Ben: I am a (semi) retired Episcopal priest in the USA and chaplain to our local Guild of organists here in Indianapolis, Indiana. Your videos are enjoyable and connect me back to my early years as a parish priest over 40 years ago even though my parish work was always in urban settings. Your commentaries are edifying and if I may be so bold, more inspirational than a lot of sermons I have heard! I am sending a contribution by way of PayPal; please continue to make these beautiful videos; I love hearing you play and the histories of these village churches and the instruments therein are very uplifting. Well done, good servant!
Our retired pastor always held a little chat for the childeren before the sermon based on either a fairy tale or so which he sometimes changed a little bit to fit the sermon ..... those little chats were very often more food for thought and of deeper religious level than the sermon. Sometimes a religious touch , or the touch of the Divine , is in those little unexpected things..... Love from the Netherlands!! 🙏🙏
@@Baard2000 very appropriate point! I used to do that quite often when I was an active parish priest but don't have opportunity to do that with kids much anymore. Some of the best 'sermons' I've heard were not actually sermons but like Ben in these videos, his reflections about a parish, it's history, it's organ and how we can encounter the divine through music and hymnody as well as organ literature-- I find most uplifting and edifying.
Your centenary deserves a marker for the future, Ben, I think that we would all agree. The John Lewis Partnership still owns the Longstock Estate and surrounding farmland (over 1,500 acres). I have taken the liberty of sending a link for your video to Andrew Hoad, who is 'Head of Leckford', and responsible for a Fund which has the stated Vision to "Work hard to understand the nuances of complex issues". I have suggested to him that perhaps the John Lewis Partnership should raise the original John Lewis's organ from the dead. I hope you approve. Best wishes, Michael.
Great idea to try to get John Lewis to think about giving something back to Leckford village. The partnership uses the estate as a place for rest and recreation for partners and a church organ might enhance their experience as well as giving the church its musical voice. How can John Lewis shoppers support this project?
I happened upon your centenary video by pure chance - and so enjoyed your content and presentation that I have made a PayPal donation. I will subscribe and look forward to 99 oldies and many more newbies.
I’m so delighted with your love of the silence. My wish is more people would treasure its value. To come into a space that caresses you in peace and devotion is beyond words. Thank you for bringing that reminder on your videos.
I have had a small village organ I saved from a church that was being demolished It was restored about 20 years ago an I’ve had it in my garage for 4 Years now, recently I’ve been thinking about scraping it because nobody wants it even for free. But your video and sympathy for this village organ gave me a different look on the “cluster” of an organ taking up one garage bay. I think I’ll hold on to it a bit longer. Thank you.
Despite the lifeless organ, the church exudes peace and tranquility. Imagine this little church standing 800 years, of all the people who have come and gone through its doors during the centuries, surviving wars and famines as well as times of plenty. The village parish churches are just as much a part of your heritage as the great castles and manor houses, but sadly overlooked most of the time. Such a treat to watch these videos.
The Chipper Organist story reminded me of the senior priest in the old Catholic church I attended as a kid. In the summers, he used to close services with "The Mass is Ended, Let's Go to the Beach". Definitely not in the missal. 🏖.
Congratulations Ben on your 100th video as always so interesting and the poems you read so here’s to another 100 videos I always love Sundays god bless you ❤
Ben, I wish everyone in the world watched your videos. I think if they were exposed to them, most would! The gentle tone of your voice, the lilt of your accent, the history, poetry and music....it makes me so happy. I'm looking forward to your next 100 contributions to the beauty of our world. Thank you. 🎵❣️
Bring back the red socks!!!! Every organist should have well-dressed feet😊. As always, a joy to watch your videos and hear great music from historical locations.
Your work, Ben, expresses an uncommon blend of reverence and exuberance-for the places, the ghosts, the poetry, the music, and the silences. Thank you!
Thanks for another inspirational time in old churches with old organs and great readings. This is a kind of thing if you ever would pull together an organ crawl as we call it here in the States you might be able to get a group of folks to make the trip over from the US or wherever to visit some of these special out of the way beautiful small churches. Every time I watch this program I continue to miss the great pipe organ that I have in my Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania since we are doing renovations in the sanctuary. Until then I have a fine Steinway piano as well as an historic reed organ that is mine that I use each Sunday for the Mass. You are a blessing each week!
I was thinking the same thing. Skip Stonehenge and tour old churches in Salisbury.with Ben. Last year I spent a month in London visiting churches in the area for Evensong just to hear choirs, pipe organs and ancient churches. What a lovely month for this California musician.
How fascinating! I can’t understand why a church, whose history is so important and interesting, and seemingly maintained, should have an unplayable organ. Let’s hope the visibility you give to these wonderful instruments will help address the issue.
@@Musician-Lee Organs are really really really really expensive to repair- if you can find someone who knows how. Most small churches can't afford that.
@@BigTomE12 Listening and watching Evensong can be a great pleasure, especially when it takes place in a large cathedral. It has a very traditional, slow, but meaningful pace, lovely music and pray. This might sound strange being said by a atheist, but these services can be extremely pleasant, calming and inspiring 🛐🎹🎶
@@PortsladeBySea yes I agree with you. My favorite was actually Canterbury cathedral as the music reverberated across the vast expanse of the building. Regardless of our beliefs, we seem to all have a spiritual place within us that is nurtured by the things Ben does for us each week.
100 and still going strong! Its sad that so some many church organs have fallen in to disrepair, either due to a lack of funding, or that there is nobody who can play them. I love visiting ancient churches and watching your superb videos. I am proud to support your work via Patreon. Wearing bright red socks should become your trademark. I look forward to watching your next 100 videos 🥳💒🎹
It is amazing what you can do with a lifeless pipe organ! But you certainly did well in the Finale, we so rarely hear that piece played in it's original form. Nice haircut Ben too!!
I am a church organist in New York, USA. That F# major chord near the end was a surprise. Even a little jarring. But in the best way. Brilliant and exciting! Love it, and I love your videos.
