I can't take my eyes away from that beautiful statue of Our Lady on the top...

I'd love to see Jonathan Scott play this marvelous organ! So many colors, so many options, so much literature that fits the descript of this wonderful instrument.

Great idea to get these amazing organists to showcase their music on superb instruments. How lucky you are to have them play at your place. More please!!

Martin Baker Is just like a good wine which even over the years gets better ! His organ playing was faultless ! Well done to Richard Mcveigh for securing a first class player to inaugurate your new organ.

I love Martin Bakers version of the British National Anthem he played at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. Infact, the best versions I've ever heard. From being little at the time of 1997 at the age of around 10, and watching the funeral on TV, I always wanted to know who the organist was at Princess Diana's funeral, and used to search to see if he had the same scores available online, but could never find any. He was the one who gave me the interest in Organ playing actually, just because of those 2 songs he played. I became committed to learn and still learning! It wasn't until I founded The Official Diana Princess of Wales Memorial © that one of my members posted a funeral brochure of the late Princess, and I then saw his name now knowing who he is. He keeps the music simple with all of the dramatic and base tones all at the right moment. I even consider him better than Dianne Bish! Also Guide me o thou great redeemer is one of my favourites too that he played at Princess Diana's funeral too... Again, for all those same reasons. If you can get him to record and do a video playing the same versions again, I would be ever so grateful. I've just subscribed to his channel. Such an annointed God gifted talent ♥️

What an outstanding performance. The Sweelinck is the most musical I’ve heard, not just flying through the notes. Martin Baker is truly a giant in the organ world.

One word… fantastic!

Memorized performances are the best. Martin is completely connected to every note and phrase... so important in Bach! And relaxed... i never understand those who play so much with effort in their arms.. not necessary in my opinion. But the relaxed hand and wrist are evident here today. A master player!

Wow, this is a dream team in a living room. Need to put some decent headphones on before I listen to anymore. Thank you for making this happen!

What a magnificent instrument and expertly played in this great recital. Anyone who likes organ music will surely love this.

Thanks Martin for this supurb recital. You certainly made this new organ talk. Thanks to Richard for inviting Martin to play. Look fwd to hearing other organists brought to us by Richard.

Thank you so much to Martin Baker for this evenings recital. A wonderful choice of pieces and all brilliantly played. I especially enjoyed the 'seasonal' improvisation. The inaugural recital dream has now become a reality and I'm so glad to have been in the audience with the BiS family to witness it. 😀

Just reading through all the comments so far before I head off to 9 lessons and Carols tonight. Martin IS truly world class, and he is playing on a world class instrument in every respect. I thoroughly enjoyed all the registrations he employed throughout, but especially in the Bach. Lots of people are suggesting organists they’d like to hear. I’d like to hear James Lancelot, David Poulter, Ian Tracey, Simon Johnson, Colin Walsh, John Scott-Whiteley, Daniel Cook… and the list goes on. To be honest now you have this resource You could rightly ask any Cathedral Organist! Congratulations Richard for bringing your vision to life!

Absolutely thrilling! I'm speechless.

Such a lovely evening. Thank you 💐✨

Utterly fantastic and amazing, what a sound, my god it’s just stunning, stunning! BRAVO on such an incredible achievement 😀😀😀 Adrian in Bermuda. Organist of St Theresa’s RC Cathedral in Hamilton, Bermuda….

Thank you Martin Baker for a jaw-dropping performance to inaugurate the new BiS organ. Thank you Richard for your vision, determination, and passion that made this possible. Congratulations to all around. And a special word of congratulations to Martin Dyde who 20 years ago came up with the very idea of Hauptwerk. The future of the organ is so incredibly bright, as well it should be! I remain speechless, and so incredibly thankful to be alive at this moment in history! Bravo!!!

What a treat, Martin is pure virtuoso. You must have massive speakers to handle the sound. Thanks soo much Richard.

absolutely phenomenal playing these works flawlessly and from memory

This is a truly stunning recital from Martin Baker!! It's wonderful to see/hear musicians who play at such a high level! Also, I vote to add Gert Van Hoef to your list of recitalists.

The performance and instrument justify the introductory hype. This is world-beating stuff. You must also hear the same player/instrument in Widor 9th symphony - absolutely stunning experience.

Wow what an organist! His extreme musicality and skills amaze me……

A true feast for the ear and unbelievable to both watch and listen to. Martin, you are a star of organist stars …. Ye, you ARE brilliant. T!

