Ballo del Granduca - Ton Koopman, Compenius organ

[Gatltonian]

This is a magnificent instrument to hear and a masterpiece visually, too.

[proulxmontpellier]

Just think of the "harp" stops on Ruckers harpsichords. No one has ever tried to reproduce that on modern copies, because "dirty" sounds are no longer a part of our musical ear. But they still are for Western Africans.

[MeinnameistDreck]

The modern ear is not used to all these rasping reeds, so unfortunately, people say things like skylighter did, but what a beautiful sound!!

[fcouperin]

@MeinnameistDreck We all have modern ears, insofar as we are not as old as this organ ; ). Even so, I've always liked the Regal stop since I first heard it. It is ok to dislike anything, I think, as long as no one tries _to do something about it_, like destroying or 'fixing' what isn't broken...

[skylighter15]

I appreciate the nostalgic merit of this organ.. but damn, that sounds like crap!

[advisorC101]

@skylighter15, And it's no doubt due to this attitude by many at the time that almost none of these organs survived. No offense intended, but I find that your remark is based purely on a viseral reaction.

[skylighter15]

@advisorC101 Well, my wording wasnt exactly scholarly. :P So I agree, purely viseral. However, to me the pipes sound like totally unrefined reed technology. That is what they were striving for I suppose(as you mentioned about attitudes at the time), but Its not exactly pleasant considering the relative quality of other reed pipe sounds. To me the "Regal" stop is too abrasive and loud.

[Doeff8]

Sweelinck must have heard this theme in Italy? I have sung it as a part of the so called intermedii of La Pellegrina (Luca Marenzio, Cristofano Malvezzi, Giulio Caccini, Jacopo Peri, Antonio Archilei, Emilio De' Cavalieri & Giovanni di Bardi) from 1589.

[Doeff8]

@Doeff8 To be more precise (looked it up): Emilio de Cavalieri - O che nuovo miracolo (last piece of the Intermedii)

[keyboardjeff]

Where can I find the disposition? I'd really love to know.

[infoclessidra]

Mamma mia che brutta sonorità quest'organo!

[keyboardjeff]

What is the stop called that he is playing in the beginning? Please reply this message.

[advisorC101]

@keyboardjeff, if you're referring to the reed stop. It's called a regal.

[spr1ng0ni0n]

Very nice organ. I only know the Dutch organs, and I thought we possess all there is ;-) obviously I was very wrong

[gidimeir]

What a delightful instrument to hear! A real voice from the far past.

[advisorC101]

@gidimeir, Exactly my thoughts!

[geminian7846]

I still think the best recording of this organ is the old Archiv Produktion LP of Helmut Tramnitz, even though it was made long before the most recent restoration (and long after the previous one), so in places the action sounds like a ringmaster's whip!

The more I hear of Ton Koopman the less he inspires, I'm afraid. I really don't know why there are so many postings of him on YouTube. (I know that's blasphemy, but I can't help it - it's how I feel.)

[advisorC101]

@geminian7846, Why did you post the same comment three times in a row? Please don't do that. Also, if you want to know why there are so many recordings of Koopman it's because there are many who have different musical senses than you do. It's stupid in my opinion to think of anything in art as the best, it's only meant to be different. And it's only natural you will have those with a different taste. Basic stuff really, but very seldom is it that anyone pays enough respect to subjectivity.

[rsns311257]

I remember the first time I listened to this record, and I'll love the raucous rasping of the marvellous 16' regal plenum for ever! Even if I don't particularly like the very rhythmic approach of Koopman.

[proulxmontpellier]

@rsns311257 How could you dream of dancing if the approach is not rhythmic?

[willowthebored]

It's a shame the acoustic is so poor. I'm no fan of regal-heavy instruments like this, but it's certainly an interesting display.

[advisorC101]

That is most likely one of the many reasons why Buxtehude and Bach were not so conservative with these instruments.

[willowthebored]

@advisorC101

Yeah. I think these old-old instruments weren't meant for much but liturgical accompianiament . They don't have the vertical clarity to render counterpoint effectively, and the large number of regals as opposed to a full-length reed chorus make them inappropriate for anything that calls for a grand registration.

[pordzio]

@willowthebored i would say, that this organ is exceptional, because was ordered to buid this organ using only wood. That limits the color resources in the organ. Nevertheless marvelous job.

[willowthebored]

@pordzio

Really? That's quite unusual (and unfortunate for the builders). If they managed to build anything over five stops out of nothing but wood I'd be quite impressed that they managed to get this much variety out of it. (contrasting Cavaille-Coll, who tried to use as little wood as possible!)

[Bachlives2]

@willowthebored Actually the acoustic is quite good. Just the recording doesn't pick it up. This is not really a religious organ. It is a secular organ for entertainment. Which is why it has so many regal type stops. It was essentially the "Conn Fun Machine" of the 17th Century. It is a shame that Koopman does not inspire you!

[advisorC101]

@Bachlives2, Thanks for the interesting comment. I didn't know this was a secular organ.

[serrano525]

un poco ronco al principio...