2024: A Year of MUSICAL NIGHTMARES?

Thank you!

[noelbolingbroke-kent]

The pleasures Ben gave us during this year were definitely not nightmares. With harmoniums, organs great and small, in churches, chapels and a cathedral, Ben, Billy and Sophia have been a fantastic team. Overcoming every kind of hardship, 2024 has been a triumphant year, with over two million views for the Salisbury Organist’s channel.

[alanstansfield]

My late father, George Stansfield, played the organ at both of the Donhead churches as well as Semley. He was a former organ builder who was never out of work as a village church organist, still playing until forced to give up driving at the age of eighty. I have fond and vivid memories of accompanying him on some of his tuning and maintenance work when I was growing up in the 1950's. I would be positioned on the organ stool - legs dangling above the pedals - and instructed to hold down the relevant note until hearing dad shout "Next!" from somewhere up in the organ loft. Years after official retirement age my father was still in demand for restoration work. I remember he supervised the removal of an organ from a redundant church in Holland at sometime in the late 1970's . The instrument was restored in Mere parish church with the inaugural concert performed by my late brother, Derek, who was assistant organist an choirmaster at Sherborne Abbey at the time. I miss them both, but every time I hear an organ strike up they are with me. I'm biased - organists are a very special breed of people.

[irenastansby]

This channel has become my addiction, which I wholeheartedly intend to continue with in 2025. Long live the Salisbury Organist and his team

[bindatek]

May the keys never stick, nor the pipes cypher. May the bellows be intact, and the pumps connected. May the Cows be peaceful and never charge. May the Van Men not start their chainsaws as you record. May the music be free from blemish. May Billy's strings never snap....Above all may the Cheese and Pickle delight as sandwiches do may the New Year be a happy and harmonious for your good selves, regardless of the fore goings. Greetings from John.

[laurastuart]

Billy has saved the day quite a few times. We do notice and he is appreciated.

[Anagrams]

Looking forward to 2025 and more wonderful organ music, poetry, footpaths and benches with you.

[keiththinking]

Your quote from Kipling, reminded me of part of one by William Blake - 'Joy and woe are woven fine, a clothing for the soul divine..and when this we rightly know..safely through the world we go..'

[KenG]

I so very much enjoy hearing Billy play classical guitar. 🤗

[nicholasfryee]

I some years ago at the nine lessons carols forgot to change the last verse arrangement by David Willcocks for Hark the herald playing O come all ye faithful a just tried to improvise and wanted to disappear
The congregation didn't even notice thinking the organist is doing what he does on the last verse
The choir mistress and I did not speak for a week but we now laugh about it ❤🎉
Kind regards and Blessings and happy new year

[arnolekow]

I just love this channel. You’re extremely talented and your great passion for music is very evident in these videos. Thank you so much. All the very best wishes for 2025 from Singapore

[rodanthompson]

“Wrong notes” I’m fairly certain that even the composers (long gone) are, in the hereafter, giggling a little bit because they knew these compositions were rascals. And that from time to time would give performers deep anxieties and headaches… A kind of laughing legacy ( musical puzzles)and gift to devotees of music through all time. 😂 I think they’d be proud of your persistence and faith.

Love ya Matt! Keep pounding away!

[jamesallison]

Keep doing what you’re doing! Where else could we enjoy obscure little churches, unspoiled English countryside and good intelligent company. You are unique.

[johnjankiewicz]

You were so kind to play at that church where the gentleman's' great grandmother played. Best wishes for 2025. I will be following.

[LauraMcKay-nlmy]

Thank you, Ben! Your videos are a bright spot in my week. Your willingness to take us behind the scenes and show us the disappointment along with the triumph is part of what makes your videos so special.

[bcoxal]

Your channel is part of my Sunday every week

[Dnn]

there’s little better than watching a talented, beautifully spoken Englishman preform his passion. ❤

[KiwiSongbird]

Dear Ben,

Over the past couple of weeks as I've been exploring your channel, I've been chuckling at the teasing, tantalising nature of your choice of titles. Clearly it's working.

I thoroughly enjoyed your Year in Review. I chuckled at your wry humour, empathized at your suffering, oohed at the magnificent architecture, sighed at the pathos, and held my breath at the beauty of the duet that emerged from the storm. This is Art in real time. This is what I aspire to. You inspire me that it's possible.

Your "Organist in Trouble" style of storytelling feels like a metaphor for how to live a victorious life. Whatever the challenges you encounter, you meet them with resilience, equinamity (it's so refreshing to find a channel free of foul language!), creativity, self-deprecating humour, and an enthralling soundtrack. What's not to like!?

Blessings upon you in Jesus' name as you journey through the coming year.

With warm (sunny) regards from
Narelle in New Zealand

[jdcorganist]

I think it would be a real trip to travel along with you as the “traveling organ repair bloke”. When you get to a church with a bad instrument that hasn’t played or been maintained in a long time, I swing into action and start repairing and tuning what needs to be done. There’s a difference between “getting it playing” and “restoration”. Once we get it up and running, and you record on it, you could post a link for donations towards restoring the organ again; especially in these “Friends of Friendless Churches” places where money for the organ is absolutely last on the list.

[melissabruhn]

It takes a village. ✨
No mistakes only "happy accidents".
Thank you Ben and friends for all efforts in 2024. With warmth Onward! 🦋

[JoyStanford-psef]

Thank you for all the lovely journeys you’ve taken us on this year Ben