That was beautiful. The organ is my favorite instrument. The music resonates in the soul in ways no other instrument does. I, my daughter, my sister and her husband all play the organ. We encourage as many people to try playing it as we can. At one time I had 2 full sized electric church organs and an ornate pump organ in my rather small living room. I loved playing them one after another for hours. When my lungs began to fail I could no longer sit up to play them, so we gave them away to people who also love organs and were thrilled to get them. It hurts my heart to see these incredible pipe organs silenced. I am so glad you are doing so much to save them. To bring this music back into people's lives. I cannot attend church anymore and I miss the organ music so much. Hearing you play, hearing so many different organs, it brings the reverberations back. It is a feeling like no other. A feeling, not just a sound. A friend of mine is one of the few pipe organ techs around. Tuning and repairing pipe organs throughout America keep her working overtime. Saving as many of these incredible instruments with incredible history as possible. Long live the pipe organs. Long live the organists who give them voice, to bring their acoustic waves into the hearts of all who hear them. To bring joy to our souls.
A blessings on your youthful talented hands! Deepest gratitude for your dedication and provision of sights and sounds that lift my spirits and let me rejoice in the beauty that is England!
We all watch lots of content on CZcams, on every possible subject, but yours, Ben, is like the calm in the eye of a storm! Thank you for bringing to us at least a few moments of respect and reverence for these lovely old churches, and the people who are their history, and the musicians and their instruments who helped the people of God lift their voices in praise to the Almighty. May God bless you for the work that you do. That it entertains and delights us is a blessed by-product.....
Again sublime and beautiful. Sunday now isn’t Sunday without your smiling face, humour, fascinating narrative and of course the music. I can’t believe it’s 100 videos and the first with a silent organ🤣🤣 bless you Ben, bless your work and for a few moments every week allowing me to escape the insanity of the world and to enter something ancient, eternal, peaceful and a balm to the soul 🙏🙏🙏 like with so many others of us that follow you, you are our special part of the week.
I agree wholeheartedly. I faithfully look forward to each Sunday video, and I wait till my Sunday evening to watch, which is well into Monday in England, as I am in Idaho (USA). Ben's videos are to me a refresh button that brings me back to a place of refreshment and peace, a perfect mental space from which to launch my week.
The silent wedding march by Ben on a silent organ. Following you from Ghana, west Africa. There are a couple of Organs built by the British and Portuguese here, you would love to see.
Thank you for Pachebel's Canon. So sad to see an organ unable to sing. So sad to see such beautiful places of worship and peace unused. A place of peace standing there thoughout the years beckoning peace , tranquility and meaning to all rushing by. Wishing all a lovely week.
I have paused you for moment, Ben. I just walked by my husband, toting you around the house with me this Sunday afternoon. To my husband: "I'm on my organ tour. It makes my week." Thanks again. The cinematic effect achieved in the chancel was a success, spot on, and "too cool."
Hi Ben congratulations on all the videos. I really love watching all your videos and listening to the organs and seeing all the Churches that you visit. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🇿🇦
Keep up the good work, Ben. Your mission is an important one. I am pleased that I witnessed the era of village organists seemingly in every church, with large four-part choirs belting out beloved hymns to declare the greatness of God in their local accents. Now this is as much part of the past as the memorials on the wall. It is sad to have lost so much - the deep and important meanings conveyed in so many hymns appears to be unfathomable to people of this century. The past, however, is alive in all of us and your channel reminds us of that. Sorry for such a rambling comment, but I just wanted to say that although I cannot donate to your work, I really appreciate what you do.
The organist at my large Presbyterian church just used the L-W “Sortie” for his postlude just a month ago. And that’s on a IV manual, 94 rank Casavant organ from Montreal. Though I have two performance degrees in organ, I’m older and ill now so I am not playing regularly anywhere. But I do sing in the choir when I can be present. Wonderful to hear you playing that delightful piece! Nothing but the very best of wishes to you Ben.
That was lovely, Ben. Those choir stalls are pretty much the same as the ones in a previous church. I often think about when I lived in England, I was more interested in socializing, than I was in investigating history. Now, I have to vicariously travel to ancient churches in your films, but you do such an excellent job of your videos that it’s easy to imagine myself there with you. Thanks for letting me come along. Liz ❤
Congratulations, Ben, on one hundred videos of pure joy, encompassing the most lovely music, beautiful poetry, fascinating history and glorious countryside. Who could ask for more? Long may they continue. Hopefully this sad organ may one day be restored to its former glory.
Some years ago a 'square grand' piano was donated to a local museum. Much excitement ensued as the poor fellow hired to tune it crawled out from underneath, sweating from his labors...job finished. It sounded beautiful but I couldn't help but wonder what would become of it. Would it only be played on occasion? The museum is only open part of the year and I doubt humidity/temperature control is in the budget. I had the same feeling while having to clear out my sister's home - huge Lowrey organ wanted by no one. Very sad.
Always pleased to watch what is now "must see" Sunday offerings of a truly gifted artist. This offering offers us viewers a poetic, reflective, & (ultimately) cheerful visual experience. How grateful I am to have your offerings on my "subscribe" list. Thank you for sharing!. This is Peter M; out!
Ben, such a great video. I am so glad you are preserving the history of these UK churches, and their musical voices. Ben, you have accomplished so much in a young life. These recordings, these CZcams vids will always be appreciated. I hear what you are saying about these places. Thank God that we have you doing the work that you do. Well done.
A thought provoking video, Ben. It is interesting to see your perspective of time - you describe the organ as "nearly a hundred years old". To some of us 1929 was a little more recent than we would like to admit! It is a puzzle that the church seems to have ringable bells, (although they appear to be rung as often as the organ is played), looking at the state of the sallies, but the organ is dead. Thank you for some organ music though.....
