Nigel Ogden: The Organist Entertains - 13/05/2010

Virtuoso Organ On tonight's programme we're going to be hearing a selection of recordings which, for various reasons, could really be described as virtuoso performances - if you happen to be an organist yourself or, at least, have some idea about how the instrument is played, you'll already know that there's certainly a lot to think about when it comes to playing the organ. Not only is it a case of getting all the notes right - and we'll definitely be hearing a lot of those - it's also a case of controlling what can be a very powerful instrument, deciding which stops to use, changing the sounds as the music progresses and, of course, most importantly, mastering the essential co-ordination required between both hands and both feet. I've often thought that in order to be an organist, it wouldn't do any harm to have a talent for athletics or gymnastics before you start. Don't miss the 'look no hands' performance by Thomas Trotter of Sir George Thalben-Ball's Variations on a Theme of Paganini.