so very much for letting us share your journey from age 13 until today. I have watched all of your videos and have enjoyed them immensely, especially your "Best Version"... ;)
I started formal organ lessons when I was 10 years old. I had grand dreams of becoming a concert organist. At the age of 25 an accident at work permanently crippled my middle, ring and little fingers on my right hand. A few days later I received an acceptance letter from Julliard where I had auditioned during the previous summer. Obviously the accident cost me my scholarship.
Now many decades later I can still play, but not nearly as well I could at the time of my accident. Nonetheless, I still practice at least four hours every day! For many years I did play for a number of churches. Hymnody is so much simpler than Bach!
In any case, I deeply enjoy listening to you play these magnificent organs!
Thank you so much for this, it has answered a question I've had in my mind for many years. Namely how does one go from a two fingered Silent Night to the Toccata and Fugue in D. I think I discovered your Channel just about the time you did the Toccata and Fugue on the pipe organ. I too have seen those animated transcripts on CZcams, and enjoyed watching them. You however took it to the next step and beyond. Your true talent shown at an early age. You are a true blessing to all of us.🙏👏👏
👍...Absolutely astounding Gert....Thanks for such a personal video that takes us back to your early years of learning/playing.....Bravo......
That was so heart-warming to hear about your journey with this wonderful Bach's piece! And it is not yet done, for sure. Your whole life, you will have secret or public rendez-vous with this piece, you two meeting again, and again, like how best old friends do. When your life will have highs, and lows, when you will get older, seeing family coming and leaving, the body getting weird, hairs turning grey. Then you will play it, or it will play through you. I would love to see that, how you will mature all this talent of yours, but chances are high I will not. But it doesn't matter, music is eternal, Bach will live for ever, as well as the one that plays his pieces. Thanks to give, even for a few minutes, relief and joy to the world.
You're so right DB, Bach's music is eternal. This iconic piece was written around 300 years ago, in the early 1700s (we're not exactly sure of the date) by an undoubtedly youthful Bach as it's an explosive breakout from musical orthodoxy. Three hundred years from now people will still be marvelling at it. I seriously doubt they'll be listening to 300 year old pop music.
So good to listen to this story, Gert. Every piece of repertoire we learn has a story behind it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Gert! This is a wonderful story showing how a musical master is reborn in our era. It's fitting that CZcams was the source of your inspiration and the mode of transmission for your musical offerings to people worldwide. We feel lucky to be alive to enjoy your profound creative talents. We love you!
Hello Gert. This was beautiful. Thank you very much. Years ago, when I bought my first Synthesizer keyboard, my sister, who is a professional organist, and I were talking on the phone. She asked, "Is your Synthesizer turned on?" I said yes. She said play the highest A you have. I did. she said play a G next to it and A again. I did. Then I said, "Wow, you're going to teach me that?" She took me through enough of the Tocatta that she said it could entertain people who would hear it. It was enough for me. Now I am building my virtual organ with that synth, 2 other keyboards, my home built pedalboard, some microswitches for pistons, stops, and couplers and a wonderful program called jOrgan. i'm still learning to play and still building, but it is great fun and takes up most of my time.
Thank you very much for sharing how you came to learn this piece!
Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Tom Anderson from Toronto
Gert, thank you for sharing your story. I think all of us have that one landmark piece that propelled us in to pursuing music further.
Easter is my favorite Sunday in the liturgical year. There is one hymn we sang which became my obsession and my first piece I learned to play as I was teaching myself to read music. That is what I needed to get started. To this day, I use that same hymn tune to introduce myself to any new organ I go to play.
It is funny to know a child started learning organ on his own from visualization of
movement of tones on the screen and trial and errors and that hard work paid off!
I learned each organist's style of playing are different and it is my pleasure to listen to
many pieces done by many organists including you. Thank you for posting many videos.
It is SO impressive to look back and see how far one has come. With you, I am constantly impressed with your style of performance and your continued growth as a musician and an organist. Keep up the good work. You've got to be able to teach your son to play at some point! Hopefully he will want to learn to read music first and not learn to play by ear. Thanks for sharing!
This is a wonderful and inspiring story. It reminded me of the time that J.S. Bach walked 250 miles so that he could hear Buxtehude play the organ! Only a musical genius could understand how the effort was worth the joy that music and bring. Wonderful!!!
Most young men 13 years old would not have the patience and power of concentration that you had. That is also one of my favorite Bach pieces. I have been following you several years now and have some of your DVD's that I play often. Your music makes my soul sing and I will be ever grateful to you for that. Best wishes and keep the music coming. Bill Leitzel
Tu es un musicien prodigieux, virtuose et symphatique. Merci Gert
Now I understand how you started playing and then take lessons to read notes. Starting at age 13 was the perfect time to start learning. Amazing.
