Henri Mulet's Carillon-Sortie at St Ouen

[MrBooker39]

Holy Smoke!! What tremendous sound...and playing! It's really amazing to me how much organ sound can be captured on a recording today with remarkable fidelity.

Thanks for posting!

[notredameswarrior1]

This recording proves why St. Ouen to me is the greatest organ in the world. Yea shure there are larger but to me this just beats them all. No other organ to me has a more powerful 32 foot bombard than this. This is just truely music. I really want to know what Cavaille Coll was thinking when he built this 32 foot bombard. Was it the voice of God? I think it might of been.

[ds1868]

@notredameswarrior1 The 32' Bombarde isn't by ACC - most of the 'Grand jeu' is 18th Century Clicquot. ACC kept a great deal of pipework from the previous organ, and added his own 'jeu de fonds' to complete the contract. To use his own words, this 'synthesis of old and new' was the true genius of this organ builder. The greatest example of this 'synthesis' is at St Sulpice, where 40% of the pipework is Clicquot.

[dwarrren9]

It's a real treat to hear a french organ playing a piece by a french composer!

[passacaglia28]

No living room sound system today can come close to a live performance on a wonderful organ such as this. Unfortunately, I have never had the pleasure of being anywhere near this particular organ as I am stuck here across the pond. This must be so magnificent in person.

[elgar34]

Thank-you. I loved it!

[poopingeneral]

Is the design of this organ considered Gothic? Anyone? thanks.

[mohaa909]

@poopingeneral You can call it a bit that way ;) Those organs were build by Cavaillé-coll, one of the most influencing organbuilders in France and for the French Romantic Era. The most churches were he build his organs were large Gothic ones. They are really fitted in the space where they stand :)

[AnOrganCornucopia]

@poopingeneral - not really! Are you talking about its tonal design or the design of the case? If the latter, the case is from the 1630 Crespin Carlier organ - in terms of its style and date, it's more Baroque. There are about 20 old ranks from various rebuilds - some may be by Carlier, but not all of them are originally from St Ouen!

[leedshunk]

that 32 ft bombarde is amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jbaumboy]

This is why we love the pipe organ! Wow! Heard this great piece at 4th Pres. yesterday in Chicago !!! Made my day!

[trompettechamade1]

An excellent performance on an outstanding instrument accompanied by fantastic photography! Thanks you very much for posting!

[vleermuisje2]

Ik heb Andreas Meisner in 2010 gehoord in de Laurenskerk te Rotterdam.

Een geweldig groot vakman en bovendien ook nog een bevlogen man.

Ook hier laat hij horen de juiste interpretatie te hebben gevonden voor de weergave van prachtig en beroemd werk van Henri Mulet.

Herzlichen Dank Herr Meisner und guten Erfolg!

[notredameswarrior1]

not many organs in this world can do what this organ did at 3:36. there is no other instrument like this one.

[ds1868]

@notredameswarrior1 I think the effect of the 32' Bombarde is probably unique. I've heard it standing in the nave and it's like a tidal wave of sound rolling down the nave. The pipes are 18th Century Clicquot, with a high tin content (and therefore priceless), no doubt Cavaille-Coll gave them new reed tongues, but the end result is spectacular. Without doubt the finest 32' Bombarde in the world.

[notredameswarrior1]

@ds1868 it probaly is dude. and this organ could rate in the top 3 best organs in the world also i think.

[trompettechamade1]

@ds1868 Without saying anything about St. Ouen's 32' Bombarde (I have never heard it live), the one in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in D.C. is quite impressive also. It used to even more dominant before he 2003 rebuild (when it was known as the Contra Trombone). It would sound as loud as the entire rest organ, and compete with the Pontifical Trumpet, but it is still very impressive now.

[notredameswarrior1]

@trompettechamade1 i can agree also. it might be hard to believe but i get to go down there and help my dads organ company to restore it. i get play on it and stuff. i love the Pontifical Trumpet. its absolutly outstanding. but this 32 contre bombard at st.ouen sounds pretty impressive also. but the shrine is one of my favorite organs also. its my favorite organ that ive gotton to play on. check on my channel to hear a recording of it.

