All the Stops Podcast
All the Stops Podcast
Wesley Hall
Step into the majestic world of the pipe organ with All the Stops Podcast, hosted by Wesley Hall—better known as @Westpiper on TikTok. This show pulls out all the stops to celebrate the King of Instruments in all its grandeur, complexity, and cultural richness. Each episode features intimate conversations with the most accomplished organists across the globe. Whether you're a seasoned organist, a curious listener, or a fan of musical craftsmanship, All the Stops Podcast offers a rare backstage pass into the artistry, engineering, and soul of the organ world.
Episode 32 | The Power of Community with Colin Lynch
A leader in sacred music in America, Colin Lynch suffered a stroke, but he didn't let it get him down. Through his incredible determination and the power of community, he resumed his incredible work, mentoring and developing intergenerational choirs and performing music at the highest levels in one of the most important centers of worship in the United States. Prepare to be inspired!
Sep 15
36 min
Episode 31 | Organ Building and Restoration with Dave Brown
Dave Brown joins us from Buzard Pipe Organ Builders to talk building and restoration! We discuss how young people can go about getting into organ building, plus some of the changes that have taken place over Dave's time in the field.
Sep 1
50 min
Episode 30 | Celebrating 30 Episodes, and the 639 Year Organ Piece
We've made it 30 Episodes and All The Stops Podcast is already a top 25% podcast and still growing! We talk about the show and future plans, but our main focus is John Cage's massive piece, ASLSP (As SLow aS Possible) which just had a major chord shift after almost 25 years of being performed in Halberstadt, Germany. Thanks for sticking with us here on the show, and here's to 30 more episodes!
Aug 24
17 min
Episode 29 | What Era Is It, Anyway!? With Dr. Jordan Prescott
Dr. Jordan Prescott joins us to talk about the music of Herbert Howells, a composer who, he argues, has been widely mischaracterized. We have fascinating discussions about musical aesthetics and historical shifts from the late 19th century to the mid 20th. Plus, he shares a little about what it means to be an organ scholar.
Aug 18
42 min
Episode 28 | Swedish Organs and Video Game Music with Noa Edwardsson
Be it original compositions or Minecraft, Swedish organist, Noa Edwardsson, is a driving force of the pipe organ in Sweden. Bringing in new people to concerts and directing them to Bach, organ lessons, and church, Noa performs artful renditions of video game soundtracks beloved to those under 40... (or even 20!) and adds clever new compositions and thoughtfully reproduced performances of the classics. We talk all this, plus assembling a new Swedish hymnal with 10,000 submissions, and mentorship in the boys choir
Aug 11
46 min
Episode 27 | Argentina and the Organ with Dr. Ezequiel Menéndez
All too often, people focus on geopolitics and economic struggles when discussing Argentina, but Dr. Ezequiel Menéndez joins us on this episode to discuss the organs, composers, and future of the Argentinian organ scene. Professor at the College of the Holy Cross, he also shares some of his philosophies on mastering the craft through focused practice.
Aug 4
42 min
Episode 26 | The Three-Legged Stool of the Organ with Damin Spritzer
Damin Spritzer takes a break from performing, teaching, and sacred music, to explain how they reinforce one another. She's just as good at talking about the world of organ music as she is at interpreting it! Another week of sound quality issues... we'll have it sorted next week!
Jul 28
45 min
Episode 25 | France, Germany, and the UK with Katelyn Emerson
International concert organist, Katelyn Emerson, has lived in France, Germany, the UK and the US, and she talks about the subtle and not-so-subtle differences in the instruments and organ scenes. Plus, she shares some of the fascinating work she's doing as a PhD Candidate at the University of Cambridge! We sadly experienced some audio streaming issues, so please forgive the fuzzy vocals. We hope to have it all sorted for next week's show!
Jul 21
42 min
Episode 24 | A Great Host of Women Composers with Susan Jane Matthews
There has been so much progress when it comes to representation of excellent women composers, but there's more work to be done! Susan Jane Matthews, founder of "A Great Host of Women Composers" and Vice President of the Association of Anglican Musicians talks with me about creating a database of women composers and helping to guide the field of sacred music toward a more inclusive destination.
Jul 14
43 min
Episode 23 | Composition and Synesthesia with Jessica French
Jessica French is an acclaimed composer, and she shares about her work as well as her colorful experiences of music as a synesthete. We have a lighthearted and enlightening discussion from color experience to compositional style and idiomatic writing, and everything in between!
Jul 6
39 min
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