There is never a "Best" version, only a "Better" version. Always growing and improving is the key.
Beste Gert, ik als oude rocker heb mij heel lang afgezet tegen het traditionele, zoals zovele van mijn generatie. Toch blijft de opvoeding kriebelen. Inmiddels heb ik veel geleerd, waaronder de waardering voor muziek. Ik volg jou al een aantal jaren en heb zelfs jou mogen ontmoeten.
Nog steeds zoek ik en luister ik naar jouw verrichtingen en al is niet alles naar mijn smaak, jouw uitvoeringen raken elke keer weer een gevoelige snaar.
Wat mij het meest bijblijft is het concert in Marrum, daar heb ik mijn vader mee naar toe genomen, hij was de grote inspirator om het orgel in de kerk te laten restaureren. Inmiddels is hij niet meer, maar dat concert is voor mij een hoogtepunt, ik heb mijn vader intens zien genieten, waarvoor dank.
Ik hoop nog heel veel van jou te horen, je hebt grote schoenen om te vullen, waaronder die van Klaas Jan Mulder, de man die mijn liefde voor het orgel pas echt aangewakkerd heeft.
Dank voor de muziek, onvergetelijk.
Mvg, Pieter
Thank you so much for posting your wonderful videos. You are so gifted. I am so glad to have found you. I started playing the organ in my church at age 61. Never played it before. Only piano. I am not particularly gifted at all - but I love the challenge of the organ. I am now 72. I have had a wonderful teacher all these years so have progressed. I remember playing the Toccata and Fugue. I need to revisit it thanks to your inspiration. I’m working through Bach’s Little Organ Book. I love play Bach. I so thankful for your wonderful spirit and beautiful playing. I love that your wife helps you.
Bach was a genius and you are too. Please keep those YTs coming.
Very moving and inspiring tale of how a young man with a brain fizzing with musicality set about learning to play a masterpiece. To me one of the greatest things you have done is to rescue the pipe organ from being a dying instrument mostly played by bearded old men and brought a new generation to love it.
Thank you.
Thanks for this interesting story, you really desserve all this success
I turned 71 the day after you posted this video. It is fantastic and such an inspiration. After playing my Steinway for many years, I have now ordered a Content organ (from the Netherlands of course) and I'm going to start a new period in my life of learning to play it. Thank you for your inspiration (and the biography video of your beautiful son and Marjolein). Looking forward to receiving your double CD too!
Although I haven't followed your CZcams videos from the start it has been amazing to watch your progression over the years watching them. I can't imagine all the hours and effort you have put into mastering the Organ and the pieces you play. Playing any form of keyboard has for a long time been one of my dreams, but sadly I never had the stamina to dedicate so much of my life to achieving that so proficiently. Still, watching artists and musicians playing with such passion continues to amaze me and bring me and so many people happiness. The World would be a lesser place without people like you and the music you play. Thank you for sharing this Gert.
Hi Gert, This is a superb video for all of us fans worldwide. Thank you for the sub titles in English. Your pure and intense method of learning to play the Toccata and Fugue by your own special method before you could read music at the tender age of 13 is quite an inspiration. It shows that you had a built in talent and determination to get there against all odds. That talent and determination has continued over the years as you progress to be one the world's greatest organists and improvisation champion. I am currently building my first DIY 2 keyboard hauptwerk organ because of the inspiration and help you have given me. I do not even play a keyboard yet but am determined to enjoy learning a new skill in my retirement years. I wonder how many of your subscribers have been introduced to the wonders of the king of instruments through your CZcams videos. You are a born teacher...….Why not make some more videos to teach and inspire a new generation of organists. You have the skills, the charm, the patience. Of course you have a family to take care of and time is precious. We can only hope...…..Thank you once again for sharing your joys with us...………… Have you thought of running a paid online course for beginners. It would have to be in ENGLISH for international coverage! This could be a good source of income!
Thank you for sharing this, Gert. We all stand in admiration of your abilities, and this video gives us a background of the hard labors you had to undergo in order to become the master that you are. I can not help but wonder who was your most influential teacher ?
The fact that you invented a way to play the piece without even knowing how to read music shows me two things: your great intelligence and your great love for music, especially Bach's music. I congratulate you a lot and I admire you Gert.