[trompettechamade1]

@notredameswarrior1 Thank you very much sending me the video. I do not have facilities to upload videos, but I do enjoy seeing the good ones, like yours. The sound and the pictures are both excellent. There are some recordngs made on the Shrine organ that you might enjoy. 2 are by Robert Grogan: "In Dulci Jubilo" and "Times and Seasons" and one is by Jeremy Filsell but I forget the title - it's a 2-disc set for $14.95! All hree are excellent

musically and sonically. get them.

[trompettechamade1]

@notredameswarrior1 You might be interested in the Washington Cathedral's July 4 concert at 11AM. You can sit in the Great Choir where the organ pipes are. It may be one of the last chances to hear a different organ before it is dismantled and replaced. Many, many people are dismayed to hear that they are planning to replace it rather than restore it. In addition they plan to install a Cassavant organ in the western gallery, something I suggested to several organists for over 10 years.

[notredameswarrior1]

@trompettechamade1 i dont think the organ will be getting replaced anytime soon. i know the care taker of the organ as well his name is bard. he said the cathedral dosnt have the funds to do it right now so he said it might be another 10 years before they start maybe replacing it.

[trompettechamade1]

@notredameswarrior1 O yes, they are out of funds for the project now; their own web site admits that. What I meant was that I do not know how long they will conrinue to have recitals on the old Aeolian Skinner. They were going to stop them 2 summers ago, but they changed their mind this year. A lot of people are very upset that they decided to take the drastic step of replacing the old organ instead of restoring it. Many of them are outstanding organists familiar with the grand old lady.

[notredameswarrior1]

@trompettechamade1 i know man. probaly would take less money to restore it than get a new one. but its there decision.

[stylusfantasticus]

Unparalleled criminal 32´Bombarde !!!!!!

[omahas9000]

My God. I continue to be amazed by this organ and the accoustics with which it's blessed. Wait.....maybe the accoustics blessed by the presence of this organ! THANK you for posting this incredible recording.

[zerocurve]

@samc726 I'm pretty sure it was. Besides, the foot length number only refers to the length of low C (the longest pipe). Wesley was alive at a time where churches had a lot of power, and no expense was spared. I'm sure there's literature on it somewhere, so if you find something, let me know!

[Zweitmozart]

ein toller Organist!!!

[tlb25303]

To JFSNAIL: I totally agree,,,,, this is by far Cavaille-Coll's masterpiece...wow wow wow wow !! The acoustics at St Ouen are the best I've heard anywhere on the internet, and I've searched and listened to many, many cathedral organs, and this is by far my favorite organ and building combination.

Thanks for the video!

[vleermuisje2]

EXCUSES.

In mijn commentaar van 2 weken geleden heb ik een ernstige fout gemaakt. De naam is natuurlijk:

ANDREAS MEISNER.

[vleermuisje2]

Van deze muziek krijg je werkelijk "hemelse gevoelens".

En de wijze waarop Andreas Mesiner de Carillon Sortie uitvoert is meesterlijk.

Het is genieten geblazen van deze video. Hartelijk dank voor degene die hem plaatste.

[RogueHarry]

Un seul mot MAGNIFIQUE

[Bassetenator]

how hard is the organ to learn, I know its hard, but i am thinking bout getting piao lessons but i am debating getting piano or organ and im thinking bout organ, are they similar or will learning one make it harder to play the other?

[churchwhistles]

@Bassetenator Go for both instruments! Get a good headstart on the piano. When you feel totally comfortable at the keyboard, then start on the organ. The instruments have a different touch, but I think they are complementary to each other. Good luck!

[GJmusique]

@Bassetenator

The more advanced the music gets, the more different the techniques are. They are really to different instruments. The music in this video is very advanced. To get to this level from square one, you will need at least 5 years of intensive study..

[Bassetenator]

@GJmusique mmk, so that means 10 years of semi intensive....

[GJmusique]

@Bassetenator

At least..

[passacaglia28]

Wow! It is as if there is thunder in the pedal line. :D

[gerdi911]

Danke, lieber Andreas Meissner fuer diese tolle Einspielung!!!

[Paschalboy]

WOW I haven't heard this piece for many years, and what a wonderful organ to hear it on, great job to say the least!

