Organist Idenstam - Licence to dance

A portrait of the organist Gunnar Idenstam

A unique opportunity to watch concert organist Gunnar Idenstam in action! The film is mainly a live recording from a concert in Stockholm Concert Hall on October 4, 2014, celebrating the prize of 'Interpreter of the Year' given to Idenstam by the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. Music by Max Reger, excerpts from Idenstam´s transcriptions of La mer by Claude Debussy, Ravel´s La valse, and the famous Bolero by Maurice Ravel. You will also hear Toccata V from the CD Metal Angel.

Richard McVeigh plays the world’s biggest Hauptwerk Organ

Beauty in Sound

In this film, Richard McVeigh presents works by Bach, Duruflé and Willan on the organ of the Church of St. Martin in Dudelange - but he is not sitting at the console of this largest and most important organ in Luxembourg, but at the console of his Hauptwerk organ in his home studio in the UK. A sample set and cleverly programmed software copies and produces the sound of every single stop of the Stahlhuth organ of Dudelange - and not only of this instrument. On his Hauptwerk organ, the largest in the world, Richard McVeigh celebrates "Beauty in Sound"!

SPECIAL: Dona nobis pacem - Give us Peace

Organ Music in Kyiv with Olga Dmytrenko

This film shows excerpts from concerts of one of the most important representatives of Ukrainian organ music, Olga Dmytrenko, recorded in 2020. Kiev is Munich's twin city, and so it was a concern of the IOOF (whose heart beats in Munich) from the very beginning of the planning to deepen the manifold contacts of both cities also in the field of organ music. This is even more true today, in April 2022! Music speaks with a universal language, therefore it must not remain silent especially now.

Xaver Varnus - The Organ Virtuoso Who Made Every Organist's Dream Come True

Xaver Varnus has done a lot for the dissemination of organ music, among other things with music programmes for Hungarian television and his own Youtube channel, whose videos are clicked on millions of times. He moderates his concerts himself and in this way opens up an intensive listening experience for the audience. In this film, Xaver plays the Casavant organ in his private auditorium, a former church in the eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

now available! SPECIAL: Power Women in the Organ World

Shin-Young Lee - Chelsea Chen - Zuzana Ferjenćíková

The professional environment in the organ field is still complicated for women, especially in Germany, where there are only about 2 of 36 organ professorship occupied by a woman. Many young women are among the students, but only a a small number of these excellently trained female organists find permanent permanent employment in well-paid jobs in churches and teaching institutes. In this film presents four female virtuosos who, in spite of all the difficulties their way in the organ world: successful, fascinating and inspiring! inspiring! They are Shin-Young Lee (Paris), Zuzana Ferjenčíková (Rotterdam) and Chelsea Chen (USA/Switzerland).

This film is supported by Mariann Steegmann Foundation (MSF).

Olivier Latry - from Paris, France

A visit to Paris

In this film with and about Olivier Latry, the titular organist of Notre-Dame welcomes us for an interview in front of the famous cathedral of Paris, which is currently being restored after the fire. We also experience Latry as a performer, at the organ of the Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois church right next to the Louvre. And finally, we follow Latry in his capacity as organ professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur and get to experience his teaching.

The Impro Organ Challenge

Zuzana Ferjenćíková and László Fassang. A friendly duel to the last breath, celebrating the 30 editions of Bergamo International OrganFestival.

Two organ personalities, Zuzana Ferjenćíková and László Fassang, proven masters in improvisation, who meet in musical competition and both get the same themes, improvise on it, react and discuss it with tones. This promises to be a highly exciting performance! Presented by the Festival Organistico Internazionale “Città di Bergamo”.

Bachfest - Prelude, pipes and pedals

Organ music from Bach's festival churches

Prelude, pipes and pedals: Immerse yourself with us in a breathtaking world of sound and listen to the legacy of the greatest organ genius in history: Johann Sebastian Bach. The renowned Bach scholar and artistic director of the Leipzig Bach Festival Prof. Dr. Michael Maul has compiled organ highlights from past Bach Festivals for you. With a view to this year's Bach Festival "BACH - We Are Family" in June 2022, he shows why there is no way around Leipzig for music and organ lovers: Bach lived and worked here, and his spirit can still be felt in the churches - pure goosebump moments when the organs in St Thomas' and St Nicholas' churches resound and the church vault trembles.

Cathedral of Cologne

- with Winfried Bönig

The gigantic Cologne Cathedral is one of Germany's most recognised landmarks. In it we find the Klais organs, parade instruments from this renowned workshop. Added to this is the cathedral organist Winfried Bönig, who combines space, organ sound and a selected program with Bach, Vierne among others, to form an impressive whole.