Wonderful recital Martin. Richard, perfect choice for the inaugural guest recital on this spectacular organ.

Beautiful and amazing! Thank you for these "works of art" in music. Nothing beats praising the Lord when you do it in music. Blessings to you and yours during this Holy Season.

Absolutely wonderful! Thanks Martin and Richard for a beautiful program!

A truly fantastic inaugural recital! Thank you so much for bringing this world class music to us!

I particularly enjoyed the Widor 9th. From the opening chord you knew it was the CC at St. Ouen and if there was any doubt the Pedal Bombardes in the fourth movement erase all doubt! Richard you did it!!!

Ma rtin Baker is indeed a maestro

Absolutely awestruck! I've never heard Martin perform before so to have the opportunity of hearing him play would have be fantastic on it's own, but to be almost on the bench with him at this brilliant console is such a special thing. I couldn't be here for the live event but I'm about to make up for it by watching again immediately. Thank you Martin for such a great recital, and thank you Richard for making it possible. The sound, by the way, in my headphones had a brilliant soundscape. I could hear the natural and sharp sides separated in quite a lot or the concert.

Simply wonderful! Loved every minute and second of this recital. The Widor!! Wow indeed!! Kx.

Bravo. Great opening for our nes BiS organ. Good to see you again, Martin. Oh that sound, that sound, that sound. Blessings a round!!! T.

Beautiful performance Martin! I really admire the craftmanship of this organ. The wood tones shine so pretty in the light.

Fantastic! The Widor riveted me. Martin is truly an inspiration like Francis Jackson was for me when I was a schoolboy.

Enjoyed every second of this magnificent video

Listened late, and really enjoyed everything including his variations on a theme. He brought out everything the organ has without voiding the warranty. Suggestions for the future, Paul Fey and/or Jonathan Scott from the Scott Brothers Duo.

Wow! Totally outstanding. It's a dream of mine to perform Bach's Passacaglia in the future and Martin Baker's performance was an incredible inspiration!

What an amzing display of viruosity! The finale Improvisation blew my mind. What extraordinary talent! How jealous am I!!!!

Is there a better way to inaugurate an Organ? I doubt it... Bach Passacaglia expertly played. It is evident that Mr Baker feel absolutely at home playing this console - hence I guess the goal of such an endeavour is truly reached. Congrats Richard and BiS community for such an achievement.

The only live recital I manged to get to this year was the 'Battle of the Organs" at Selby Abbey, which featured Martin Baker and John Scott Whiteley. They were both fabulous and put the Hill Organ and the Viscount Regent Classic Skinner Organ through their paces. Martin was impressive live, and just watching him play the BiS Harrison and Harrison style console reinforced my first impression even more: he is just a phenomenal recitalist! Playing the Bach and Sweelinck from memory was amazing . . . and his improvisational skills are just stunning! Bravo to Martin - his performance was a very welcome early Christmas present.

Definitely headphone time! I have never heard so many notes in the Passacaglia. The registration is amazing. The playing isn't bad, either! What an amazing start to the concert career of "our" new console.

Wow! A truly fantastic performance indeed. I've been playing music for about 20 years now; studied piano for 6 years with an instructor and trained myself on the organ and I still find it mind boggling that some people are able to memorize complex and intricate pieces of music and play them effortlessly just like Mr. Baker did. Looking forward to your future performances Richard as well as those of your future guests!

Took the time to re-watch and revisit this awesome performance, and I am again astounded and amazed!! Remarkable! Especially the concluding improvisation. Thank you again for this Christmas Holiday Treat!

Wonderful idea Martin to get other organists to join in. !!!

Wow. That was a Special Christmas Treat. Martin played the works Marvelous.Looking forward in hearing this Beautiful Instrument in the future.You are a lucky gifted individual.

Beatifull

Thank you for the amazing recital. Superb! Every piece was wonderful. Thank you, again. I would love to hear Paul Jacobs. He is a wonderful person, down to earth, and a wonderful organist.

Awesome :) The Best person to inaugurate BIS organ

A brilliant recital and fitting start for this amazing organ. Looking forward to an organ-filled future!

Just loving this, as respite after a busy weekend! You must invite David Briggs or/and Wayne Marshall, of course!

