Amazing Grace Pipe Organ Improvisation Gerre Hancock

ewokmusic Says:

Aug 27, 2010 - this is BEAUTIFUL improvisation...even in the opening 2mins,,u can hear BEAUTIFUL harmonisation and modulations!!!EXCELLENT!! HALLELULIA...

warriors1369 Says:

Nov 27, 2010 - @muslador21 This guy sucks!!! I fell asleep listening to him.

royjaneann Says:

Jan 27, 2011 - Para Rosapon2007:El órgano está en la Iglesia Anglicana (Episcopal) de San Tomás en la ciudad de Nueva York. Tiene 4 teclados y 150 tanto registros. Gerre fue mi primer profesor de órgano y quedo atónito cuando improvise. Ahora vive él y su señora, también organista, en Austin en el estado de Texas. Si tiene otras preguntas y lo puedo servir, que me escriba en royjaneann@hotmail.com.Roy

trompettechamade1 Says:

Jan 31, 2011 - Not all organ music need be loud or bombastic. Some of the best moments are when one is in a large church or cathedral and the organist is playing softly with a soft, purring 32' Subbasse or Contra Violon supporting it all, as in this piece.

32pedalnotes Says:

Mar 11, 2011 - Beautiful. There's nothing like the standards in the hands of a master. A good cathedral room like that with and orchestral instrument like that must be most inspiring. Mr. Hancock has used the full tonal resources of the organ and every inch of that cathedral's space. GENIO! BRAVO!

helloitsmelol097 Says:

Apr 12, 2011 - I can definately agree with that. Nothing like hearing a song with a good 32 and every once in a while a nice loud song is good to remind you to what makes an organ unique

trompettechamade1 Says:

May 18, 2011 - I agree. Of course, I did not mean to imply that I was against loud organ music; I love it too, as much as anyone else. The sound of a loud organ fanfare stop, or a massive full organ playing in a large space is a thrill that cannot be anwhere else! I also appreciate the quite, reflective moments. I just love great organs in great spaces. We have 2 of them in D.C., and I love them both.

helloitsmelol097 Says:

May 18, 2011 - I'm amazed at some of the organ videos on here and wish I could go and play some of the organs. Even though I want to I'm pretty happy with the organ that I get to play sometimes. It has 3600 pipes and will either shake the church that it's in or will cause you to go deaf from playing the tuba mirabilis which are only around 30 feet away from the console lol. This makes it very interesting if you want to play a super loud reed which I RARELY play something that ear breaking

trompettechamade1 Says:

May 24, 2011 - I gree, except that I bombed out of piano because I cannot follow two staffs of music simultaneously, let alone 3! I also cannot coordinate both hands to play independently of each other, so I am resigned to only listen to organ music, not create it. If someone writes a one-handed piece of organ music + pedal, sign me on!

helloitsmelol097 Says:

Jun 2, 2011 - I've gotten okay with pedals but not so good at reading organ music still... and there are some easy organ pieces like the one i'm doing for a recital it's "What Wonderous love is this" it's an easy arrangement not too much pedal but it sounds nice and with oboe or trumpet reed it's amazing. I'll try to post it If I don't forget my camera next time I go and play the organ.

09WestTexas Says:

Jun 28, 2011 - Beautiful!!!

trompettechamade1 Says:

Jul 10, 2011 - The 32' Subbass stop has a solid fundamental. Couple that with its extremely low frequency, and it will literally cause some things to vibrate. Many years ago, a reviewer of louspeakers commented on their ow bass capability by saying "the organ pipes sound real, like massive shuddering columns of air." The first time I heard one, I thought it was rising up from the very foundations of the Cthedral!

helloitsmelol097 Says:

Jul 11, 2011 - Turns out the stop is a 32' Sub Bourdan but I was close. and that's a good summing up of why an organ is so unique :) I get to play for tourists a lot of time when I play and even though they aren't allowed to come up to the organ loft a lot of them hear the organ quitely while they are taking a tour. I only wish they could hear what the organ is really capable of. Not full organ alone but all the different sounds it has to offer.

trompettechamade1 Says:

Jul 12, 2011 - You're right, of course, the Sub Bourdon is another flute stop. When you're playing for tourists, try using some of the soft solo voices your organ may have, such as a clarinet, flauto mirabilis or orchestral flute, a soft trumpet or French Horn, oboe (hautbois), a string type stop (a viole celeste sounds wonderful) in the melody, some foundations for accompaniment, and using some pedal flues, including the 32' Sub Bourdon for support. I guarantee they'll love it!

helloitsmelol097 Says:

Jul 18, 2011 - there are only about 4-5 really soft stops and they're so soft that a 16 is by almost over the other stops depending on how soft i play but it sounds amazing a lot of tourists say how much they loved hearing it but I've never had a tourist that asked what the organ could actually do :)

trompettechamade1 Says:

Jul 21, 2011 - Try this then: play "the world's longestcrescendo" (Ravel's "Bolero") starting out softly and ending up wih full organ. Then they will hear what your organ can do! It has been transcribed for organ (by Lenmare, I think) and should be available either for downloading or purchase.

helloitsmelol097 Says:

Jul 24, 2011 - just listened to it on piano and wow is all i can say.lol

trompettechamade1 Says:

Jul 25, 2011 - Are you familiar with the orchestral version? It could give you some ideas concerning registration/orchestration.

helloitsmelol097 Says:

Jul 27, 2011 - no i havn't heard it i'll listen to it.

TheMysticalOrgan Says:

Jan 21, 2012 - Gerre Hancock has died age 77. He was to give a recital today at the Catholic Cathedral, St Louis, MO, but pulled out Thursday due to unforeseen medical issues. He had a heart attack Friday and died Saturday. Condolences to his family; let us reflect on the passing of a genius. Requiem aeternam dona eis domine et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescat in pacem. Ait illi dominus eius: Euge serve bone, et fidelis quia super pauca fuisti fidelis, super multa te constituam, intra in gaudium domini tui.

jontaitaustin Says:

Jan 22, 2012 - RIP Uncle Gerre

cf2009utube Says:

Jan 22, 2012 - The church music world (and the world at large) has lost a legend. RIP, Dr. Hancock, thank you for all the beautiful music.

billiondollarpips Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - RIP Gerre Hancock the world will miss a great musician

structset Says:

Apr 22, 2012 - I remember listening to Dr. Hancock at Christ Church in Cincinnati in the late 1960's. He was the organist there and pipe organ instructor at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music before he moved to New York. I was in grade school at the time. I think he is the best pipe organist I've ever heard...