This film is supported by F. Victor Rolff-Stiftung

Vienna St. Stephen's Cathedral

- with Konstantin Reymaier

Vienna is the epitome of a city of music. Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and many other composers have lived and worked in this city. Surely they have all been to Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral, where the current cathedral organist, Konstantin Reymaier, has one of the largest church organs in the world. The so-called "giant organ" on the west gallery is, however, only one of a total of four instruments that can be heard in liturgy and concert in St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Cathedral of Milan - La Révolte des Orgues

Johannes Skudlik conducts 9 Organists

Jean Guillou's composition "La Révolte des Orgues" for nine organs and percussion in Milan Cathedral! For this, the four existing organ works are joined by another five modules of the new mobile pipe organ "Wanderer", conceived by Paolo Oreni, who here also takes over the virtuoso part at the main organ. At the first 13 performances of this singular work, the "Maître" always played himself. Each time, dedicatee Johannes Skudlik was at the podium, who, like Guillou, understands the work as genuinely European. Bach, Cochereau and a double improvisation complete the concert program.

Martin Baker at Buckfast Abbey

Bach, Improvisation and English music performed at Buckfast Abbey, Devon, UK.

Martin Baker personifies the tradition of English cathedral music like no other. As organist and choirmaster, he has held prestigious positions, improvising his audiences to heavenly heights, and doing so with a musical twinkle in his eye. At Buckfast Abbey, whose Ruffatti organ he inaugurated in concert in 2018, he presents an all-British program - with the exception of Bach's immortal "Chaconne" for solo violin, which is heard in an organ arrangement.
This concert film is sponsored by Fratelli Ruffatti Pipe Organ Builders: https://ruffatti.com/en/

Los Angeles - World's largest Church Organ

- with Christoph Bull

The large organ of the First Congregational Church is one of the largest organs in the world with over 18,000 pipes and is sounded every Sunday by Dr Christoph Bull. The music programme is as diverse as the congregation. Christoph Bull changes styles and genres in a somnambulistic way. Let him surprise you with what he serves up! Hollywood is not far away...

Beijing - National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) - with Fanxiu Shen

The largest organ in China

Prof. Fanxiu Shen is a bridge builder between East and West for the art of the organ and a music mediator of the first rank for young organists. - generation in China. She herself was trained in Vienna, among other places, and is constantly on the road in Europe as a concert virtuoso. In film she plays in the concert hall of the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing organ music from two cultures: At among others a a prelude e - minor by Nikolaus Bruhns and a folk piece from China - 'Teapicking Girls catching Butterflies' in an arrangement by Fuan Liu.

Taiwan - The Largest Concert Organ in Asia

National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) with Prof. Hsin-Hung Liu

Prof. Hsin - Hung Liu from the oldest college in Taiwan (Tainan Theological College and Seminary) plays the biggest concert organ in Asia at the WeiWuYing Center in Taiwan. The film program is tailored to the huge twin organ, combining traditional and modern musical styles. A new orchestral work composed by I - Yu Wang, combining the organ with oriental instruments such as the sheng and the indigenous mouth organ, will be conducted by the director of the WWY, Wen - Pin Chien. This is where West and East meet . The Taiwanese folk tune "white magnolia" is combined with " Edelweiss" for world peace. Bach's famous Toccata in D minor is intertwined with a Taiwanese folk melody and a short passage from Max Reger to link Taiwan to IOOF in Germany.

Vicenza - Wayne Marshall at Europe's Oldest Theater

An Evening at Teatro Olimpico

Wayne Marshall as a spectacularly performing soloist with Poulenc, as a Bach interpreter and improviser... A transportable modular pipe organ, presented as a world novelty to the astonished organ world... and on the stage of the world cultural heritage "Teatro Olimpico" from 1585. All this makes the concert recording from Vicenza a singular event.

Zaryadye Hall - Moscow's beautiful new venue

- with Alexander Fiseisky

Alexander Fiseisky has played many unique organs in spectacular cathedrals and concert halls during his long concert life. Nevertheless, a performance in Moscow's ultra-modern Zaryadye Hall with its new Mühleisen organ might be a highlight even for him. Here he presents a Russian programme with original organ works and transcriptions by Glinka, Odojewskij, Shostakovich and the grande dame of Russian music, Sofia Gubaidulina.

