I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, and yes, I think that was a great performance of the material on a VERY good sounding keyboard...
BUT.... Is it just me, or was that some of the hokiest tune selection and presentation you've seen? I don't want to kick a gift horse in the mouth, but, in all fairness, I would never pay money to go and see something as corny as that.
It's obvious that the Wersi itself is capable of sounding amazing (as it OUGHT to at those prices!), but I have still yet to hear one in the hands of someone capable of not 'cheezing' it up to the point of nausea! What we need is someone young and talented that is capable of taking the MUSIC to a new level, NOT trotting out the old chestnuts and giving them a 21st century veneer, IMO.
Now, before I get shot
let me point out I've played many of those tunes in the distant past, but music moves on. Audience tastes move on. And, unless a new generation of organ and arranger players come out and don't pander to the remaining, older organ music fans, we are going to see the continuing slide in organ and arranger appreciation, to the point where ONLY this kind of stuff gets heard, and the younger generation just completely ignores it.
Obviously, the Wersi (and, in all fairness, just about ANY TOTL arranger) is capable of playing MUCH more contemporary and hip music types, but you just don't see anyone actually DOING it! Where is the 'new guard'? Where is the cutting edge? Where are the young and talented players playing their OWN music styles?
To see such a talented player, and such a great instrument churning out 'In a Monastery Garden' and pabulum like this, although entertaining (from a skill and sonic viewpoint, at least), it is a disservice to the future of the organ as a popular instrument, I fear. If we want a whole new generation of organ and arranger players to come up, and keep the industry healthy (for us
), we need to see players step up and play something a bit less clichéd...
So, no arguments about the skill and sound of the presentation, just some thoughts about whether this OUGHT to be the future of organ music... If we WANT a future, that is.