Absolutely stunning performance

Blown away by this. So wonderful to see and hear Martin play the Widor 'Gothique' in its entirety here. The organ sounds truly magnificent. As for future organist suggestions, how about David Goode playing some big Reger piece; or Nathan Laube, Paul Jacobs or David Baskeyfield?

Absolutely Fantastic ! !

How amazing !!!

Good grief, Lord Richard! You've hit a homerun with Martin Baker on the BIS Concert Organ - WOW, just WOW! Now it is very necessary to get those new stops/drawknobs with new sounds as soon as possible. I can't bear to see those empty holes where the new stops should be. May God Almighty provide you with these so that your "musicizing" will honour the Creator of us all. Respectfully yours, Tikhon

This definitely refutes the deragatory uses of names for non-pipe instruments as "radios!"

Incredible. ❤️

"Beauty in sound" doesn't even begin to describe the heavenly music produced by the deft fingers and toes of organist par excellence, Martin Baker. A truly remarkable recital in so many different ways.. Yet even in this quite superb electronic showcase of a Hauptwerk virtual organ, no electronic substitute has yet been invented to usurp a human page turner's hand, or to auto-swipe an l.e.d screen! (27:40, 28:59, 30:10, et seqq.)

brilliant! wunderbar, danke! 🎄

Oh my!

Nothing can compare to the full-organ sound of a Cavaillé-Coll cathedral organ!

Wonderful concert. I'd love to see Andrew Wyatt. However I listen to him playing at Truro Cathedral most Sundays via livestream. Blessings.

Wonderful recital. I have not heard the Widor OS No 9 Op 70 Gothic before.. I will have to listen to that a few times to appreciate it I think. The Passacaglia was a fascinating take on Bach's early masterpiece, clearly influenced by Buxtehude's Passacaglia. There have been many Passacaglias but this one by Bach is by far the best. Always interesting to hear different organists take on it and their individual registrations. This was certainly very dynamic. Well played Martin and thanks Richard for hosting. Suggestions for guests would be Fraser Gartshore doing his thing, Anna Lapwood playing some Bach? I love Han's Andre Stamms Bach recordings on the Trost Organ in Waltershausen. Luciano Zecca has some great recordings of BWV 538 Dorica and Dubois Toccata. I have never seen mention of them visiting the UK though and invariably they tend to perform what they want anyway & don't take requests like you do Richard!

hi Richard -- a couple of questions: - is the sound we're hearing the sound from the speakers via microphones? Or is it via direct line feed from the Haupwerk computer? - is the old computer still runnning Haupwerk, or are you switched over to the new computer for this? Whatever the case - it is DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS - sight and sound. You have become the Lamborghini Veneno of the Hauptwerk community!

Amazing Organist on a par with Olivier Latry Photographic Memory as well - Heard him at Selby Abbey with John Scot Whiteley - - .Perhaps Loakes Shoe Firm could provide him with some decent Organ Shoes John W

Good direction

Echoing a few others, I too would love to see David Briggs, Gerard Brooks, Jonathan Scott and Wayne Marshall, and as an international twist, Yves Castanet, Thomas Ospital, Ben van Oosten and Vincent Dubois. All the biggest names, but maybe also that upcoming star, Jacob Allinson, who is only the second best organist on his street 😅

I knew it was going to be good but Heck!! If I may make a suggestion for the future see if you can invite Sebastian Heindl over in 2022.

will we see Jonathan Scott at some point?

Richard: How is your organ able to 'become' the Cavaille-Coll of St Ouen, Rouen? This is maybe a dumb question. Do you buy software containing the St Ouen sound?

Fantastic , what is the name of the first piece Martin is playing of Bach please ?

organists to play in the future? James Lancelot most defiantly and Keith Hearnshaw

Glorious What is the name of the first bit of Bach he is playing please ?

There must be a shoes off policy for this virtual instrument.

I would use Mrs. Diane Bish, Xavier Varnus, and Olivier Latry.

What is the first piece of Bach he is playing here please.?

Richard. What are the blank stops on your organ? Can you add more voices on then over time?

You still have many stops that need to be activated. How much does it cost a stop to activate?

One of my wildest goals in life is to own a custom one like this organ

Does Martin make Ejector Seats on the side perchance?

Dramatic

Olivier Latry

I'd love to see Daniel Roth or Ken Cowan...or Carolyn Craig who is an organ scholar at Westminster ..she's a member of my Church in Tennessee