Daniel Roth plays the Cavaille-Coll Organ at St. Ouen

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Incredible organist. One of the most impressive organs there is. Vast and spacious acoustics only a majestic church like St. Ouen can provide. What more can you ask for?

[birdandthe]

awesome sound

[Stanley459]

AWESOME!!! Thanks for posting this clip for people to discover. I had never heard of Daniel Roth or of this cathedral. This is also the first time I have heard this organ. Sweet! Majestic.

[miauw777]

Cavaille-Coll had an never equaled craftmanship end great understanding of maths, and materialknowledge. No computers, no calculators, but a deep understanding of organbuilding. That's why his organs are still te best on this planet and a testimony to its builder

[polsterj]

The Organs of St Sulpice, Notre Dame, St Sernin and this one made Cavaillé-Coll a poor man, after him his workshop was bankrupt and could't survive much longer.

He died as a poor man, but:

HIS GLORY WILL NEVER DIE!

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Amen to that! Three of my most favorite organs are made by Cavaille-Coll. Everything from the warm soothing sound of some of he strings and flutes in a quiet passage to the roar of those Bombardes at full organ is tonal Nirvana for me.

[ds1868]

Yes he lost lots of money when he built the St Ouen organ. He insisted that everything should be right, but the contract price was fixed. He left the greatest organ masterpiece in the world. There is no doubt in my mind of this whatsoever.

[Streetcar1743]

I love it when Daniel Roth shows off the Cavaille-Coll up close and personal. A geat way for the audience can see what the historic organ was all about. If you want to hear a 32' pipe, Daniel will really let you hear it! Nice and loud!!

[lpfan7763]

i love daniel roth he is one of the greatest organists who ever lived!!!!!!!!!

[FromHolbergsTime]

An intriguing excerpt of a very fine recording illustrating the grandeur of Cavaille-Coll in a world famous acoustic space. This instrument is simply a masterpiece in conception and execution, and Roth thrillingly demonstrates its fantastic range and symphonic power. Hats off to JV68 for providing this valuable and noteworthy recording!

[Pedalpoint1]

Interesting impro at the beginning.....

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Wow!! The sound-That glorious sound is why Covaille-Coll organs list among my favorite organs of all time.

[JohnL9013]

Sheesh, $30 for this CD, and since nobody I know owns SACD players, I wouldn't have even be able to listen to the stop narrative.

[sikorkasikoreczka15]

Lovely

[Gusakov]

Grandiose execution !

Bravo, Maestro !

[Aaronorganist19]

Hello this peace of organ music when it was Recorded at the time. there was a 32 bombard in it. Because it says it in the Cd case ware i have got this organ music been played on this organ says 32 bass and 32 bombard and all the reeds from great couple down to pedal

[54spiritedwill54]

The song seems so sinister yet do peacefull

[aamusc]

You can listen and discern the pitch of the pedal reed itself and how the flue below is 32'.

[Heyde1979]

this organ has powerful sound to it

[knuhe]

There's no chance in the whole world that a 16' stop will resonate at these frequencies. It sure is a 32' Contre Bombarde in the opening.

[bunkytony]

Yeah, You can tell, at 32' you get that rattly 16Hz that you more or less feel than hear

[dulzian64]

It's very obvious that the 32' Contre Bombarde is being used here in the first piece played. It's not used in the beginning of the expert of Cathedrales, but it is brought on further into that piece. I don't see how that could be mistaken for a 16'. Quite a big difference.

[bachprofessore]

You mistake it, Cavaillé-Coll's Bombardes are extreme, but in this chase it must be the Contrabombarde, the Soubasse 32' can't make a Bass like this, even if it is Cavaillé-Coll

[dulzian64]

Right bachprofessore, which is why I said it IS being used in the opening of the video. You can clearly hear where it is added on Cathedrales, right about 2:43

[Streetcar1743]

I have the CD and it has the excerpt on it! I love it!

[bachorg]

yes I agree,for me is one of most beautiful Vierne's piece

[marsvltor2]

Ia it me, or does Roth (wonderful player, don't doubt that) have an aversion to the Contrabombarde? Can't remember him using his own at S Sulpice much either...

[AARONFOLWELL]

Right i have talked to Daniel Roth good friend of mine as i go to france a lot to the church and play the 5 man Cavaille-Coll Organ in st suprice But i have asked him and he sayed to me that when he was doing this recording at the time there was no 32 reed used in this ... it was the 16 foot reed and the 32 flute that gives it the rumble and the reeds from the couples to pedal . So there u have it people there is no 32 foot used . at all

[organum74]

THE perfect organ for symphonic organ music, with St Sernin in Toulouse !