Dear Gert, when youtube recently presented me your organ playing in the Stephanuskerk, I felt at once, that there was a very young man playing this instrument with a passion, that can be seen in the movement of his body. I was so fascinated, that I subscribed your channel. And now I listened to your explanations, how you teached yourself playing organ- without knowing notes and I am really fascinated! thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Gert, I hear the glory of God in your performances! I can only imagine the happiness of the Craftsmen whose blood, sweat, and tears went into building the instruments you perform
on! I found your Hasselt recording of Bach's Tocatta and Fugue and have been hooked on organ music since! Thanks for sharing your story!
Congratulations Master Van Hoef. I have followed his concerts for a long time. Now I have just seen and heard your work on digitizing the Toccata and Fuga BWV 565. It is undoubtedly an arduous job of adjusting the classical to the current technological. I hope you finished it in the hope of hearing something from him. Let me tell you that I have admired the simplicity of his nature, which is testimony to his true artistic talent and spiritual nobility.
Receive my admiration and respect.
Sincerely.
Alejandro Donoso Rosso
Santiago de Chile.
From the first Video I saw in 2012 posted . it too was performed on the Knoll Orgel I knew I needed to see and hear You in Person Then came Your Personal invitation to travel to NL. From this day I have called each Performance, Golden You are an inspiration to the Next Generation of Organists Bringing Pure Music to the Many.
Agaiin, Bach is a favorite...as well as Handel, Frescobaldi, Gabrielli, Albinoni, and Widor...'m one who was born singing harmony, and even now as an Octogenarian I "still sing in my head" I used to play starting with the piano, and then the pipe organ (plus guitar, uke, clarinet, sax, and more)...until my father movde us to a dirty stinking steel producing town (for work of course) and I just avoided everything there...got out as soon as possible...never looked back. Had sung with concert choirs on Television, and later also did "Barbership Harmony"....loving the interplay of harmony...still do...even tough my voice is now "gone" and of course I hate that part of what life does to the body...DRAT! I still sing along with various tune online...if only in my own head....sighs
What an inspiration to anyone wanting to learn how to play a church organ. You really have true talent Gert, and I can see why you are so passionate in playing this amazing musical instrument. I can play the piano a little bit, but I'm not a professional pianist unfortunately. J.S.B is one of my favourite composers and I could listen to you play the organ every day. Thank you so much for making this video.
Gert, enorme waardering voor jou passie en doorzettingsvermogen.Een goed musicus (maar dat geldt natuurlijk voor veel beroepen)dient die eigenschappen te bezitten;vallen en opstaan en de ambitie om het te volbrengen.Daar komt bij dat je een adorabel mens bent.Dank voor je uitleg!
Great history of a piece! I love the progression of abilities and the story of a song with such resonance for you. Thanks for sharing!
Gert that was very interesting. It sounds like your brain went into synesthesia, no wonder after 10 hours. I would love to know the story behind your improvisation of "Heer, U bent mijn leven de grond waarop ik sta". Its a beautiful hymn and you have made this a great work.
That was a huge project to take on, but so glad you did, or we wouldn't have all your wonderful videos!!!
Thank you for sharing this story Gert--amazing what you accomplished. I have watched you develop over the years. You are an exceptionally talented organist and I love hearing you play and watching your videos.
Thanks so much for sharing the development of your beautiful gifts so honestly.
Your talent continues amaze many of your listeners. I especially enjoy your Bach presentations. Thank you .
Bravo Gert. Such dedication and passion. I too love that performance on the Knoll organ. What singles it out for me is not just the organ and not just the playing of the notes. It is your empathy with the acoustics of the building. The reverberation time is very long and you allow the sound to echo around and to linger after each phrase before performing the next phrase. Brilliant!
Fascinating story how you learnt Bach's Toccatta and Fugue. The Knoll Organ video is likely very popular because it demonstrates a young man having a strong command of an outstanding piece of music. The genius of the composer and musician playing it, and the incredible sounds from the organ make the hair on my neck stand up. Also the guys helping are clearly enjoying the moment, all adds to a fantastic video. Johann would be so proud.
This is my favorite and you are so amazing and fantastic. I could kick myself not continue with my music training later in my life. I started to play the piano at eight years old and was playing the organ at my church when I was much younger
I have been a fan for some time now. Today I spent half the day watching many of your videos from your earliest to most recent, watching you grow along the way. I remember teaching myself the piano when I was a teen. I knew the notes on the treble clef but not on the bass. In those days a popular song on the radio was the theme from the movie Exodus. I liked it a lot and found the sheet music in the key of C. So I started with the treble clef. When I wanted to add the left hand, I had to count the keys down from middle C, then a couple more until I found the first chord. It took me a year to learn that song, but I learned to read the bass clef along the way. I love the pipe organ, the classics and your renditions of Pirates of the Caribbean and Conquest of Paradise are especially thrilling.
