Fraser Gartshore

Did you know the classic cinema organ — the kind that filled silent movie palaces in the 1920s — wasn't just a keyboard instrument? It was basically a one-person orchestra. Pull a stop and you'd get galloping horse hooves, a train whistle, a doorbell, even a siren, all wired straight into the console. No pit orchestra needed — one organist could score an entire chase scene live. It's one of the reasons I find the theatre organ so thrilling to play; it's part music, part sound design, part magic trick. Ever heard a genuine theatre organ film accompaniment? Shall we do another silent film night on the channel? Let me know in the comments. 🎟️

2 days ago | [YT] | 55

Fraser Gartshore

Sadly no Toooooba concert for our "inner circle" tonight - however, we'll have TWO Toooooba sessions in July to make up for it!

In the meantime, check out Piotr Grabowski's new sample set for Hauptwerk - the AMAZING organ of St Margaret's church in Munich. Guess what - I'll be presenting it for you all tomorrow in our Sunday Night Is Organ Music Night stream. It promises to be a special sample set - the organ in the huge space of St Margaret's is famous for its "new meets old" specification and features. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

What would you like me to play tomorrow night? Any special requests?

See you in the chat!

1 week ago | [YT] | 6

Fraser Gartshore

Ever wonder how an organist makes one instrument sound like an entire symphony orchestra? 🎻🎺

Hey folks! For tonight's Friday Night Is Organ Music Night, we are doing something a little bit epic: The Conductor's Cut!

I'll be stepping onto the virtual podium and treating the organ console like a full orchestra, playing some massive orchestral transcriptions. I'll also be sharing a look into how I approach these pieces from a conductor's perspective—how to use the stops to mimic strings, woodwinds, and brass, and how to mentally shrink a massive score down to the manuals and pedals.

Grab your favorite Friday night drink and join me in the loft for some incredibly big sounds! 👇

#FridayNightIsOrganMusicNight #Organist #Conductor #LiveOrgan #PipeOrgan

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

Fraser Gartshore

Hey everyone! For tonight's Friday Night Is Organ Music Night, we are doing something a little bit different and unlocking the door to the practice room. 🚪🗝️

Instead of a normal concert, I am taking you behind the scenes. We'll be working through some new music together live, warts and all! I'll be breaking down my practice methods, figuring out tricky pedal techniques, making registration choices, and showing you exactly how I troubleshoot the hard parts. Expect pencils, metronomes, and definitely a few wrong notes as we figure it out! ✏️⏱️🎹

Whether you're a fellow musician looking for practice tips, or you just want to hang out and see how the musical sausage is actually made, come join me in the loft.

Grab your favorite Friday night drink, bring your practice questions for the live chat, and let's get to work! 🍻

What pieces would you like to see me practise? Let me know in the comments.

#FridayNightIsOrganMusicNight #Organist #BehindTheScenes #PracticeRoom #PipeOrgan #OrganMasterclass

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 4

Fraser Gartshore

🔴 THE KEVELAER DEBRIEF: Ask Me Anything! 👇

We survived our first-ever on-location broadcast! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us live from the Marienbasilika on Friday night.

Tonight, we are back in the comfort of the home studio for a relaxed Sunday stream. Alongside the music, I am opening up the floor for a massive Q&A to share all the behind-the-scenes stories from the road trip.

Drop your questions in the comments right now! Want to know about the acoustics? The setup? How heavy the gear was? Ask away, and I will be answering them live on stream tonight at 20:00 CEST. See you at the console! 🎹

1 month ago | [YT] | 1

Fraser Gartshore

🚨 STATUS REPORT: ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR KEVELAER! 🚐💨

The bags and flight cases are officially packed. Every single camera and mic battery is charged to 100%. The disks are formatted, and the car is completely filled up and ready to hit the road!

Tomorrow is the day we make channel history. We are taking Friday Night Is Organ Music Night out of the studio and broadcasting LIVE from the console of the legendary Seifert organ at the Marienbasilika in Kevelaer.

If you haven't set your alarm yet, do it now. You do not want to miss this incredible instrument in that massive acoustic!

⏰ SPECIAL START TIME: Tomorrow at 20:30 CEST
📍 WHERE: Right here on the channel!

Now for a good night's sleep... tomorrow, we make some serious noise! ⛪🎶

1 month ago | [YT] | 5

Fraser Gartshore

🚨 COUNTDOWN TO KEVELAER: 2 DAYS TO GO! 🚨

We are officially in countdown mode for the biggest channel milestone yet! The studio is currently a chaotic maze of cameras, tripods, and miles of audio cables as we prepare to take the Friday night livestream on the road for the very first time.