Not too many stops, but I can tell you, if you like powerful organs, that this organ sounds as a 200 stops one !

A treasure for the planet !

[Streetcar1743]

I would love to download the improvision onto IPod.

[BeFrSc]

I have some sad information, the sound you are hearing is NOT the 32'Contre-Bombarde here, its only the 16' Bombarde and the 16' Contre-Clarion, the 32' is on the right hand side in the top row of stops, and its the only one not being used in that row.

[BeFrSc]

OOPS, my mistake, the one we aren't hearing is the 16' Bombarde.

[ds1868]

Sorry to disagree BeFrSc but I really don't think DR is using the 32' Contra Bombarde here - sounds like the 16' to me. Listen to the Henri Mulet recording on here and compare the two - now on the Mulet recording the 32' definitely is being used - an enormous roar of an earthquake!

[BeFrSc]

I understand where you're coming from, but remember, this is Youtube, and not in high quality, so not much bass comes through, anc I can tell you he is using both the 32' flue and the 32' reed.

[BeFrSc]

the top shelf of the Right jam of stops are the Pedal Reeds with one flue, that stop cannot be seen, the first stop we can see is the 32' Contra Bombarde, the one that is pushed in on this video is the 16' Contre-Basse

[ds1868]

Gotcha, well must be the quality of this recording then, which is a bit of a shame!!

[BeFrSc]

indeed, I think the CD sounds better, like the recording of the Improvisation at the beginning, i think the recording of Cathedrales was from closer to the console, so we don't hear that ROAR of the magnificent Contra-Bombarde.

[ds1868]

Well that explains it then, the roar of the 32' is rolling over the recording equipment. Take a listen to the Mulet on here, what a contrast!

[BeFrSc]

my mistake, the only two stops that AREN'T in use in the right jam of pedal stops are the Flute 4' and the Contra Basson, the Contra bombarde is the stop closest to us on the right jam, top level. It is the recording thats stopping us feeling the great sound.

[andre26071955]

I think what you hear in this video-clip is the sound of the camcorder, not that of the recording-equipment, so that explains why everything is a bit out of balance.

[oakberry61woohalol]

I'm visiting Normandy In 2 weeks and this is their nearist city.

[jas161]

What incredible reeds!!

[ds1868]

This organ has its own unique sound, magnified by a fantastic acoustic in an Abbey church actually larger than Notre Dame de Paris. And the 32' Contra Bombarde is without equal. In my opinion, this instrument is right at the top with St Sulpice. Thanks for posting this!

[TrompenCh167]

I LOVE Cavaille-Coll 32 foot reeds- some of his finest examples are at St. Sulpice, Notre Dame and here. Is there anywhere in which I can find the Trompette en Chamade being used on this organ?

[ds1868]

I am not sure if the 32' Contra Bombarde is being used here, perhaps only the 16' Bombarde? The St Ouen 32' reed is an incredible roar, rather like a rock slide crashing down a cliff face at you - well, that's how it sounded to me the last time I listened to it in St Ouen. An incredible stop in its own right!

[marsvltor2]

Agreed over St Ouen's 32'! I think the finest recording of the 'big one' in use, is in Moriset-Balier's recording of Widor 2. The last movement was responsible many years ago for destroying a perfectly good pair of speakers!

Seriously: this organ is a gem, and THAT Contrabombarde has to be the greatest stop of its kind extant.

Regards, Paul :-)

[brestull]

Jeremy Filsell's recording of the Symphonies of Louis Vierne. I know he uses it on at least two tracks. First movement of Symphonie No. 3, and the last movement of Symphonie No. 3. Hope that helps.

[AARONFOLWELL]

I have played that organ at the rumble is the 32 bombarden and 16 bombarden and all the bass and flutes and coupled together... that is what that rumble is all about

[JDWP254]

I love that rumble!

[keyz125]

I'm working on Cathédrales right now! A very fun piece to work up - and not THAT hard...the section that Mr. Roth is playing here is by far the hardest, the rest isn't too bad.

[organ1029]

Where can I find the sheet music for that piece?

[keyz125]

I'm assuming if you check online or a local music store they'll have it. Since I'm at a university, I just borrowed mine from the library, but I'm guessing it won't be hard to find for you elsewhere. It's from the 4th Suite of the 24 Fantasy Pieces of Vierne Op.55. Good luck!

[guimbadriver]

hey how i can play it theres a lots of controls registers play a fairlight is easy but plays a pipe organ is a dream for me...

