Organic Bach

Yes, FOUR keyboards. On the beautiful 4-manual, 72-rank Ontko and Young sanctuary pipe organ. The console of this thing looks like the cockpit of a twin-engine airplane. Buttons everywhere. Some 32 foot pedals. And a multitude of walnut-colored keys. It’s a gem to look at and listen to.

Last night, Professor Gerhard Weinberger of Detmold, Germany played seven pieces: six by J.S. Bach and one by Franz Liszt (Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H). He began the first piece playing with foot pedals only—producing the slow, haunting bass tones most associated with the organ, especially at church services. After a few bars, however, Professor Weinberger departed from traditional church music and lept into the full range of Bach’s organ repertoire.

Gerhard Weinberger

This was the second evening of the Bach Festival of Charleston hosted by First Scots Presbyterian Church and Professor Weinberger demonstrated the pipe organ‘s range and versatility—from long, massive chords to delicate, fast finger work on all four keyboards. Here’s a sample recorded on my iPhone last night.