Congratulations on your 100th video 🎉 I noticed that, whatever mood I'm in at the beginning of your episode, by the end I always seem to have a very big smile on my face 😁. And for those 25 minutes all the cares of the world go away. Thank you Ben... Oh, and nice sox 😂
@@SalisburyOrganist Ken Dodd, who was a famous British comedian from the city of Liverpool. He said that he was a Happiness Therapist, and that his job was to help to spread laughter and joy across the country. Ben is doing the same 🥳👏👍
Palestrina wrote some beautiful music I m a non conformist so don’t go the these churches other than to look at them sometimes we get to hear the organ played this is missing in many churches today with band of often poor quality I do love the old church music I hope that you are earning enough to keep doing this as it’s a real blessing
The Canon was played at our wedding now 31.5 years ago, though not with your panache. Thanks so much for your work. It allows all of us to 'turn off the switch' for 30 odd minutes each time you post. If you have the inclination, I would be interested in more discussing of your training at Oxford and what motivated you. Thank you.
Great tribute for a once working instrument, accompanying the voices of the said parish, just like prayers from days gone by. They stand with purpose, though past, but with seeds sown in many lives. Blessings BM.
I chanced on your video. Firstly i just loved your red socks don’t abandon them. I so enjoyed your organ playing. The story of the church and everything. I live at the bottom of the African continent and have visited and spent some time in the UK and visited Churches. There is something magical and other world in these old parish churches. One I particularly remember is the Church in Dedham. May you be blessed akways. 🌻
Ben....Congratulations & thank you SO much for 100 wonderful, uplifting & informative videos! As a church organist here in Maine & Massachusetts I really appreciate watching. That poor organ looks so sad....longing to sing again the praises of God....hopefully, it may get restored some day. Keep up this wonderful work that you enjoy doing (I have donated on PayPal) and thank you for the Canon in D - one of my favourites!
Hi Ben, spouse and I drove from Scotland and round GB avoiding freeways and maxed out on rural England some years ago. So thank you from a couple of Australians for an additional walk around a Tudor garden and church which we missed ( undoubtedly amongst many more). The organists' practice on their instruments in the world's Christian countries is one of the greatest experiences a frequent traveller can experience. May a benefactor emerge to rescue this instrument and may your quest for many more prove fruitful. Pure sentiment from past breathtaking organ recitals urged me to subscribe with thanks.
Hello Ben, my house organ actually has a stop called wind. It is to turn on the wind, to switch it on…it’s kind of sad to see these instruments neglected… thank you for your work, giving them the well desserved attention! And i wish i could experience the smell of these churches … but i can imagine. All the best!
Older (pre 20th century) organs in Germany often had a drawstop knob called "Calcantenruf", which actuated a small bell to let the organ blower know it was time to start pumping again.
I have just discovered your channel, what a joy! This is by far the most sensitively played version of Pachelbel's canon, in tempo and phrasing, that I've ever had the pleasure to hear. My wife and I loved it. Thank you so much.
Pachebel's Canon - YES! With an organ, even better. Also lament the silent organ and the empty church buildings. Thank you for sharing your talent and insight weekly.
I love my church but they pretty much really only sing praise and worship music with drums and guitar, so I look forward to Ben and his beautiful music to calm and fill my soul. Thank you Ben!
Dear Ben, Organist and Historian par excellence... Thank you for gracing our Sunday afternoon! It was a festival Sunday at our church today, Bishop was present; hymn concertos with congregation, choir, full organ, plus other instruments; praise and worship. In a couple moments of pause between three services, with a smile, I anticipated the quiet repose and refreshment of your video later on. Rather delicious contrast, the full organ filling every centimeter of space within the sanctuary and beyond, with the simple touch of my hands and feet... and a now silent organ which once filled its space with divine sound. Congratulations and blessings on 100 videos that bless so many! Donation made.
Years ago, as a top-hat and tailed chimney sweep emitting the pleasant fragrance of wood soot, I left a church organist speechless when, with hands thoroughly washed, I played the fugue of Max Reger's monumental *Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme* Op 52, #2 . The home at which I had cleaned the chimbley was nearby and I stopped in athe church.
What a wonderful story.I can imagine that you did indeed leave him speechless.😂 Just the mention of the scent of wood smoke and soot and the visit of the Chimney sweep has brought back so many memories. What a vital job you did and I am certain that you achieved it without leaving any mess behind. I'm sure that you have many fascinating stories. Best Wishes from an old lady.
@@twpsy634 On top of the flue I placed a furnace squirrel cage blower pulling air up the chimbley. If anything unfortunate happened, like a brick falling out of the fireplace throat,he cloud of ash would go up the chimney instead of billowing out into the house. Jana, my chimney *sweet* , pointed out a naked woman in her bedroom across the way. Told her I could not look because the woman was not being careless. She was not expecting anyone up on a roof in the dark who could look down into her top-floor apartment. Lightning was always my greatest concern. One time, as gray clouds approached, from me bristles (metal wire brush) I could hear static electricity (coronal discharge) coming off the sharp steel wires.
🎉 Congratulations on 100 videos 🎉 I too appreciate those lovely little village churches and the lovely countryside. Thank you for your hard work. Greetings from Chicagoland, IL ❤❤
Very tastefully done. We mourn the loss of this organ as Thomas Hardy wrote of the loss of those small bands of church musicians that preceded the advent of the solo organist in local parishes. Now the greater mourning of people’s attendance at church full stop.
You have a kind heart, a kind soul intellect to beat the band and you have such a handsome face. You bring us all so very much. I like the guy from Texas enjoy them and you.
The instrument is so perfectly, considerately integrated into the surroundings, unobtrusive yet utterly present - at the same time. Contrast so many others - thus, Manchester!!