[Streetcar1743]

That improvision he did was so great, I rather have the producers of American Idol use that rather than the one they have. The Daniel Roth one is better.

[stephzech]

magnifique instrument et quel talent,Daniel

[ryanwfrederick]

Cathedrales...that piece is difficult on an unimaginable level...and to have somebody like Roth playing...I own the CD that this is on, and WOW...

If there is one thing the French know how to do, its play the organ...

[Dannyboi450]

wow this guy has my exact same name

[johannuscro]

wonderfull

[tjugofyra]

The opening inprovisation is really, and i mean it, the best thing I ever heard...

Never head something in that class before

[jmeister321684]

Yes tjugofyra, Daniel Roth is improvising on the glorious "Alleluia" gregorian theme and in C Major; it really "opens up" everything especially in those acoustics and vessel. JW

[DRJFK1986]

Oh yes! Awesome!

[classicalmusic1mzrt]

amazing! I hope I can see that organ somday. :-)

[Exavolt1]

i like the beginning what was that

[Reesman95]

I like the opening piece or improvisation

[JV68]

It is just am improv he did for me.

[bhigdaddymark]

Thank God for all of the French composers, ALL of the French organists, Cavaille-Coll, and most of all for Joe Vitacco and his fine label JAV, for bringing this and other wonderful music to us lovers of the organ and its music. Christopher81 is right, PLEASE re-issue Great Organs of New York, I foolishly never bought a copy. You're a stand-up guy Joe!

[JV68]

Well thanks for all of the kind words. GOONY would just cost way too much money to make another run of. Good thought though.

[gmorales1983]

Im glad you post previews of these recordings.....they are standouts and cant wait to order my copies.

[cissyrae54]

I am both a pianist and an organist, and I assure you the instruments are very different. Each has its own approach, method and measure. Each is played in response to its own unique design. And both are lovely instruments. I was fortunate enought to hear Mr. Roth play in April of this year on this incomparable instrument, and it will always be one of my very fondest memories. He is a true artist.

[belgallego]

¡Qué órgano y piano son lo mismo¡??? Lo único igual es el teclado; no se puede comparar el sonido del rey de los instrumentos ni con un piano Steinway. Soy pianista y organista.

[Streetcar1743]

I also enjoy the heavy bass on the pedals. Especially on this one. But what is the name of the opening piece to this video? I like it.

[BeFrSc]

its just an improvisation he did on a chant.

[accousticdecay]

You call it eerie, I call it... acoustic decay... the longer the better. A good organ in an acoustically dead room has a bad sound, and is generally the result of egregious planning and/or ignorance.

[octave4]

Bravo - How dare you come out and tell the TRUTH!!! Too many architects are now busy designing churches (Building) with little regard for purpose and more effort at making a name for themselves with "Innovative Designs". They forgot what beauty and art reall is. They forgot the lessons of magnficent buildings and music halls in a effort to be "Modern" and "Different". Please, give me the traditional, awe inspiring, graceful and wonderul sonding.

[Exavolt1]

i love the sound of a organ,it dosent cease to amaze me.expesially ones that sound errie

[Exavolt1]

The song seems so sinister yet do peacefull

[Exavolt1]

The organ and piano is very much the same

[acchos]

No there not. Only the keys are the same and the notes are the same, the rest is completely different. You have more controle over tone on pipe organs, you have to play notes with your feet, pull out stops, open and close the swell shutters. Theres alot more to it than just pressing keys.

[gooseholla]

man that guy looks so meanacing, but speaks so softly with a lovely voice.

[paranormaalutrecht]

Absolute fenomenalll........... Mr Roth is a great interpreter...........

[accousticdecay]

French organs have the best sound of all, especially the sizzzling reeds. And you can't top those tall cathedrals for accoustics. I have been playing organ for 42 years and cannot compare to Maestro Roth on the least point, except that I love to play, and that I adore the instrument upon which the Almighty has allowed me to serve Him. Il Signore vi benedica!

[keyz125]

WOW. Amazing. I've been playing the piano for about 14 years and the organ for 6....is this a piece someone playing for this long could do?

[BeFrSc]

I've been reading music for 9 years and playing the Organ for 5 months and i can do it, so yes, it's not difficult, it just requires good planning and analysis as LittleVierne said before.

[NWalterstorf]

It's not particularly hard, but then again, it's not particularly easy. In the case of this piece, it's not so much getting the notes down that's the hard part. As with lots of Romantic Organ literature, the challenge lies in the Interpretation.