[TheOrganKid]

WOWOW.....Stunning

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Wow!! Even though my cheesy laptop speakers the St. Quen organ is very powerful. I am sorely tempted to hook my laptop to my home theater system just to watch this video again.

[EccentricRichard]

Sad that the organist's performance was so poor. Poor rhythmic control, overegging the registration - though that ending was stunning!

[MsFlowertree]

Glenn, you made this quite a confection combining the music and the pictures. How very beautiful. Lynn

[abbohler]

Quelle pièce! Quel entrain! Vraiment magnifique et puissant!

[Petronivs1750]

Einfach großartig !

[silverstartrucker]

Excellent.

[midkanzan]

What a fantastic performance on one of the finest organs in the world!

[poopingeneral]

holy jesus fucking christ!! the last 10 seconds were epic as hell!!!

[MrAlex413x]

from 3:35 whn the pedal deparment comes in ! 32' bombrade wins everytime :-)

[MrAlex413x]

that sounds amazing !

my regards to the pedal deparment !!!

[passacaglia28]

Impressive... most impressive. I love listening to this awesome organ and feeling the bass from my subwoofer even thought I'm sure no recording can substitute actually being there.

[ds1868]

Yes I wonder how this would sound in my home here with a subwoofer? Anyway, in the flesh the pedal is, shall we say, interesting!

[ds1868]

Yes I agree it is not blaring, but its overall effect is quite profound. Why this is I'm not really sure. Sitting (or standing) in the nave the overall effect is rather like an imaginary rockslide coming straight at you. There is simply nothing else like it. The effect is quite awesome really, and recordings (any recordings) are not able to bring across the full stunning effect of the reeds at St Ouen - you have to be there in person to witness the full effect for yourself.

[ds1868]

Yes they are. I believe the bottom notes of the 32' Bombarde are not only full length, but they are not 'kinked' at all, but are straight. So the bottom pipes are positioned behind the front turrets, as you see here. Strangely, from the floor of the nave, you cannot see them at all, from any angle (I have tried deliberately to do this). So a clever piece of placement for this 18th Century reed, perhaps the finest 32' Bombarde in the world.

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Awesome performance. The organ at St Quen's certainly boasts a powerful roar.

[KE5RHD]

One of the best Carillon renditions I've heard.

[Robersim]

I truly love this piece, Magnificent!

[Egestus18]

this organ has neither a 64' register nor quint for a resultant 64'

it has only a soubasse 32' and a contrebombarde 32' and then only 16' etc. pp.

[signfid376]

Kolner Dom has a 64' Vox Belenae........

[bachprofessore]

Ok, for all ones who can't understand it: Since many many years there have been only 2 real 64' in the world, The Contra-Trombone 64' in the Sydney Town Hall, and the other one is the Diaphone-Dulcian in Atlantic City!

[passacaglia28]

God I would love to be present and "feel" the subsonic tremors from either organ. That must be quite an experience. Or even the piercing sound of the ACCHO's Grand Ophicleid, which operates on 100" of wind pressure! :D

[firenmage]

If St. Peter's Basilica had an organ this amazing, it would be the best cuz obviously the basilica is HUGE and a wonderful organ like this would definitely sound good with acoustics like that!!!!!

[advisorC101]

What's their organ like anyway?

[firenmage]

The organ at St Peter's is fairly small and it is divided into four different parts, i think..it has one or two acoustic 32's, but its largest real stop is an ordinary 16' Principal..its not very impressive. However, Cavaille-Coll made plans to build a huge organ in St. Peter's basilica!!!! It was actualy his lifelong dream..too bad it never came true.

[advisorC101]

Its stupid that they put up with such a small instrument in the worlds biggest cathedral.

I thought Cavaille-Coll might have wanted to do something like that but what did the cathedral think?

I mean, why didn't Mutin or the one after him do something about it?

[jpxy20]

I don't think anyone had the money or the interest to finance such an organ which is a real shame but I could be wrong.

[advisorC101]

No, I don't think money was the problem. Cavaille-Coll died before he could do it.

[edolch]

Um...St. Ouen is not the worlds largest cathedral.

