November 22, 2023 · From the diocese · Art and 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, organist of the parish of Breitenfeld, talks about the organ and the organ experience “I don’t give a damn”.
With 69 registers and more than 5,000 flutes, the Breitenfeld parish organ is the second largest church organ in Vienna. It was originally built in 1931 for St. Jakob’s Cathedral in Innsbruck by the company Rieger Jägerndorf and installed in the Breitenfeld parish in 2001. A particular feature is the remote control, which is located in the oratory above the chapel and which, together with the main organ, contributes to a very special sound experience.
From 2022 to 2023, the entire electrical system and gaming table were renewed. The electrical system was from 1931, so there were safety issues (fire risk) and the game was no longer reliable. Since the renovation, the game table and pipes have been connected via a digital cable. This enables new functions that did not exist before. You can now record multiple audio tracks (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 Santa Cecília Conservatory. In Vienna he studied organ playing at the Private University of Music and Art 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 for him to bring the organization closer to younger people and reach as wide an audience as possible. The organ is often perceived only as a purely ecclesiastical instrument. But the organ is a very versatile instrument: “You can play anything. From organ literature to orchestral and pop works or soundtracks. “You have so many options that you can let off steam,” says Pelizza.
The “I Don’t Give a Fuck” Organ Experience: From Disney to Star Wars
The organist can let off steam in the “Don’t give a shit” concerts he created. “The idea of “Pfeif dat” is to offer a concert that is different from typical concerts. We want to create an experience”, explains Pelizza. For example, the public can participate in the concert in the organ gallery. You are invited to change places in the church during the concert, move around and discover the acoustics in different ways. The program so far has included a Disney concert (a Disney classic arranged for organ) and a Halloween concert with dark pieces like the “Imperial March” from Star Wars.
The next “Don’t Give a Dam” concert will take place on December 26th, at 4:30 pm. The program includes works suitable for Christmas and New Year.
All information about “Pfeif auf” can be found here: https://www.breitenfeld.info/pfeif-drauf/
created by: red/Katharina Mayr
November 22, 2023