I just got my BD of Interstellar yesterday and watched it yesterday. This now goes to the top of the list.
The star of this movie is the 1901 Harrison and Harrison organ in Temple Church at the Inns of Court in London. This unusual score by Hans Zimmer is almost certainly what this movie will be known for.
This is the "subwoofer" of this instrument.
I took this picture of it 10 days ago when I was there for my niece's wedding.
In the corn scene of Interstellar, right at the beginning Roger Sayer really lets the instrument rip.
However it is the subtle parts that are really telling when he just touches a low pedal. You don't really hear it. You just get an odd sensation throughout your body. Roger did this several times in the recital before the wedding. My rig reproduces it perfectly.
In addition this movie has massive sound effects when rockets take off etc.
This score has already destroyed a number of pro subs in movie theaters. This easily holds the record for the most massive bass output in my book.
I'm glad to say this rig reproduced it effortlessly. I was not worried for my system, but I was very worried for the structural integrity of my house several times. My theater chair was bouncing up and down. I'm certain I could do major damage to my house with this movie, like push out a wall or a window, so be careful.
There is one particular scene were on there is instruction not to open a hatch. There is a sudden flash and a sudden brief flash and bang that has one hell of a transient that just about threw me to the ground.
Another movie I would site is War Horse, this is beautifully engineered with tremendous space and terrifying realism in the battle fields.
Another is the Budapest Hotel. The sound track is wonderful and well engineered and deserved the Oscar. This is a beautiful score and also features a pipe organ, this time the organ of St Jude's on the Hill. There are more 32 ft stops on display here.
The Master and Commander sound track though good, is now dated and outclassed by the above.
Outside of the movies, a good recording of the Saint-Seans organ symphony is telling, especially the sustained pedal at the first organ entry in the second movement, and the end when everything lets rip.
The last but not least the oldest demo track in the world.
In his book on J.S. Bach, Music in the Castle of Heaven, Sir John Elliot Gardener expounds the theory convincingly that Bach wrote the Toccata and Fugue in D minor (The Dorian) as an organ test piece. This composition stands significantly apart from the other great monumental organ compositions of Bach, that for a brief time it was questioned if this was his composition. It undoubtedly is. Bach was often asked to specify and test organs. He had a great knowledge and interest in the mechanics of the organ.
Bach is unquestionably the greatest musician and composer that has ever lived. When it comes to organ compositions he totally outclasses all who have come before or since. His compositions for the instrument are on a totally different level to those by anyone else.
The "Dorian" puts all sections of the organ though its paces and then some.
This long been used by many to test speakers and audio systems. It is probably the best single piece to evaluate an audio system. As far as the sub is concerned, it will test not only the sub integration, but bass detail and above all articulation. Few are the systems that can give a really convincing rendition of this piece.
Olivier Latry chose this piece as the first item to inaugurate your wonderful new Grand Pierre Beigue organ at the Maison Symphonique Montreal.
That was a thrilling performance. I recorded it from Medici TV. I hope the concert will be released commercially. The concert also included a fantastic performance of the Saint-Seans Organ symphony. Actually this whole concert is a wonderful demo for your subs.