I heartily congratulate you, dear Ben, on the 100th video! I haven't seen many of his films, but what I have seen is enough for me to praise and appreciate his persistent, creative, heart-warming, joy-bringing work. Organists deserve the highest recognition compared to other arts! I would never be capable of the skill, attention sharing, hand and foot technique that organists create. I participated in many organ concerts in Szeged Cathedral, Passau and other places. We didn't see the artists, only on the posters...Ben's videos bring the viewer close to the artist, the organ, he shows the space where he works. This is what makes Ben's short films unique, great and magical, as well as Ben's captivating performance and musical play. On Sunday evening, in the nearby 250-year-old St. Nicholas church, the father said this sentence in his sermon: "GOD EXISTS" Yes, he exists, we can experience it through our fellow human beings, if we are attentive. Dear Ben! Thank you very much for the beautiful Pachebels Canon! Best of all the performances I've heard so far! As a thank you for your 100 videos, I am sending you the Gregorian chant with love. May every day be beautiful and blessed! "Kyrie: Orbis Factor, medieval chant of the Graduel of Eleanor Brittany" / I'm sorry Ben - I wanted to re-edit my writing, but it was accidentally deleted by the translator. We sent a donation via bank because it was the fastest. You should have waited 7-8 days for Paypal registration../ Thank You! God bless you! 🌿🙏💥💕🌳
Bravo! There’s nothing like a rousing rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon (including The Piano Guys’ version, Rockelbel’s Canon.) How sad that such a lovely organ has fallen into disrepair, but your visit was still most enjoyable. Entering that church was amazing, as the noise from outside was silenced and the church became a respite from the rest of the world. Congrats on 100 episodes. Here’s to 100 more!
Best video yet Ben. Thank you. If I wasn't so far away I would offer to grab my tool bag and see if we could get the Organ going again. It could be something so simple like the capacitor on the blower motor. They tend to burn out if you forget to lubricate the bearings regularly. It's heart breaking to see an organ neglected. There's a good chance my grandfather worked on that instrument. He did his apprenticeship in Southampton.
Ben, another enriching video! You always succeed in bringing an air of peace, tranquility, history and spiritual reflection even with a silent organ! Thank you from a grateful Irish priest, Fr. Noel.🇮🇪☘️
Dear Ben: Your videos get better and better and better all the time! Your calm voice and wonderfully authentic presence complement each location you visit. And you are a beautiful human being to boot - with an amazing head of shiny black hair. BE THANKFUL! BE THANKFUL! BE THANKFUL! ❤ Marc
Such tremendous history around you there. Thank you for your captivating and passionate presentations. So many folks nowadays ignore their heritage and surroundings in blind pursuit of materialism. Cheers and be well.
As always Ben an excellent informative video giving insight into the history and benefactors of these wonderful churches. Who would have thought John Lewis donated so much. Thanks again for all your expertise it’s beautiful and uplifting in everything you do. Many congratulations on your 100th Blessings from Scotland 🙏
I cam across this video by chance, surfing the CZcams. A class act, a rewarding experience. I am making a modest contribution as a token of my appreciation. Thank you.
Happy 100th! Congratulations! Thank you for giving love to the beautiful church and organ, even though the organ didn't work. I felt the atmosphere of the church in this video, and I felt the old organ, too. Thank you for sharing this with us, and thank you for another lovely video.
Hello Ben. I add my congratulations as well for your 100th presentation. A nice beginning to my 57th birthday on Wednesday this week. I love the Canon as well. Greetings from Montreal.
Congratulations Ben, Thank you for 100 entertaining, interesting and most of all just beautiful organ music. Now let's see what the next 100 videos bring, how far we travel with you, what we learn and what you play !!!
Ben: I am a (semi) retired Episcopal priest in the USA and chaplain to our local Guild of organists here in Indianapolis, Indiana. Your videos are enjoyable and connect me back to my early years as a parish priest over 40 years ago even though my parish work was always in urban settings. Your commentaries are edifying and if I may be so bold, more inspirational than a lot of sermons I have heard! I am sending a contribution by way of PayPal; please continue to make these beautiful videos; I love hearing you play and the histories of these village churches and the instruments therein are very uplifting. Well done, good servant!
Our retired pastor always held a little chat for the childeren before the sermon based on either a fairy tale or so which he sometimes changed a little bit to fit the sermon ..... those little chats were very often more food for thought and of deeper religious level than the sermon.
Sometimes a religious touch , or the touch of the Divine , is in those little unexpected things.....
Love from the Netherlands!! 🙏🙏
@@Baard2000 very appropriate point! I used to do that quite often when I was an active parish priest but don't have opportunity to do that with kids much anymore. Some of the best 'sermons' I've heard were not actually sermons but like Ben in these videos, his reflections about a parish, it's history, it's organ and how we can encounter the divine through music and hymnody as well as organ literature-- I find most uplifting and edifying.
@@Baard2000h
I would love to have it. But I am in India.
May be piece by piece it can be sent to me
Your centenary deserves a marker for the future, Ben, I think that we would all agree. The John Lewis Partnership still owns the Longstock Estate and surrounding farmland (over 1,500 acres). I have taken the liberty of sending a link for your video to Andrew Hoad, who is 'Head of Leckford', and responsible for a Fund which has the stated Vision to "Work hard to understand the nuances of complex issues". I have suggested to him that perhaps the John Lewis Partnership should raise the original John Lewis's organ from the dead. I hope you approve. Best wishes, Michael.
Thanks Michael 👍
Great idea to try to get John Lewis to think about giving something back to Leckford village. The partnership uses the estate as a place for rest and recreation for partners and a church organ might enhance their experience as well as giving the church its musical voice. How can John Lewis shoppers support this project?
Thank you for caring about Ben's videos and trying to get the organ restored.
I happened upon your centenary video by pure chance - and so enjoyed your content and presentation that I have made a PayPal donation.
I will subscribe and look forward to 99 oldies and many more newbies.
Hi Ben. I am a church organist in County Cork, Ireland. Your videos are a credit to you. God bless and well done.
Hi Ben. I’m in the US but my family has roots in county cork. Cheers
@@jeffconley819me too 🙋🏻♀️
My Mom said her people came from Co. Cork. 🇮🇪
My Mom said her people came from Co. Cork. 🇮🇪☘️💛
Thank you Dear Ben, as always a spiritual gift to all who watch. ❤
I’m so delighted with your love of the silence. My wish is more people would treasure its value. To come into a space that caresses you in peace and devotion is beyond words. Thank you for bringing that reminder on your videos.
What a beautiful phrase: caresses you in peace and devotion. ❤ Silence is wonderful and essential.
As a sock knitter I say you do NOT have to ask for pardon for those lovely red socks!