Meyerson Symphony Hall with Stephen Tharp

Presented by C.B. Fisk: The Herman W. & Sons; Amelia H. Lay Family Concert Organ

Stephen Tharp is constantly on the road, touring for concerts, masterclasses, or other activities in his organ universe. He has played many the most important organs in the USA and Europe, both in concert halls and cathedrals. Look forward to Stephen Tharp's scintillating encounter with the Herman W. &Sons; Amelia H. Lay Family Concert Organ, the much-lauded C.B.Fisk organ at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas!

Korea - Dong-Ill Shin

- at LOTTE Concert Hall

Dong-ill Shin received a well-rounded education on piano and organ in Seoul before continuing his studies in France. In Chartres, he won the very prestigious competition, as well as in St. Albans. He knows the traditional western organ very well. However, in South Korea he dedicates himself but also to the connection with traditional Korean music.
This Film is supported by Rieger Pipe Organ Builders: https://www.rieger-orgelbau.com/?lang=en

SPECIAL: The Bavarian organ landscape - Part 2

100% Discount Code for 0€: bayern-100

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The Bavarian organ landscape is as diverse and charming as the Free State itself. There are the large cathedrals of the Bavarian dioceses with magnificent new instruments. And then there is a multitude of medium-sized towns whose civic pride is reflected in opulently decorated churches and ambitious organ buildings.
1st Middle Franconia - Ansbach - Carl Friedrich Meyer - organ and percussion
2nd Swabia - Augsburg - Peter Bader
3rd Upper Bavaria - Altötting - Stephan Thinnes
4rth Bavaria - Munich
"The Bavarian organ landscape" is supported by Kulturfond Bayern Kunst und das Bayrisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst

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Special Dresden

Frauenkirche - Hofkirche - Kulturpalast - Kreuzkirche in Dresden, Germany

Dresden has been a city of music since the Baroque era. J.S. Bach was awarded the title of Court Composer by the Electoral Court in Dresden in 1736 (although he was active in Leipzig), which underlines Dresden's reputation as a city of music. In our film portrait, the performers will introduce us to, among other things, organ works by composers who have lived and worked in Dresden. The magnificent church buildings of the city on the Elbe are home to valuable organs of their own. For example, the Silbermann organ in the Hofkirche! Follow us to this heritage of past organ building, but also to the famous Frauenkirche and the Kreuzkirche (with its excellent boys choir). In addition, we are guests in Dresden's Kulturpalast with its modern concert organ from 2017.

SPECIAL Munich

Organ metropolis Munich, Germany

Munich is rich in impressive churches, outstanding organs, as well as ambitious musicians and ensembles. Our Munich film presents only a small part of this great wealth. Included are the oldest and the newest churches in Munich as well as the most interesting instruments! In addition, the Bach Choir and Bach Orchestra will feature, two ensembles which for decades have contributed to the excellent reputation of the music city of Munich. And finally, a brilliant work for organ and percussion from the pen of Enjott Schneider is to the creative spirit of the metropolis on the Isar. Welcome to Munich! Konzertpatenschaft: Waldkircher Orgelstiftung und Deutschen Orgelstraße www.deutsche-orgelstrasse.de

SPECIAL: The Bavarian organ landscape - Part 1

100% Discount Code for 0€: bayern-100

!100% Discount Code for 0,00€: bayern-100 The Bavarian organ landscape is as diverse and charming as the Free State itself. There are the large cathedrals of the Bavarian dioceses with magnificent new instruments. And then there is a multitude of medium-sized towns whose civic pride is reflected in opulently decorated churches and ambitious organ buildings. 
1st Lower Franconia - Würzburg - Stefan Schmidt
2nd Upper Palatinate - Regensburg - Franz Josef Stoiber
3rd Upper Franconia - Bayreuth - Michael Dorn
4th Lower Bavaria - Landshut - Jeni Böhm
"The Bavarian organ landscape" is supported by Kulturfond Bayern Kunst und das Bayrisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst

!100% Discount Code for 0,00€: bayern-100

Tokyo-Japan SPECIAL - with Kensuke Ohira

Japan in Deutschland in Japan

Kensuke Ohira won the International Organ Week Nuremberg (ION) competition in 2016 and has since been a sought-after concert performer throughout Europe, as well as in his native Japan. In this film he shows a cross-section of his repertoire, performing one work by J. S. Bach and 4 Japanese organ works in St. Mary's (Mascioni organ), Salamanca Hall (Tsuji organ) and Tsukuba Gakuen Church (Mitsuhasi organ) in Tokyo.

SPECIAL: US Composers - Philip Glass, John Adams, George C. Baker

A celebration of contemporary US music for organ

This very special film is dedicated to contemporary U.S. composers who, with their different styles, have each become pioneers in their own right. The film features music by Philip Glass (*1937) and John Adams (*1947). There will also be music by George Baker (*1951) from Dallas, the first organist in the organist in the USA to record the complete organ works of Bach. The organ sound of these three composers has a very special charm, especially when such prominent organists sit at the console as: Mark Steinbach from the Brown University, Stephen Tharp and Paul Jacobs, students from the Juilliard School!