Fabulous..what a journey! Thank you for posting this!
Gert, the first video I ever saw was that of you playing this piece at age 13. Since then I have followed you faithfully. I never tire of watching and listening to you play.
And how our sons came into contact with this piece was through watching videos of you performing it!!!
Fantastisch! Ik krijg er tranen in de ogen van. Wat een mooi verhaal!
Gert, Iv'e been following you for several years, and I haven't seen all of your videos, but I have watched a lot of them. This is the first time I've seen you really face the camera and address your audience. Even though I speak English and couldnt understand you, it instantly made you more human. You need to do more of these type of videos.
I very much enjoyed and appreciated your explanation of how you learned this difficult piece, and how you became so brilliantly virtuous in your presentation of it. Your playing gives me chills every time I hear it. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Thank you Gert for this insight. The first of your videos I watched was your "Best Version..." Normally I don't watch videos described as "best", because they are usually anything but. In your case it was true and I'm glad I listened, now I watch everything you post! Thank you for years of enjoyment.
I've been following since you first started posting on CZcams. I was impressed then and even much more so now. Plus now you have a beautiful wife and son. Keep up the great work Gert!
Thank you for sharing your journey from playing as a child to us today. I would love to see those earlier, childhood, videos. Having viewed a number of your video performances, I am thrilled to see you grow from a boy to a married man with child. God Bless.
Bravo, Gert! An excellent explanation of how you got to know my personal favorite piece of music. Ahhh, Bach!
Such determination and hard work Gert but oh my it has certainly has produced a brilliant organist. It is always a pleasure to watch you play and I am delighted you have so much on CZcams for us all to enjoy. How wonderful it would be to hear you at one of your concerts. 🙂🙂
This is one of the most inspiring videos that I have ever seen:
It tells me everything I ought to know, about the enthusiasm, determination, hard work
and (I imagine at times) pain that must be endured in order to become a competent musician,
let alone a virtuoso!
Total dedication:
that I could only ever dream about, when I wanted to play music like this.
Thank you for working so hard in order to achieve the world class standard,
that so many of us can now enjoy so much, just by following your wonderful CZcams Channel.
Wat een prachtig verhaal Gert!
En wat een inzet (bijna maniakaal) om het hele stuk zo uit te schrijven, en zo in te studeren als jonge knul zonder enige kennis van muziek noten.
Geweldig dat er nog wat van het originele stuk bewaard is gebleven! Prachtige herinnering aan je eerste orgel stuk. 🎹❤
Thank you for sharing your story Gert. This is my favourite piece of organ music - you play it beautifully!
Al vanaf het begin volg ik jou. Uren, dagen, ....jaren plezier en ook troost heeft jouw spel gebracht. Heel erg bedankt. Helaas verslechtert mijn gehoor snel. Daardoor luister ik veel minder muziek dan ik zou willen. Ook jouw kanaal zoek ik minder op. Heel af en toe kijk ik nog even. Nu dan ineens dit hele mooie filmpje. Ook daarvoor dank. Veel succes voor jou en jouw familie. Dat wij nog lang van jou mogen horen.
All that early effort and enthusiasm certainly paid dividends; this has helped my understanding of Dutch too!
So nice and interesting demonstration of the ways of studying and learning. Thank you for sharing.
Wow! You created your own musical notation at 13. Respect!
Wow, this is amazing to think that you actually wrote this out tone by tone. The level of patience and determination is remarkable. I'm not sure I could have managed that at 13yrs old. I suspect that this level of study is what has made you the superb organist you are today. Keep it up, I never tire of hearing your performances, it inspires me. Thanks to you I have just started playing some of Jan Zwarts pieces, really enjoying them.
You are a *BRILLIANT* player of a *MOST BRILLIANT* Composer-- Bach! I am sure Virgil Fox is looking down upon your talented soul from wherever he is at! Thank you!
Gert, you are an amazing organist, and you are an inspiration to all of us who play musical instruments. You have the King of Instruments tamed. It's a great delight to watch you play. Thank you for many hours of enjoyment.
Thanks for the fun account of your evolution with Bach's seminal work.
Such dedication, I wish I had a fraction of that will power and skill. Thanks for posting - and your finale of the piece gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Thank you.
A fascinating history. That video with the 5 million views is what introduced me to your channel and I've been blessed by your offerings ever since. A question that might never be answered, but I'll try. During the 5-million-view video was the older gentleman filming at your right your proud Dad?
Yes - That is his Father.
Steven I don't know for certain but I'd be surprised if that gentleman is Gert's father. I read somewhere that statistically the tallest men in the world are in the Netherlands, which means Gert's father is probably an older, almost identical version of Gert, most likely with grey hair, and even glasses as that's also a genetic trait. There's only one way to know for certain.
