An Interview with Sietze De Vries - In this exclusive interview, world-renowned organist and improviser Sietze de Vries shares his insights on Baroque improvisation, historic organs, and the lost art of musical creativity. Known across Europe for his stunning real-time fugues and chorale improvisations, de Vries discusses how improvisation once stood at the heart of music-making from Bach to Buxtehude, and why it nearly disappeared from modern classical training. This conversation is essential for anyone fascinated by organ music, historical performance practice, and the revival of improvisation in sacred and concert settings. (The Pursuit of Beauty Podcast Episode 20)
De Vries takes us through his musical upbringing in the Netherlands, surrounded by some of the finest historic instruments in the world, from Arp Schnitger organs to Renaissance masterpieces. He explains how this environment shaped his ear, technique, and passion for improvisation—and why learning music “as a language” rather than merely reading scores is key to both performance and creativity.
The conversation explores the French vs. German improvisation traditions, tracing how French cathedral organists like Messiaen and Dupré developed modernist, virtuosic styles while German traditions emphasized counterpoint, structure, and clarity. De Vries reflects on how these divergent paths influenced 20th-century music and why he seeks to balance freedom and form in his own improvisations.
We also discuss the legacy of J.S. Bach—how his travels to Hamburg, Lübeck, and beyond exposed him to North German organ traditions, and why understanding the instruments Bach played is essential for interpreting his music today. De Vries explains the differences between Silbermann, Schnitger, and Hildebrandt organs, and what makes certain instruments ideal for Bach’s contrapuntal brilliance.
Another highlight is de Vries’ critique of modernism in music, from avant-garde experimentation to minimalism. He argues that too much contemporary music prioritizes shock value or intellectualism over beauty, communication, and craft. Drawing on examples from Duruflé’s Requiem to Messiaen’s mystical works, he calls for a renewed focus on quality, meaning, and musical storytelling.
Improvisation, de Vries insists, trains musicians to think compositionally, to understand form, harmony, and rhetoric in ways that mere score-reading cannot. He laments that most conservatories abandoned improvisation training, leaving performers less equipped to interpret music with imagination and depth. Restoring this tradition, he believes, would transform how classical music is taught, performed, and experienced.
The interview also touches on organ pedagogy, articulation practices, and performance practice research, including debates over tempo, phrasing, and historical authenticity. De Vries shares practical advice for young organists on developing style fluency, mastering historic techniques, and learning to improvise convincingly across multiple traditions.
Finally, de Vries reflects on the future of organ music, the role of festivals, recordings, and education in keeping this tradition alive, and why improvisation remains the ultimate fusion of scholarship, technique, and creativity. This wide-ranging discussion offers rare insight into the mind of one of today’s most respected organists and improvisers, making it a must-watch for musicians, scholars, and music lovers alike.
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Sietze De Vries' sites:
https://www.sietzedevries.nl/
/ @sietzedevries6159
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