Not Your Average Traveling Band: Virtuoso Packs An Organ For The Road

January 30th, 2015

In 1995, it was a kids’ movie that garnered no less than seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture; bringing some firsts to the Academy’s long history of hallowed honorees, including a talking pig.

“Babe” was shot in New South Wales, Australia; with a bucolic — storybook — setting that’s dripping with nostalgia, delightfully quirky characters, and a musical score which prominently features the Organ Symphony of Camille Saint-Saens. It’s the third Symphony of the 19th century Frenchman; and in spite of the work’s popularity, was historically tricky to stage for any concert hall lacking one essential ingredient: an organ.

Well, there have been many performances with synthesized organs, which rankle the sensibilities of the purists. But now there’s a new dog in town. Firebrand organ virtuoso Cameron Carpenter has made it his mission to develop a portable instrument that rivals those of the great cathedrals of the world.

If you skipped Organ 101, the installation of a traditional pipe organ is a highly specialized field involving acousticians, instrument builders, architects, heavy construction and a large acoustical space. Carpenter’s “International Touring Organ” utilizes state of the art technology to give a traditional feel and sound to an instrument that can travel.

City Lights executive producer Noel Morris sat down with Carpenter to talk about his unique instrument, special shoes and the installation process for his performances of the Saint-Saens at the Woodruff Arts Center. An interview with Cameron Carpenter

Carpenter brings his touring organ to the Woodruff Arts Center to join the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. He’ll also be performing an organ recital on Jan. 30.

Check out Carpenter and his International Touring Organ below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq2EwnBr_oM