2023-11-22 05:02:43
November 22, 2023 · From the diocese · Art & Culture
Francesco Pelizza has been a church musician and organist in the Breitenfeld parish since 2019. Pelizza has known the instrument for a long time. When he moved to Vienna in 2013, the organ in Breitenfeld was his first practice instrument during his organ studies.
Francesco Pelizza, the organist of the Breitenfeld parish, talks regarding the organ and the organ experience “Don’t give a damn”.
With 69 registers and more than 5,000 pipes, the organ in the Breitenfeld parish is the second largest church organ in Vienna. It was originally built in 1931 for the St. Jakob Cathedral in Innsbruck by the Rieger Jägerndorf company and installed in the Breitenfeld parish in 2001. A special feature is the remote control unit, which is located in the oratory above the chapel and, together with the main organ, contributes to a very special sound experience.
From 2022 to 2023, the entire electrical system and the gaming table were replaced. The electrical system was from 1931, so there were safety problems (risk of fire) and playing was no longer reliable. Since the renovation, the gaming table and the pipes have been connected via a digital cable. This enables new functions that did not exist before. You can now record several audio tracks (so-called loops) and play them back together.
The organist
Francesco Pelizza has been a church musician and organist in the Breitenfeld parish since 2019. Pelizza has known the instrument for a long time. When he moved to Vienna in 2013, the organ in Breitenfeld was his first practice instrument during his organ studies. Francesco Pelizza was born in Italy in 1996. He studied organ in Rome at the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia. In Vienna he studied organ performance at the Music and Art Private University of the City of Vienna with Michael Gailit.
“Playing the organ is not only my job, but also my greatest passion,” enthuses Francesco Pelizza. It is particularly important to him to bring organ playing closer to younger people and to reach as wide an audience as possible. The organ is often only perceived as a purely church instrument. But the organ is a very versatile instrument: “You can really play anything. From organ literature to orchestral and pop works or soundtracks. “You have so many options, you can really let off steam,” says Pelizza.
The “don’t give a damn” organ experience: from Disney to Star Wars
The organist can let off steam at the “Don’t give a damn” concerts that he created. “The idea of “Pfeif dat” is to offer a concert that is different from the typical concerts. We want to create an experience,” explains Pelizza. For example, the audience can take part in the concert from the organ gallery. You are welcome to change your place in the church during the concert, move around and discover the acoustics in different ways. The program so far has included a Disney concert (Disney classic arranged for organ) and a Halloween concert with dark pieces such as the “Imperial March” from Star Wars.
The next “Don’t give a damn” concert will take place on December 26th at 4:30 p.m. The program includes works suitable for Christmas and the New Year.
All information regarding “Don’t give a damn” can be found here:
created by: red/Katharina Mayr
22.11.2023
1700630234
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