Mount Everest ANTON BRUCKNER

- A musical mountain climb with Hansjörg Albrecht

Anton Bruckner was one of the greatest organ virtuosos of his time and an outstanding improviser, but he left hardly any original works for the organ. His passion was the symphony, and many themes for it are said to have occurred to him at the organ. What could be more natural than to transfer Bruckner's grandiose symphonic creations to the organ? Hansjörg Albrecht began in 2020 with the complete recording of all Bruckner symphonies as organ transcriptions, at Bruckner's places of activity and other original locations.

Thomas Heywood - Beethoven’s Eroica

Melbourne Town Hall Grand Concert Organ

Curtain up for Beethoven and Thomas Heywood! In this film, Beethoven's "Eroica," Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, receives its world premiere as an organ work. Since 2020 (Beethoven's 250th birthday), Australian organist Thomas Heywood has been busy transcribing all nine of Beethoven's symphonies in their entirety for the organ, recording them and presenting them in concert. By 2027 (200th anniversary of his death) he wants to be finished.

Birmingham: Creating the next generation of organists!

Life inside The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire organ department, UK

The film about the organ department at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire offers a glimpse behind the scenes of this highly acclaimed British educational institution. Meet the directors and students and enjoy some beautiful music! Daniel Moult, "Head of Organ Studies", plays Bach's Prelude and Fugue BWV 539, on the Silbermann organ in the Marienkirche in Saxon Rötha. Works by Duruflé, Widor, Bach BWV 655 and an excerpt of a "Rosary Sonata" for violin and organ by H.I.F. Biber will be performed by students of the conservatoire - at different venues and organs.

El Sistema (VENEZUELA) - Munich Conservatory

The Organ in the National System of Youth and Children ́s orchestras and choirs of Venezuela and organ education in Munich

Two continents, two organ training courses - BAYLAT makes it possible! BAYLAT is a state initiative from Bavaria that promotes initiates and promotes university cooperation between Bavarian and Latin American educational institutions. With its help, the IOOF is establishing contacts with the state music promotion programme "El sistema" (Fundación del Estado para el Sistema de Orquesta Juvenil e Infantil de Venezuela) in Venezuela. And so in this film, organs resound on both sides of the Atlantic, in Munich and Caracas exciting new musical combination for which all the stops are pulled out!

Pretoria University

- with Theo van Wyk

Talking to Theo van Wyk, Associate Professor of organ at the University of Pretoria, one senses a huge spirit of optimism blowing through the musical landscapes in the south of the African continent. Van Wyk plays a selected program for the IOOF on the Rieger organ in the Chapel of the University of Pretoria, and represents the music of the South African states of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia.

The Juilliard School Organ Department presents ...

- with Paul Jacobs

The Juillard School in New York is one of the most important performing arts training institutions in the world, and its organ department is headed by Paul Jacobs, a personality who was described in the New Yorker as "one of the leading musicians of our time." In this film, Paul Jacobs takes us to the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola and to Paul Hall at Juilliard, where he and some of the students in the organ class present us with an eclectic program.

Amsterdam Orgelpark - LIQUID plus tutorial

Watch composer Jacob Lekkerkerker draw a graphic score of his composition LIQUID in real time

Composer Jacob Lekkerkerker takes us inside his composition LIQUID. Part 1 shows him finishing a graphic score of the piece in real time. Part 2 is an online tutorial highlighting contemporary techniques for composing, using Apple's Logic Pro and samples from hyperorgan at the Orgelpark in Amsterdam. ● The concert and cultural centre "Orgelpark" is located in a former church, the "Parkkerk" at the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. The 1916-1918 building with its surrounding gallery served as a Protestant church until 1994. The Sauer organ, installed there in 1922, is still there today, but in the meantime, other organs have been on all sides of the gallery. Visually, the room is a delight with its warm colourfulness and select art deco ambience, while the clear acoustics enthuse the visitors at concerts.