[pianoandpipes]

Both he and that organ are so freaking amazing.. :)

Ahhh...heaven indeed. I wish my church would do that when I let up...

[LittleVierne]

his is my favorite piece in the world and I would really love it if someone would post the whole piece. It really isn't hard.

[and3583]

Posting not hard, playing this is very hard - M. Roth makes it look easy because he's a world class genius. Hard to get a good recording all the way through, interruptions from traffic, coughing in the cold air etc., also the accoustics of st. ouen carry Cavaille Coll's near perfect tonal design happily, but make it very hard to record. Great piece, though. My favourite is the finale from Vierne's last symphony, which affects me powerfully.

[LittleVierne]

I have the sheet music for it. It really isn't hard. It's not particularly simple, but not hard. Just needs some practicing and some careful analysis and planning out.

[and3583]

You probably know it better than me, then. I try to get Vierne's music into my head and think it through as I play because I think thats how he created it, "the sound of the sea as a framework for his dreams" etc. Doesn't mean I'm right, of course. And you are probably a better player than you think you are, its not that easy!!

[marsvltor2]

Love your comments on traffic outside S Ouen: I have one of the final recordings made when the place was still consecrated, with Pierre Labric (the last Titulaire) playing the Vierne Pieces de Fantasie: right in the middle of a 'ppp' passage, the local Gendarme roars past, complete with sirens lol

[Benedict101]

Astonishing. In awe of Daniel Roth's skill, and almost equally in awe of that 'gorgeous organ'. A PROPER 32' reed - really makes the room shake

[yakedo]

i don't know a thing about organs....but why are there so many pedals and why three keyboards? i'm a pianist so i'm completely clueless :P

[JV68]

The different keyboards have different sets of pipes in different parts of the organ. One set of pipes is in a box called the Swell which has giant shutter that can be opened and closed to make the organ louder and softer. Other divisions have different sounding pipes - hard to explain. The pedals are just like a keyboard for the feet. Joe

[BeFrSc]

Yakedo, the different keyboards are to get different sounds on each one, and some of them have volume control, also there are 4 keyboards here, but i've seen one which has 7, they come up and above your head, amazing, there are normally 2 and a half octaves of pedals to provide good range and a really dramatic effect, but it needs a real master to get a perfect sound for a certain tune.

[yakedo]

lol sounds complex...i think i'll stick with my piano :P thnx though.

[BeFrSc]

true, it's the hardest instrument to play in the world, but getting the touch for a piano is difficult as well, best of luck.

[acoustics101]

An excellent instrument in an ideal setting!

[NeoMalikov]

OH MAN, I know exactly what he means by heaven :D!!!

[BeFrSc]

I love the sound of this bombarde, eelgar1857 is right, there are no others like them. I love using bombardes, they bring out the full power of the Organ, but i'm not a big fan of claron stops, they sound like a fart lol

[sylvainletellier]

Bravo Daniel, j'irai prochainement t'écouter à Saint Sulpice.

[Nodewarrior]

What is it about the Cavaille-Coll low reeds. They have that terrifying clobbering power, yet such clarity. Just a never-ending pyramid of towering majesty. They truly sound like mountains and sky look. And so French, a France that I'm a fear is waning...

[eelgar1857]

Yes, the 32' and 16' Bombarde stops are like no others.

They sound to me like 50 tympanists gone mad!

[BeFrSc]

Please, does anyone have the sheet music for Cathedral by Vierne? I really want it.

[LJockeAndersson]

You can buy the sheet music for Cathédrale in every sheet music shop. A good publisher is "Editions Henry Lemoine, Paris". It is 'Piéces de Fantaisie, pour Grand Orgue', and it is the fourth suite .

[NWalterstorf]

There's several big sites which have this piece. As LJockeAndersson mentioned, it's from his Pieces de Fantaisie. You can find these on common sheet music sites. I found Cathedrale (sorry, no special symbols) on a certain music site by searching for "Louis Vierne" and "Fantasy Pieces". I then searched through the Op. to find the correct one, and I ordered it.

It's a wonderful piece, and not as complicated as I imagined. The challenge is truly finding the perfect mix of color and tone.

[Shogunmiyuchan]

What is the piece of music played right at the very beginning of the video after the intro and during the montage???

[JV68]

It was just an improvisation I asked him to do on a chant

[GrandeChoeur]

He is so amazing. I wish I could improvise as well as him!

[thesurfinbirds]

This is such wonderful music, played so magnificently on a superb instrument in a glorious building that I am without the proper words to describe it further. Thanks for posting!

