Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ

I am not entirely sure where to make this post, as it seems to be a post with an all-encompassing gratitude for what Hauptwerk has afforded me in the last couple of years.

I recently completed my M.M. in Music Composition at Butler University in Indianapolis, and from the onset of moving to Indy, I had to scout out all of the local pipe organs - and this city is home to a few really great instruments that I've had the opportunity to frequent. I spent many hours on the large IV manual / 81 rank Aeolian Skinner organ at 2nd Presbyterian, and it was at that organ that many of the sketches for a new piece, which subsequently became my Master's Thesis - a concerto for organ and orchestra - were born. I soon realized, however, that having an instrument in my home would be the only real way I could compose in the absolute spontaneity that such an activity requires. That's when I discovered Hauptwerk.

Over the next couple of years, I built my Hauptwerk instrument, whilst simultaneously writing my concerto.

I understand some "purists" out there feel threatened by this piece of software, but I'm here to say, that I could have NEVER written this half-hour long piece without it, and I can say with a fair degree of certainty that there stands a reasonable chance that I will never have an opportunity to hear a live performance of the work - but, instead, because of this community, your information, and this wonderful invention called "Hauptwerk," I can "hear" my creation in the next-best way.

I would also like to mention that this piece was a finalist in this years BMI Student Composer Awards - an honor which I don't think I would have been able to achieve without an instrument at my disposal on which to write this piece!

So with that, I would like to say "THANK YOU!" to everyone out there reading this who, at some point, may have responded to a thread with answers or suggestions that helped me along the way! I appreciate it greatly!

If, by chance, you'd be interested in listening to my Concerto for Organ and Orchestra, realizations (using Hauptwerk and Sibelius 7) can be found at the links below:

http://www.drewworthen.com/original-works

Thank you, again, and best wishes!

Hello Drew,

I like! The second and third movement especially, can't wait until it is finished!

Bravo!

Jeffery Rowley

Thank you!

It is complete, at 3 movements. I kicked around the idea of writing a 4th for over a year, but finally realized that the last movement, being my favorite, as well as the most personal, ended in a way unlike any other piece in this medium - and I like that.

The links on your website are down. I'd love to hear recordings if you still have them!

Sorry about that. I took the old website down and have slowly been working on a replacement - but it is so time consuming. A link to the recordings is below:

http://www.drewworthen.com/original-works


I must agree with what other people have said in critiquing my work. The 3rd movement is my personal favorite - it was actually the first movement that was written and completed. Mov. 2 is my second favorite, and the 1st movement is my least favorite. It was exhausting to create this piece. Few people understand the amount of work, time, devotion, and frustration that goes into this stuff.

I have all but completely given up on composing. It's disheartening at times, but I suppose that's the nature of it.

Thank you for your renewed interest.

Bravo, Drew! Your work is most impressive. The tutti at 7:17 of Mvt.3 gave me goosebumps! It would be interesting to learn more about the process. For example, which organ, orchestral, and vocal samples were employed, which reverb you used, what DAW software you prefer.

I hope you get a chance to hear your composition performed by a live orchestra. It is certainly worthy.

Don't quit!

Joe Hardy

dw154515 wrote:I understand some "purists" out there feel threatened by this piece of software, but I'm here to say, that I could have NEVER written this half-hour long piece without it, and I can say with a fair degree of certainty that there stands a reasonable chance that I will never have an opportunity to hear a live performance of the work - but, instead, because of this community, your information, and this wonderful invention called "Hauptwerk," I can "hear" my creation in the next-best way.

Congratulations on this fantastic piece ... I haven't listened my way all through yet.

It is safe to say that none of those purists are registered on this forum

Also, Hauptwerk is generally liked or at least tolerated by most purists. They mostly consider Rodgers, Allen, Johannus etc the "enemy". As those really try to replace a conventional pipe organ, while Hauptwerk is trying to imitate it as best as possible.

Best Regards and best wishes for your next steps in your musical career

Mathis

toplayer2 wrote:Bravo, Drew! Your work is most impressive. The tutti at 7:17 of Mvt.3 gave me goosebumps! It would be interesting to learn more about the process. For example, which organ, orchestral, and vocal samples were employed, which reverb you used, what DAW software you prefer.

I hope you get a chance to hear your composition performed by a live orchestra. It is certainly worthy.

Don't quit!

Joe Hardy

Thank you, Joe. It's the greatest feeling in the world to me to bring excitement to people through music. That movement uses several hymn tunes to generate all of the material. That moment is actually a mass cacophony of all of those hymns used throughout, all playing simultaneously. I won't go into too much detail, but the whole movement was written around that single union.

That realization was used by just exporting the audio directly from Sibelius7, then, setting the Salisbury Vol. 2 organ to A440 (which I did not do the first time around, and boy what a surprise!) then I just mixed the two audio files together. No trickery. Nothing special.

I appreciate the feedback, everyone. Please, tell your friends. I'm happy to share.

I have recently launched a new website, so the links have been updated.

Thanks for listening, everyone.

(BTW - The background images on my website are all photos of the score)

THANK YOU Drew; you have finally captured what's in my head on your website; I wanted to do the same thing but with Cubase (or maybe Sibelius) but it would take too long. Absolutely beautiful work!! I hope my home state treats you well...

Regards,
Mark