The Organ Symphony

Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory

Moscow State Conservatory presents a documentary film "Te Organ Symphony" dedicated to the historical organ of the Great Hall of the Conservatory — the last creation of the great French master, Aristide Cavaille-Coll. One of the oldest and largest organs in Russia was built in 1899 and first sounded in 1900 at the Exhibition Universelle in Paris, where he won a Gold medal and the Grand Prix. After that, the instrument was transported to Moscow and installed in the newly-built Great Hall. In 2014-2016, a large-scale restoration of the organ took place at the Moscow Conservatory. The film crew recorded all the most important and revealing moments: Dismantling, removal of organ mechanics parts, fixing facade pipes etc. Filming of the restoration of such a large and significant organ was carried out in Russia for the first time. The film created on the basis of these videos is an experimental genre hybrid — a combination of documentary and musical films with elements of video art. The historical chronicle and episodes of the restoration mixed with musical episodes composed specifically for this project. The creators try to present an emotional artistic view on the instrument and its history. They want to show the organ as an amazing living creature that can breathe, sleep, suffer and, of course, talk to the audience.

US BUNDLE - Bundle of 3 films

Stars & Pipes

The US Bundle includes films dedicated to American composers, among others. Prominent organists at the console, Mark Steinbach and Paul Jacobs, perform the music of Philip Glass, John Adams and George Baker. Experience Stephen Tharp in one of the finest concert halls in the world, the Meyerson Symphony Center Dallas. Hear Christoph Bull move between styles and genres on one of the world's greatest organs at First Congregational Church.

BUNDLE ASIA - Bundle of 3 films

When the West meets the East

The Bundle Asia combines traditions from the Western and Eastern musical heritage. Listen as Prof. Hsin-Hung Liu performs Bach's Toccata in D and Taiwanese folk melodies on Asia's largest concert organ. Japanese organist Kensuke Ohira presents a cross-section of his repertoire by performing a work by Bach and Japanese organ works at various venues in Tokyo. Being an expert on the traditional western organ, Dong-ill Shin devotes himself also to the traditional music of his homeland Korea.

RULE, BRITANNIA! - Bundle of 3 films

A tribute to King Charles' coronation

The recent coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla as King and Queen of the United Kingdom inspired us to create a film bundle that is in many ways connected to the British organ music landscape. You'll hear Martin Baker at Buckfast Abbey presenting an all-British program - with the exception of Bach's immortal "Chaconne" in an organ version. On his Hauptwerk organ, the largest in the world, Richard McVeigh celebrates "Beauty in Sound" and presents sophisticated programmed software that copies and creates the sound of every stop on an organ. Take a peek into the life of the organ department at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and hear the director of organ studies, Daniel Moult, and students perform works by Duruflé, Widor, Bach, and H.I.F. Biber in a variety of venues and organs.

FUTURISTIC BUNDLE - Bundle of 3 films

Organ music in a whole new dimension

This specially selected Bundle includes 3 films: Richard McVeigh's film Beauty in Sound presents sophisticated programmed software that copies and creates the sound of each stop of the Stahlhuth organ in Dudelange. In the film Amsterdam Orgelpark you will see how composer and organist Jacob Lekkerkerker creates a graphic score of his composition LIQUID in real time. The Impro Organ Challenge is a highly exciting, friendly duel between the proven masters of improvisation, Zuzana Ferjenćíková and László Fassang.

ITALIAN BUNDLE - Bundle of 3 films

A musical tour through some of Italy's architectural wonders

In this Italian heritage-inspired film package, you can hear Jean Guillou’s “La Révolte des Orgues” for nine organs and percussion in Milan Cathedral! You will experience the transportable modular pipe organ in Vicenza, presented as a world first to the astonished organ world on the stage of the “Teatro Olimpico” from 1585. From Bergamo Cathedral you will listen to on of the finest improvisators on the European scene: Zuzana Ferjenčíková.

SYMPHONIC BUNDLE - Bundle of 3 films

When the organ becomes a grandiose symphony orchestra

With this bundle you can listen to powerful symphonic works by Beethoven and Bruckner, specially transcribed for the organ, as well as the „Toccata“ from Fifth Symphony by Charles-Marie Widor, "Symphony for Organ" by Denis Pisarevsky and his other works. Enjoy and listen to 3 exceptional organists: Thomas Heywood (Australia), Hansjörg Albrecht (Germany) and Konstantin Volostnov (Russia).

BUNDLE OF 3 FILMS - Power Women

5 Exceptional Female Organists: Fanxiu Shen - Shin-Young Lee - Chelsea Chen - Zuzana Ferjenćíková - Olga Dmitrenko

In this bundle you'll find 3 films - Special: Dona nobis pacem, Special: Power Women in the Organ World and Beijing: National Centre for the performing arts. Enjoy and listen to 5 exceptional female organists from 5 different countries: Fanxiu Shen (China), Shin-Young Lee (France), Chelsea Chen (USA), Zuzana Ferjenćíková (Slovakia) and Olga Dmitrenko (Ukraine),.