[AndrewJirele]

This is my absolute favorite of Cavaille-Coll's instruments. It is very unfortunate that he went bankrupt on its construction, but it was worth it!

Mr. Roth and his "combination action" work spendidly to make this instrument shine.

[bbinchi]

I'll add my sincere thanks to Joe Vitacco for these videos and for his wonderful CD's. I am privileged to know some of these musicians personally and their friendship has been a great gift to me. They have always accepted me as a non-musician (but a very passionate supporter of their efforts!) and treated me with great respect despite my lack of musical ability. God bless you all.

[bunkytony]

I've been a pipe organ fanatic for thirty years.

Listening to a fabulous instument like this is a real

treasure.

[Streetcar1743]

Cavaille-Coll organs are some of the best but very few survive. The builder is no longer around. Not too many organs are left that have the old keyboard dubbing. But in mose European countries, you might run into a church or cathedral that might still have one.

[MarkHarmer]

Brilliant to be able to see the keyboard and imagine yourself looking over the organist's shoulder. The french cathedral organ is just fantastic - a gorgeous sound.

[JV68]

St. Ouen is just a church it is not a Cathedral

[MarkHarmer]

OK - a technicality!

[Christopher81]

Thanks to Joe Vitacco for making such wonderful recordings of landmark instruments not only just in the US, but abroad. Bravo! Just wish they would re-issue the Great Organs of New York collection. I lost mine in Hurricane Katrina.

[Streetcar1743]

One neat thing about the Cavaille-Coll organs is the pedal really sings.

[smb12321]

The triumphant sounds of this great organ reminds one of the glory days of France in the 19th century with her muscular Catholicism. Thank God for this great organ maker and the line of composers that utilized his instrument - Guilmant, Widor, Vierne, Dubois, Gigout, Boellmann - what a lineup. Thanks, Mr Roth, for making these videos available to the public free of charge.

[hajjrun]

Is the introductory music an improvisation, or is it actually a piece. If so, does anyone know what?

[JV68]

No I just asked him to improvise on the Alleluia as if he was playing for a Mass. The Alleluia comes before and after the Gospel is read in the Roman Catholic Church. The organ is AMAZING! DANIEL IS AN AMAZING ARTIST and a WONDERFUL PERSON!

[Christopher81]

I have played this organ quite a few times (once performing Widor's Gothique and Romane Symphonies) and the other time performing Dupre's "Symphonie-Passion" and "In Memoriam". I have found it to be probably my most favourite Cavaille-Coll along with St. Sernin in Toulouse.

[NWalterstorf]

Very impressive. I love the sound of the French Pipe Organ, but I've never had the luxury of playing the French Organ.

[Christopher81]

French Organs are known for their reed stops. He's not making "as much noise as possible". Interesting to know which of you are actually true organists and those who just have a few CDs and have read a book or two. C. Gable T. Ste. George, B.Mus, M.Mus., M.S.M., AAGO

[iamrepete]

I am not a true organist so I gather I am not qualified to post comments since I don't have a bunch of letters after my name:\

[NWalterstorf]

Please, sarcasm is not necessary. Christopher was stressing the importance between an Informed comment about the Organ as opposed to an Uninformed comment.

[Orionman8]

Wow this a great big organ.

[julorg]

I played this piece of Vierne on this organ ! That was a great moment in my musical life !

[melvis24]

He is only making monstreous noise (i don't say he can't play). You only hear mud. Too many reeds make headache.

[alanwm1978]

I have to agree. Again, I don't say he can't play, but why pull almost every stop out to make as much noise as possible!?

[rotunda57]

Interesting difference of opinion here - I love the soundpower from the heavy reeds, especially the 32'. Look closely at the picture - you can see the dust shaking down from the ceiling!

[Doeff8]

Might your opinion be clouded by the fact that: 1) you might not have very much experience with the acoustics of such organs in such cathedrals and/or 2.) you might not be very experienced in listening to the often more complicated pieces of Widor , Vierne etc. You can assume Daniel Roth has thought the registration over many times before playing, and he one of the best Widor/Vierne players of this time. I think this registration actually quite transparent!

[diapason16]

This is playing is like a God

[Claus12]

Bravissimo Daniel Roth!!!

[JanPB]

It would be magnificent if you released the video with this audio as well (in other words, release a DVD version besides the SACD). The footage you have here is perfect - it's all that's needed. The less the camera moves and the less cutesy cutaways to the organ pipework, the better.

[casavantlover]

This Cavaille-Coll is simply refered to as "The Masterpiece" and after hearing it, you know why.