@@DerrithWieman Colourful socks are very distinctive. Many famous people wear them 🧦🔴🥳
Hear hear ! ❤🧦🧦🧦🧦🧦👍
I have had a small village organ I saved from a church that was being demolished It was restored about 20 years ago an I’ve had it in my garage for 4
Years now, recently I’ve been thinking about scraping it because nobody wants it even for free. But your video and sympathy for this village organ gave me a different look on the “cluster” of an organ taking up one garage bay. I think I’ll hold on to it a bit longer. Thank you.
Ah the emotion in your ending, and a serene village church. What a combination.
Despite the lifeless organ, the church exudes peace and tranquility. Imagine this little church standing 800 years, of all the people who have come and gone through its doors during the centuries, surviving wars and famines as well as times of plenty. The village parish churches are just as much a part of your heritage as the great castles and manor houses, but sadly overlooked most of the time. Such a treat to watch these videos.
The words of that poem reverbed and echoed through the splendor of that hallowed old church as your regal voice gave it life and feeling. 🙏
🎉Many Congratulations on your one hundredth presentation. Blessings to you for all the music and history you share.
Modern worship music is just noise compared to the grandeur of the music you create with these amazing instruments you share with us. Thank you, Ben.
The Chipper Organist story reminded me of the senior priest in the old Catholic church I attended as a kid. In the summers, he used to close services with "The Mass is Ended, Let's Go to the Beach". Definitely not in the missal. 🏖.
So appreciate your tours of England's country side churches and its organs. Thank you from the US.
Congratulations on 100th anniversary. May we be privileged to having you for another 100 !
Pleasure!!
Congratulations Ben on your 100th video as always so interesting and the poems you read so here’s to another 100 videos I always love Sundays god bless you ❤
@@SalisburyOrganistI do love the sound of the organ and the music that you played
Thank you so much for this and for sharing your gift of
Wonderful church music and history.
Thank you so much for your wonderful videos & music Blessings from Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Ben, I wish everyone in the world watched your videos. I think if they were exposed to them, most would! The gentle tone of your voice, the lilt of your accent, the history, poetry and music....it makes me so happy.
I'm looking forward to your next 100 contributions to the beauty of our world. Thank you. 🎵❣️
To the next 100!
Couldn’t agree more! 😊
Bring back the red socks!!!! Every organist should have well-dressed feet😊. As always, a joy to watch your videos and hear great music from historical locations.
@@cjcoffman8682 We want more red socks! 🥳🧦🔴
Ben your videos are done with such excellence and planning. Enjoy them. As an organist in the USA (Texas), I love your presentations.
Thank you, thank you for,opening a corner of my heart that’s did not know was there. You have made one old lady very happy and uplifted this morning.
@@jamfer43 Lovely comment 👍
Well done on your 100th film. Love seeing all the lovely old church’s and hearing their back ground stories
Your work, Ben, expresses an uncommon blend of reverence and exuberance-for the places, the ghosts, the poetry, the music, and the silences. Thank you!
Thanks for another inspirational time in old churches with old organs and great readings. This is a kind of thing if you ever would pull together an organ crawl as we call it here in the States you might be able to get a group of folks to make the trip over from the US or wherever to visit some of these special out of the way beautiful small churches. Every time I watch this program I continue to miss the great pipe organ that I have in my Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania since we are doing renovations in the sanctuary. Until then I have a fine Steinway piano as well as an historic reed organ that is mine that I use each Sunday for the Mass. You are a blessing each week!
I was thinking the same thing. Skip Stonehenge and tour old churches in Salisbury.with Ben. Last year I spent a month in London visiting churches in the area for Evensong just to hear choirs, pipe organs and ancient churches. What a lovely month for this California musician.
How fascinating! I can’t understand why a church, whose history is so important and interesting, and seemingly maintained, should have an unplayable organ. Let’s hope the visibility you give to these wonderful instruments will help address the issue.
@@Musician-Lee Organs are really really really really expensive to repair- if you can find someone who knows how. Most small churches can't afford that.
@@BigTomE12 Listening and watching Evensong can be a great pleasure, especially when it takes place in a large cathedral. It has a very traditional, slow, but meaningful pace, lovely music and pray. This might sound strange being said by a atheist, but these services can be extremely pleasant, calming and inspiring 🛐🎹🎶
@@PortsladeBySea yes I agree with you. My favorite was actually Canterbury cathedral as the music reverberated across the vast expanse of the building. Regardless of our beliefs, we seem to all have a spiritual place within us that is nurtured by the things Ben does for us each week.
100 and still going strong!
Its sad that so some many church organs have fallen in to disrepair, either due to a lack of funding, or that there is nobody who can play them.
I love visiting ancient churches and watching your superb videos. I am proud to support your work via Patreon.
Wearing bright red socks should become your trademark.
I look forward to watching your next 100 videos 🥳💒🎹
It is amazing what you can do with a lifeless pipe organ! But you certainly did well in the Finale, we so rarely hear that piece played in it's original form. Nice haircut Ben too!!
I am a church organist in New York, USA. That F# major chord near the end was a surprise. Even a little jarring. But in the best way. Brilliant and exciting! Love it, and I love your videos.
That was beautiful.
The organ is my favorite instrument. The music resonates in the soul in ways no other instrument does.
I, my daughter, my sister and her husband all play the organ. We encourage as many people to try playing it as we can.
At one time I had 2 full sized electric church organs and an ornate pump organ in my rather small living room. I loved playing them one after another for hours. When my lungs began to fail I could no longer sit up to play them, so we gave them away to people who also love organs and were thrilled to get them.
It hurts my heart to see these incredible pipe organs silenced. I am so glad you are doing so much to save them. To bring this music back into people's lives.
I cannot attend church anymore and I miss the organ music so much. Hearing you play, hearing so many different organs, it brings the reverberations back. It is a feeling like no other. A feeling, not just a sound.
A friend of mine is one of the few pipe organ techs around. Tuning and repairing pipe organs throughout America keep her working overtime. Saving as many of these incredible instruments with incredible history as possible.
