GillesParenteau Virtual Symphony (Bach Cello Suite #1 and Ave Maria)

YouTube Uploaded by MrGillesParenteau on Oct 21, 2011
Two additional videos below.
"Thanks to my son Michael Parenteau for the filming,to my wife Carmen and my son Christopher for their help, to Kasper Naef for the mechanical engineering, to John Tucker for the sound mixing and producing and to Roland Canada for their continuous support.

Gilles Parenteau new YouTube video on a quest to reintroduce the art of playing the organ.
For more info go to: gillesparenteau.com

"A 2000 year-old tradition worth saving."

Mozart called the pipe organ: "the king of all instruments."
Gilles Parenteau may use electronics instead of pipes but keeps the tradition of playing the organ alive by playing with both feet and hands and not using any pre-recordings so that his performance remains 100% live.

"Unfortunately, we are too often fooled by today's technology and are not able to discern if someone is playing or singing 100% of their performance."
"I'm almost glad when I hear mistakes so I know it's live !"

At 50 and with over 20 years as a Selkirk College music instructor, Gilles has taken on a mission to reintroduce the organ to the youth. As an organist with classical training and interest in today's technology, Gilles is more concerned about the organ's tradition and technique rather than whether it is built out of pipes or electronics. Gilles is hoping that his new YouTube video will get the attention of the young and old.

"I've combined 2 Bach pieces (Cello Suite #1 and Ave Maria) and arranged them so I could play them simultaneously while my keyboards rotate around me." "Thanks to Kasper Nief who designed the mechanics and to Roland Canada who supported me with my crazy ideas!"

The video was filmed by his son Michael Parenteau and sound mixed by John Tucker.

"I realize there are many other "endangered species" that matters more than this instrument but it'd be a shame to lose such a great part of history.

BIO

Gilles Parenteau (1961- ) has been performing and composing music professionally since he was 14 years old. On somewhat of a musical odyssey, his career has taken his music to over 26 countries.

Parenteau has composed dozens of scores for National CBC radio and television. He has performed as a professional musician and music director for more than 2 decades. Some of his work has also been performed by the Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg symphony orchestras.

Parenteau is currently teaching at the Selkirk College Professional Music Program in Nelson, British Columbia where he has been a member of the Music Faculty since 1989.

More recently, Parenteau has combined his classical (pipe organ) and contemporary musical background to develop his life long dream: a "Virtual Symphony" which he considers to be his masterpiece. His performances have been well received by diverse audiences from Canada and the U.S. This includes performances for the Western Division of Rotary, the B.C Winter Games and Holland America.

Gear List:
Roland Fantom X-6,VP-550,PK-25, Edirol A-800PRO(3)
Midi Mapping: midi-ox
Sounds: Edirol Orchestral, L.A. Strings(cello), Vienna St(violin)

Technical points of interest:

The MICROPHONE:
1) is plugged in the VP-550 (left top keyboard) and activates the choir sounds through the pitch and expression of my voice and takes on the chording played by whichever notes are assigned to the VP-550 receiving midi channel.
2)the VP-550 midi out transmits expression (ctrl 11) which is in return translated to multiple midi channels and individualy scaled to control the following items: brass volume, french horns expression, cello expression, choir.

Top Right Keyboard:
map 1: harp and flute
map 2:vivace strings, trumpets, pipe organ

Bottom Right Keyboard: (A-800 PRO
1)solo violin velocity controled sustain
2) pitchless G# note on switches cello 8va and G#3 note off brings it back.
3) pitchless A# switches cello 8va and remains 8va
4) the violin melody (G Major) is played while right hand spare fingers are controling the pedal board range which is short by qa fifth to play the cello suite.
5) pitch bend value 0 actives program changes on all channels
6) pitch bend value 127 activates new program changes on all channels.

Top Left Keyboard: (VP-550)
1) generates all choir sounds
2) is assigned to itself, pizz strings, legato strings

Mid Left Keyboard: (A-800 PRO)
1) assigned to brass, french horns, strings, and key zoned orchestral percussins.
2) the lower D and G send sustain on commands
3) the middle G sends sustain on commands
4) the middle F# send sustain off command to the violin (lower right keyboard)

Bottom Left Keyboard: (Fantom X-6)
pizz and legato strings (pinky finger holds notes for lagato strings while other fingers play staccato so only pizz strings come thru.

Pedals: (PK-25)
cello with microphone triggered expression."

via The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Gilles Parenteau Virtual Symphony (Hook by John Williams)

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Gilles Parenteau Virtual Symphony Live