Our destination? The breathtaking Marienbasilika in Kevelaer to unleash the sheer, roaring power of the legendary Seifert organ.

If you have never heard this instrument before, your speakers are in for a serious workout. This is going to be massive.

⚠️ CRITICAL REMINDER:
Because we are broadcasting live from the basilica, we have a special, one-off start time! Set your alarms!
⏰ Friday, May 8th @ 20:30 CEST

🎟️ The Travel Fund is Still Open:
A huge thank you to everyone who has grabbed a Virtual Ticket so far to help fund the fuel, accommodation, and the massive amount of mobile data needed to beam this acoustic into your living rooms. If you'd like to chip in, the box office is right here: bit.ly/FraserTickets

Let’s make some serious noise on Friday. Who is tuning in? 👇

1 month ago | [YT] | 4

Fraser Gartshore

🔥 THE WEEKEND IS HERE! Here is your massive 3-Day Livestream Lineup: 🎶

We have an absolutely packed weekend at the console, shifting gears from blazing bonfires to heavy brass, and ending with a beautiful pilgrimage. Here is what is on the menu:

🌋 TONIGHT (Friday): The Global Bonfire! (Tanz in den Mai)
We are dancing into May with serious heat. Expect blazing classical showpieces, Latin heatwaves, and rock & roll infernos.

🎺 TOMORROW (Saturday): TOOOOOBA TIME!
Our monthly "Illuminati" concert for Toooooba Members only! Join here: buymeacoffee.com/frasergartshore/membership

⛪ SUNDAY: The Road to Kevelaer (A Marian Pilgrimage)
To celebrate the start of the pilgrimage season—and to build hype for our massive on-location livestream next week—we are dedicating Sunday night to sweeping, beautiful Marian hymns and symphonic improvisations.

🎟️ The Box Office is Open:
You can grab your Virtual Tickets for the weekend to support the channel (and help fund next week's Kevelaer road trip!) right here: bit.ly/FraserTickets

Which night are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments, grab your drinks, and I will see you at the console tonight! 👇

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

Fraser Gartshore

🚐 THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIVESTREAM IS GOING ON THE ROAD! ⛪

For a very long time, I have dreamed of bringing you the massive, unmistakable sound of the legendary Seifert organ at the Marienbasilika in Kevelaer. Thanks to some wonderful connections (and a massive nod to Prof. Wolfgang Seifen), the doors have finally opened!

Next Friday, May 8th, we are packing up the studio and taking our entire multi-camera broadcasting rig on the road for our first-ever on-location livestream!

☕ Help us make it happen:
Taking a live broadcast on the road is a huge logistical challenge. If you'd like to support the channel and help fund the travel, accommodation, and the crucial mobile data needed to keep the stream running flawlessly, you can grab a "Virtual Ticket" or drop a coffee in the jar right here:
bit.ly/FraserTickets
buymeacoffee.com/frasergartshore/wishlist



Every little bit helps bring this massive acoustic directly to your living room. Thank you for always supporting the madness!

🎷 IN THE AREA? A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT FOR TONIGHT (MAY 1st)!
If you happen to be anywhere near the Marienbasilika tonight at 20:00 CEST, there is a spectacular concert taking place that you do not want to miss.

Who: Basilica organist Elmar Lehnen & jazz trombonist Hansjörg Fink

What: "Vitraux" (Stained Glass Windows) - an incredible 13-part original fusion of organ and jazz brass.

Tickets: €15 (More info at www.kultur-am-kapellenplatz.de/)

Drop a 🚐 in the comments if you will be tuning in for the big road trip next week, and I will see you all tonight for our regular stream!

2 months ago | [YT] | 49

Fraser Gartshore

🚨 CHANNEL ANNOUNCEMENT: We are going on the road! 🚨

Mark your calendars for Friday, May 8th. For the first time ever, we are taking our Friday night livestream out of the studio and going on location to a true organ mecca!

I will be streaming LIVE directly from the console of the legendary Seifert organ at the Marienbasilika in Kevelaer!

This has been a dream project long in the making. I'll be sharing more behind-the-scenes details on how we are pulling this off later this week, but for now, please update your calendars with our special start time:

🗓️ Date: Friday, May 8th
⏰ SPECIAL TIME: 20:30 Central European Time (due to local noise restrictions!)
📍 Location: Marienbasilika Kevelaer (Live!)

2 months ago | [YT] | 76