Long live the pipe organs. Long live the organists who give them voice, to bring their acoustic waves into the hearts of all who hear them. To bring joy to our souls.
Thank you for your comments. I grieve with you your loss of abilities to continue playing. God bless you with wonderful memories.
A blessings on your youthful talented hands! Deepest gratitude for your dedication and provision of sights and sounds that lift my spirits and let me rejoice in the beauty that is England!
We all watch lots of content on CZcams, on every possible subject, but yours, Ben, is like the calm in the eye of a storm! Thank you for bringing to us at least a few moments of respect and reverence for these lovely old churches, and the people who are their history, and the musicians and their instruments who helped the people of God lift their voices in praise to the Almighty. May God bless you for the work that you do. That it entertains and delights us is a blessed by-product.....
Thank you once again, Ben, for an interval of peace and tranquility.
100 videos of sheer joy. Thank you so much. Congratulations. ❤
Again sublime and beautiful. Sunday now isn’t Sunday without your smiling face, humour, fascinating narrative and of course the music. I can’t believe it’s 100 videos and the first with a silent organ🤣🤣 bless you Ben, bless your work and for a few moments every week allowing me to escape the insanity of the world and to enter something ancient, eternal, peaceful and a balm to the soul 🙏🙏🙏 like with so many others of us that follow you, you are our special part of the week.
Many thanks!
I agree wholeheartedly. I faithfully look forward to each Sunday video, and I wait till my Sunday evening to watch, which is well into Monday in England, as I am in Idaho (USA). Ben's videos are to me a refresh button that brings me back to a place of refreshment and peace, a perfect mental space from which to launch my week.
The silent wedding march by Ben on a silent organ. Following you from Ghana, west Africa. There are a couple of Organs built by the British and Portuguese here, you would love to see.
You know who wears red socks too. William Christie, I just saw conducting Henry Purcell's Fairy Queen and he was wearing red socks.
Thank you for Pachebel's Canon. So sad to see an organ unable to sing. So sad to see such beautiful places of worship and peace unused. A place of peace standing there thoughout the years beckoning peace , tranquility and meaning to all rushing by. Wishing all a lovely week.
I have paused you for moment, Ben. I just walked by my husband, toting you around the house with me this Sunday afternoon. To my husband: "I'm on my organ tour. It makes my week." Thanks again. The cinematic effect achieved in the chancel was a success, spot on, and "too cool."
Hi Ben congratulations on all the videos. I really love watching all your videos and listening to the organs and seeing all the Churches that you visit. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🇿🇦
@@katydickson5547 Same here 👍
Ben, you and your music, poetry, scenery... and serene beauty are a most effective anxiety buster for me. I wish I could send you money.
Keep up the good work, Ben. Your mission is an important one. I am pleased that I witnessed the era of village organists seemingly in every church, with large four-part choirs belting out beloved hymns to declare the greatness of God in their local accents. Now this is as much part of the past as the memorials on the wall. It is sad to have lost so much - the deep and important meanings conveyed in so many hymns appears to be unfathomable to people of this century. The past, however, is alive in all of us and your channel reminds us of that. Sorry for such a rambling comment, but I just wanted to say that although I cannot donate to your work, I really appreciate what you do.
Great episode! I love the lockdown locks! And the expressive body language! And the red socks. Love it all.
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” -Aldous Huxley
Congratulations on your 100th video, Ben!
I love the quote. Thank you
❤
@@byteme0000 Great quotation 👍
Watching from New Zealand Ben. Your music and beautiful words are food for the soul. Thank you to Billy too.
Me too, I’m happy for Sunday to drag into Monday it makes the work week shorter.
The organist at my large Presbyterian church just used the L-W “Sortie” for his postlude just a month ago. And that’s on a IV manual, 94 rank Casavant organ from Montreal. Though I have two performance degrees in organ, I’m older and ill now so I am not playing regularly anywhere. But I do sing in the choir when I can be present. Wonderful to hear you playing that delightful piece! Nothing but the very best of wishes to you Ben.
Hello Ben! I was waiting for you to brighten up my Sunday here in Virginia. 💪🌞👍
That was lovely, Ben. Those choir stalls are pretty much the same as the ones in a previous church.
I often think about when I lived in England, I was more interested in socializing, than I was in investigating history. Now, I have to vicariously travel to ancient churches in your films, but you do such an excellent job of your videos that it’s easy to imagine myself there with you.
Thanks for letting me come along. Liz ❤
I love to watch your explanation of the history of English Churches and listen to you play the old Pipe Organs. Thank you for sharing.
Congratulations, Ben, on one hundred videos of pure joy, encompassing the most lovely music, beautiful poetry, fascinating history and glorious countryside. Who could ask for more? Long may they continue. Hopefully this sad organ may one day be restored to its former glory.
Some years ago a 'square grand' piano was donated to a local museum. Much excitement ensued as the poor fellow hired to tune it crawled out from underneath, sweating from his labors...job finished. It sounded beautiful but I couldn't help but wonder what would become of it. Would it only be played on occasion? The museum is only open part of the year and I doubt humidity/temperature control is in the budget. I had the same feeling while having to clear out my sister's home - huge Lowrey organ wanted by no one. Very sad.
You look quite handsome in your pinstripe suit! Love the hair!
Congratulations on your one hundredth episode. Thank you for providing so much enjoyment! We are thankful we found you.
Always pleased to watch what is now "must see" Sunday offerings of a truly gifted artist. This offering offers us viewers a poetic, reflective, & (ultimately) cheerful visual experience. How grateful I am to have your offerings on my "subscribe" list. Thank you for sharing!. This is Peter M; out!
More cheerfulness to come 😀
@@SalisburyOrganistczcams.com/video/lQot6SOW0lc/video.htmlsi=xT6UPS-LvhaTW8UQ
@@SalisburyOrganist The world needs more cheerfulness 👍😉👏
Love the true passion and reverence you have and show for what you do.
Ben, such a great video. I am so glad you are preserving the history of these UK churches, and their musical voices. Ben, you have accomplished so much in a young life. These recordings, these CZcams vids will always be appreciated. I hear what you are saying about these places. Thank God that we have you doing the work that you do. Well done.
