Daz,
Glad to hear your Dad is doing better...we knew he would be.
Excellent thoughts on the Hammond / Leslie experience. I have that same
feeling every time I fire up one of my Hammonds. Never had quite that same
effect from any other organs, or instruments before. The closest I've come
was playing the piano in a small cathedral with excellent accoustics. My
wife and I got married there. They have an absolutely awesome 1900 pipe
organ up in the nave, too. It's got a very transparent, Baroque sound.
BCV-KG
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-----Original Message-----
From: daz [mailto:daz395@...]
Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2002 5:36 PM
To: hammond_zone@...
Subject: RE: [hammond_zone] BBC Radio 4
Hi Darren,
I think that you would need to explain that it is not just the swirling
'sound', but also the 'feeling' that is transmitted.... it is an overall
captivation of your senses, which in turn sucks you into the
music. If you
listen to this tune played on any other instrument it just does not 'grab'
you in the same way... it just HAS to be a played on a tonewheel Hammond.
If it is played on anything else it doesn't breath life into the
music, the
Hammond/Leslie combination is alive, by that, I mean it animates
the music.
The sound 'moves' around, it is like a living thing, the tune is
brought to
life. That is the feeling that I get when playing the Hammond...
sometimes
I feel like the organ is playing me, does that sound ridiculous?
I have been playing Hammonds now for 27 years (and my hands are killing
me... LOL!) and still it sends shivers up my spine, I don't know of any
other instrument that has that much effect on people. Even
people who don't
know what a Hammond organ is, will ask "what is that sound?" When asked
"what sound?"... they can't describe it.
The words... 'sombre'... 'crescendo'... 'emotional'... 'dark'...
'bright'...
'assault on your senses' may help in some way.
In a way it is unfair of them to ask this of you, as you are
being requested
to comment on the emotions of other people. The 'Hammond' cannot be
described... you have to hear and feel it. I once taught a deaf lady to
play the organ. She was profoundly deaf in one ear and 90% in the other.
She had a Yamaha and could 'feel' the music through the wooden
floor in her
lounge. One day, I had to bring her to my house as her organ had
packed up.
She was so enamoured with my Hammond/Leslie that she went out and
bought her
own the same day. The reason being, the 'feeling' she got from
the rotating
speaker actually brought tears (not kidding at all) to her eyes... I had
never seen this emotion from her before. She had the Leslie speaker
touching the bench and with having wooden floors, she said it was like the
organ was 'singing' to her. Her name was Beryl, and has now sadly passed
away.
Sorry for the long mail, hope it helps in some way.
PS... My Dad has picked up a lot over the last few days, his speech is
returning now, so I feel I can now return to a semi-normal life
and re-join
the group. Thanks a lot for all the support expressed by all, it
is good to
know that there are so many people who care.
Daz
-----Original Message-----
From: tonewheeldude [mailto:darren@...]
Sent: 28 February 2002 10:41
To: hammond_zone@...
Subject: [hammond_zone] BBC Radio 4
I need a hand Guys and Girls,
Alan Hall (BBC Radio 4) just called. He has a 20 minute program
going out at the end of March about The Hammond Organ and the
Song "A Whiter Shade of Pale". Gary Brooker will be on (pity Matthew
Fisher wont be) Alan asked me to explain what it is about the
Hammond Organ- to quote- 'that swirling sound' that makes this track
so special. Here is the catch..I have two to three minutes to do it
in.
If you have any ideas how to concisely define the Hammond Sound in
the context of "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" I would be realy gratefull
of any ideas. I don't think I am the best choice realy, but I have a
few ideas.
Darren
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