@@williamevans3902 Only Gert would know for sure.
Gert, I am so thankful you decided to upload your videos to CZcams. I don't remember exactly how I came across you, but it was through some of your videos that I became introduced to organ music, and now I love it! It is one of my favourite genres of music.
God bless you and keep up the good work!
Edit: just been thinking about it and two of the videos I REALLY enjoyed from you to begin with were the Dance Macabre and the Adagio from Widors 5th, both of which were played on the Knoll organ. You are right, it is totally fabulous. I've not heard anything like it anywhere else since, and that instrument had a very big part to play with getting me interested.
Dit was baie lekker om te hoor hoe jy jou geleer het om te speel. Pragtig!
Thank you so much to share the journey of a young organist, it's rare, you are so sincere and diligent even with your talent. I could see that toil alongside that passion. How admirable!
Such a wonderful video, so inspiring! Who would have believed this could happen.
I’m really impressed at how you taught yourself. Very committed ....you are the best
Thank you so much for allowing us to partake in such beauty through your immense talent.
Thanks for sharing, Gert! I really enjoyed this.
Sheer admiration of your craft; the hard work continues to pay off. I'd really like to thank you for reintroducing me to Hollins, your rendition of the trumpet tune makes my hair stand on end! Long may you continue and I hope to be able to hear you perform live at some stage.
You must have a very high IQ to be able to map out this Toccata and Fugue all on your own and play from it before you could read music. Congratulations. Watching your videos have helped me play organ better. My favorite organ you have played on is the Knoll organ. I would like to see more recordings on the Knoll organ in the future. Thank you, Gert for sharing your talent with the world.
Amazing story Gert, thank you for sharing, very inspiring and hopefully it will encourage more young players to play the organ
Thank you Gert . Your efforts have rewarded so many people.
Hi Gert,
Thanks for this informative talk on how you first acquired skills to play the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor. It is a piece which inspired me to learn it, at about the same age. What is so interesting about your story at that age, is that you took an interest in something that spoke to you, when most boys at that age may have chosen to rather sit at their computers playing video games. That was not an option for me growing up as I was 13 in 1963! Haha! A shoutout to the animator who set a vision to Bach's classic work in a way that caught your eye as well as your ear, on youtube. Did you know that Albert Schweitzer kept up his organ skills in a little African hut, while treating the natives, on a special pedal piano? His annotated published score is the one from which I learned to play the work. My interest came from hearing an E. Power Biggs vinyl recording of it in my father's collection. Anyway, I'm so glad that you shared this story of how you invented a way for you to learn the work which Bach created, that is still inspiring young boys to come and discover the power and majesty of music and the organ! Lead on, Gert, and thank you and your family for being here!
I hope you get as much pleasure from reading the reviews as we do watching your uploads. The first time I ever saw you, you were playing this wonderful piece and wearing sneakers, I said to a friend,,,,”,how on earth does he play wearing sneakers? “. From then on I’ve watched just about every video of yours and loved them all. So many people rush Bach because they can but you stroke and caress every note. Bach is smiling right now...no doubt. And has been since you were 13.
Gert, one of your biggest fans, my twin brother Mark Heesen, unfortunately died on January 25, after years of kidney and liver problems. He introduced you to me via CZcams. Thanks for the enjoyment you gave him and will give me from now on.
David Heesen I’m sorry to hear you have lost your twin brother Mark! I’m thankful that I could have shared my music with him and with you now.
Gert
Fascinating story! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing your story you inspire me as I have learned to play songs on the piano in an untraditional way also writing down my own notation and eventually learn to read properly as well. I enjoy your music, God bless.
Super leuk om te horen, ik kan me compleet voorstellen hoe je er destijds op je eigen manier mee aan de slag bent gegaan, met de middelen die je tot je beschikking had en die je zelf kon verzinnen. Los van hoe mooi het stuk op zich is, moet het een heel bijzonder stuk voor jou zijn. Bedankt voor het vertellen!
A beautiful interpretation, with lots of passion. Lots of people might think that Back is mathematical music, but I love to hear Toccata and Fugue played crazily with passion. Be the Mad Organist while you play! :-)
Wonderful. What a great story of skill and perseverance.
Wonderful... just wonderful.
Been following you since then too. I hope you are teaching youngsters now as well as playing. You have a good method!
Beautiful! You are an amazing talent.
And that version you did on the Knoll-organ? That is still the best version in my opinion from anyone, anywhere. Perfect!
Perfect!Bravo!Your father have to proud of you,and your job.