Such an earnest young musician...so dedicated and lovely.
Congratulations on your 100th. May you have many more. Moving as always. Keeping you in prayer and Billy.
A thought provoking video, Ben. It is interesting to see your perspective of time - you describe the organ as "nearly a hundred years old". To some of us 1929 was a little more recent than we would like to admit! It is a puzzle that the church seems to have ringable bells, (although they appear to be rung as often as the organ is played), looking at the state of the sallies, but the organ is dead. Thank you for some organ music though.....
Congratulations on your 100th video 🎉 I noticed that, whatever mood I'm in at the beginning of your episode, by the end I always seem to have a very big smile on my face 😁. And for those 25 minutes all the cares of the world go away. Thank you Ben... Oh, and nice sox 😂
Glad it makes you happy. Makes me happy too!
@@SalisburyOrganist Ken Dodd, who was a famous British comedian from the city of Liverpool. He said that he was a Happiness Therapist, and that his job was to help to spread laughter and joy across the country. Ben is doing the same 🥳👏👍
Palestrina wrote some beautiful music I m a non conformist so don’t go the these churches other than to look at them sometimes we get to hear the organ played this is missing in many churches today with band of often poor quality I do love the old church music I hope that you are earning enough to keep doing this as it’s a real blessing
The Canon was played at our wedding now 31.5 years ago, though not with your panache. Thanks so much for your work. It allows all of us to 'turn off the switch' for 30 odd minutes each time you post. If you have the inclination, I would be interested in more discussing of your training at Oxford and what motivated you. Thank you.
Great tribute for a once working instrument, accompanying the voices of the said parish, just like prayers from days gone by. They stand with purpose, though past, but with seeds sown in many lives. Blessings BM.
Congratulations on your 100th episode, Ben! Your work just keeps getting better and better. Thank you for your vision and message for this channel!
I chanced on your video. Firstly i just loved your red socks don’t abandon them. I so enjoyed your organ playing. The story of the church and everything. I live at the bottom of the African continent and have visited and spent some time in the UK and visited Churches. There is something magical and other world in these old parish churches. One I particularly remember is the Church in Dedham. May you be blessed akways. 🌻
Ben....Congratulations & thank you SO much for 100 wonderful, uplifting & informative videos! As a church organist here in Maine & Massachusetts I really appreciate watching. That poor organ looks so sad....longing to sing again the praises of God....hopefully, it may get restored some day. Keep up this wonderful work that you enjoy doing (I have donated on PayPal) and thank you for the Canon in D - one of my favourites!
Safely received, and thank you so much for watching!!
Sending big appreciation for your lovely videos and your service to music. Warmest wishes from South Africa
Hi Ben, spouse and I drove from Scotland and round GB avoiding freeways and maxed out on rural England some years ago. So thank you from a couple of Australians for an additional walk around a Tudor garden and church which we missed ( undoubtedly amongst many more). The organists' practice on their instruments in the world's Christian countries is one of the greatest experiences a frequent traveller can experience. May a benefactor emerge to rescue this instrument and may your quest for many more prove fruitful. Pure sentiment from past breathtaking organ recitals urged me to subscribe with thanks.
Amazing video. I can feel your sadness about the dead organ 😢
Hello Ben, my house organ actually has a stop called wind. It is to turn on the wind, to switch it on…it’s kind of sad to see these instruments neglected… thank you for your work, giving them the well desserved attention! And i wish i could experience the smell of these churches … but i can imagine. All the best!
Older (pre 20th century) organs in Germany often had a drawstop knob called "Calcantenruf", which actuated a small bell to let the organ blower know it was time to start pumping again.
@@andrewprice4375 Thank you for this useful information!
I have just discovered your channel, what a joy! This is by far the most sensitively played version of Pachelbel's canon, in tempo and phrasing, that I've ever had the pleasure to hear. My wife and I loved it. Thank you so much.
Pachebel's Canon - YES! With an organ, even better. Also lament the silent organ and the empty church buildings. Thank you for sharing your talent and insight weekly.
Thank you Ben for another splendid presentation of history,people ,places and of course, the organ. Blessings !
I love my church but they pretty much really only sing praise and worship music with drums and guitar, so I look forward to Ben and his beautiful music to calm and fill my soul. Thank you Ben!
I am an 84 year old lifelong Roman Catholic and appreciate your love of, and attempts, to keep our beautiful organ music. Thank you Ben.
Dear Ben, Organist and Historian par excellence... Thank you for gracing our Sunday afternoon! It was a festival Sunday at our church today, Bishop was present; hymn concertos with congregation, choir, full organ, plus other instruments; praise and worship. In a couple moments of pause between three services, with a smile, I anticipated the quiet repose and refreshment of your video later on. Rather delicious contrast, the full organ filling every centimeter of space within the sanctuary and beyond, with the simple touch of my hands and feet... and a now silent organ which once filled its space with divine sound. Congratulations and blessings on 100 videos that bless so many! Donation made.
Safely received, and thanks for your beautiful comment here :)
Thank you Ben brilliant as always, love the long hair too 😊
Years ago, as a top-hat and tailed chimney sweep emitting the pleasant fragrance of wood soot, I left a church organist speechless when, with hands thoroughly washed, I played the fugue of Max Reger's monumental *Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme* Op 52, #2 . The home at which I had cleaned the chimbley was nearby and I stopped in athe church.
What a wonderful story.I can imagine that you did indeed leave him speechless.😂
Just the mention of the scent of wood smoke and soot and the visit of the Chimney sweep has brought back so many memories.
What a vital job you did and I am certain that you achieved it without leaving any mess behind.
I'm sure that you have many fascinating stories. Best Wishes from an old lady.
@@twpsy634 On top of the flue I placed a furnace squirrel cage blower pulling air up the chimbley. If anything unfortunate happened, like a brick falling out of the fireplace throat,he cloud of ash would go up the chimney instead of billowing out into the house.
Jana, my chimney *sweet* , pointed out a naked woman in her bedroom across the way. Told her I could not look because the woman was not being careless. She was not expecting anyone up on a roof in the dark who could look down into her top-floor apartment.
Lightning was always my greatest concern.
One time, as gray clouds approached, from me bristles (metal wire brush) I could hear static electricity (coronal discharge) coming off the sharp steel wires.
That was wonderful, I’m speechless.❤❤❤💐🌷🌻
🎉 Congratulations on 100 videos 🎉
I too appreciate those lovely little village churches and the lovely countryside. Thank you for your hard work.
Greetings from Chicagoland, IL ❤❤
Thank you ever so much ….your work is incredible . Your playing, videos and contemplative verses…..
We had the Lefebure Wely sortie as the recessional at our wedding! Lovely to see the Leckford church; we must stop there one day.
Very tastefully done. We mourn the loss of this organ as Thomas Hardy wrote of the loss of those small bands of church musicians that preceded the advent of the solo organist in local parishes. Now the greater mourning of people’s attendance at church full stop.
Well put, thanks.
Congratulations on your 100th video. And sincere thanks for Johann Pachelbel, Oliver Goldsmith, and the resounding thunder of the ages. Blessings.
You have a kind heart, a kind soul intellect to beat the band and you have such a handsome face. You bring us all so very much. I like the guy from Texas enjoy them and you.
The instrument is so perfectly, considerately integrated into the surroundings, unobtrusive yet utterly present - at the same time. Contrast so many others - thus, Manchester!!
I heartily congratulate you, dear Ben, on the 100th video! I haven't seen many of his films, but what I have seen is enough for me to praise and appreciate his persistent, creative, heart-warming, joy-bringing work. Organists deserve the highest recognition compared to other arts! I would never be capable of the skill, attention sharing, hand and foot technique that organists create. I participated in many organ concerts in Szeged Cathedral, Passau and other places. We didn't see the artists, only on the posters...Ben's videos bring the viewer close to the artist, the organ, he shows the space where he works. This is what makes Ben's short films unique, great and magical, as well as Ben's captivating performance and musical play. On Sunday evening, in the nearby 250-year-old St. Nicholas church, the father said this sentence in his sermon: "GOD EXISTS" Yes, he exists, we can experience it through our fellow human beings, if we are attentive. Dear Ben! Thank you very much for the beautiful Pachebels Canon! Best of all the performances I've heard so far! As a thank you for your 100 videos, I am sending you the Gregorian chant with love. May every day be beautiful and blessed! "Kyrie: Orbis Factor, medieval chant of the Graduel of Eleanor Brittany" / I'm sorry Ben - I wanted to re-edit my writing, but it was accidentally deleted by the translator. We sent a donation via bank because it was the fastest. You should have waited 7-8 days for Paypal registration../ Thank You! God bless you! 🌿🙏💥💕🌳
Bravo! There’s nothing like a rousing rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon (including The Piano Guys’ version, Rockelbel’s Canon.) How sad that such a lovely organ has fallen into disrepair, but your visit was still most enjoyable. Entering that church was amazing, as the noise from outside was silenced and the church became a respite from the rest of the world. Congrats on 100 episodes. Here’s to 100 more!
Best video yet Ben. Thank you. If I wasn't so far away I would offer to grab my tool bag and see if we could get the Organ going again.
It could be something so simple like the capacitor on the blower motor. They tend to burn out if you forget to lubricate the bearings regularly. It's heart breaking to see an organ neglected.
There's a good chance my grandfather worked on that instrument. He did his apprenticeship in Southampton.
Heres to another 100 videos! Please don't ever *'Stop'* filming. 🥂
Congratulations on your 100th video milestone 😊🎉 Enjoy your videos each Sunday!❤
Congratulations on your 100th video. Here is to many more Ben! Greetings from Eastern Canada. Never miss a video you put up.
Congratulations on the first 100🎉 and onward to many more as there are churches and organs!! Looking forward to them all. ❤
Ben, another enriching video! You always succeed in bringing an air of peace, tranquility, history and spiritual reflection even with a silent organ! Thank you from a grateful Irish priest, Fr. Noel.🇮🇪☘️
Dear Ben: Your videos get better and better and better all the time! Your calm voice and wonderfully authentic presence complement each location you visit. And you are a beautiful human being to boot - with an amazing head of shiny black hair. BE THANKFUL! BE THANKFUL! BE THANKFUL! ❤ Marc
You are my feel-great-on-Sunday CZcams video. Thank you once again!
An American from Indiana and a semi-musician. Thank you for sharing a beautiful piece of England's history with us.
Such tremendous history around you there. Thank you for your captivating and passionate presentations. So many folks nowadays ignore their heritage and surroundings in blind pursuit of materialism. Cheers and be well.
As always Ben an excellent informative video giving insight into the history and benefactors of these wonderful churches.
Who would have thought John Lewis donated so much.
Thanks again for all your expertise it’s beautiful and uplifting in everything you do.
Many congratulations on your 100th
Blessings from Scotland 🙏
I cam across this video by chance, surfing the CZcams. A class act, a rewarding experience. I am making a modest contribution as a token of my appreciation. Thank you.
Soo impressed and first time to listen the wedding march by Mendelsshon silently. I hope the local people rise a fund to restore the organ.
Thank you, brother! Be blessed!
Happy 100th! Congratulations! Thank you for giving love to the beautiful church and organ, even though the organ didn't work. I felt the atmosphere of the church in this video, and I felt the old organ, too. Thank you for sharing this with us, and thank you for another lovely video.
I like your style of narrating your video. Charming.
Thank you for finishing this with one of my favourite Organ pieces.🥰
Thank you for another wonderful and moving video Ben.
Hello Ben. I add my congratulations as well for your 100th presentation. A nice beginning to my 57th birthday on Wednesday this week. I love the Canon as well.
Greetings from Montreal.
Congratulations Ben, Thank you for 100 entertaining, interesting and most of all just beautiful organ music. Now let's see what the next 100 videos bring, how far we travel with you, what we learn and what you play !!!