[advisorC101]

Uhm.. I know. We're talking about St Peter's basilica in Rome.

[edolch]

Oh, sorry! I was like...what? lol.

[ds1868]

St Ouen is not a Cathedral, and never has been.

[gngeannakakes]

St. John the Devine on 110th Street and Amsterdam in Manhattan (New York City) is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world.

[menschmaschine5]

I believe that it is the largest Cathedral in the world, period. St. Peter's Basilica isn't technically a Cathedral.

[ds1868]

@menschmaschine5 St Ouen is not a Cathedral, and never has been in its 700 years existence. Rouen Cathedral is half a mile walk down the road. St Ouen is now a de-consecrated church, used for Concerts and the performing arts.

[menschmaschine5]

@ds1868 That was in reply to a comment about the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. I'm fully aware that St. Ouen isn't a cathedral.

[EccentricRichard]

@ds1868 - are there no church services held at St Ouen?

[redletterchurch]

@ds1868 Why was St. Ouen de-consecrated? I like the idea of spiritual, emotional, and ethical elevation, rather than penetence, sacrifice, worship, and praise, but I don't like the idea of pompous and supersilious star-studded shows masquerading as church services. The praise-songs are more suited to campfire singing. Where is the proper balance in all of this? There seems to be so much turmoil in the world, not just in the church. I'm looking for a genuinely happy medium (named Madame Sophie?)!

[ds1868]

@redletterchurch Honestly don't know - presumably falling church attendance, there are plenty of churches in Rouen, with the Cathedral only a few minutes down the road. It is still kept busy with concerts and performing arts, but you know when you walk in it is no longer religiously 'active'. The atmosphere is missing. It is a shame I agree.

[EccentricRichard]

@redletterchurch - the happy medium is (and here I speak as a teenager myself) to bin all the modern watered-down worshippery-rhyme nonsense the Church seems determined at episcopal level to feed us and return to Catholicism's roots - Latin, bells, incense and Plainsong.

[chwidder]

@advisorC101: Mutin *did* try to do something about St. Peter's, since he, too, submitted a project in 1910 (but which was rejected as well, just like Cavaillé-Coll's 1875 project).

[advisorC101]

Its a shame really... they would truly have benefited from such a grand instrument.

Thanks for the info chwidder.

[polsterj]

Like bachprofessore already said, the artworks mustn't be covered, so there are just small organ parts. St. Peters will always hava a boring organ, I'm sure!

[advisorC101]

That's a shame..

[bachprofessore]

It's also important that there can't be a huge organ installed without covering all the works of art there. The only possibility would be an organ designed as a "hovercraft", Rieger built one with 60 stops - 4 less than St Ouen!

[TheGball223]

@TheGball223

Oops, sorry folks; I think that was Willis looking at drawing up specifications for an organ at St. Peter's, not Aeolian-Skinner.

[bombarde1701]

Wow I don't think I have this one..

[wheidelberg]

Absolutely fabulous organ, performance and acoustics in the building.

[Pedalpoint1]

I like this piece. There is somethig so youthful and refreshing about it. The organ is grand. One of my french favourites. I think St Sulpice is the best, then this organ, then Notre Dame (sought of). My Favourite English organ is the H & H organ at Coventry Cathedral. To me, the St Sulpice Grande Orgue is the best in the world. The Choir organ is also big (if you know what I mean). It is a great accompanying organ. Who is the organist at St Ouen now?

[andre26071955]

Mrs. Marie-André Morisset-Balier

[Guilloufan]

I can ensure you there's no 64' present on this organ. Maybe it's a combination of a Soubasse and a Bombarde 32'.

This piece sounds very good!!

[bachprofessore]

There are Quints being played at the last part in the Pedal at the end. So you can hear a resultant Soubasse 64' and a resultant Contre-Bombarde 64'.

[lllmozartlll]

Glorious music this Carillon-Sortie, one of the best recordings ever, absolutely superb. Beautifully played on one of the best Cavaille-Coll organs ever build.

[FromHolbergsTime]

Simply astounding in spaciousness and splendor. Absolutely first-rate in the capture of such Cavaille-Coll majesty!

[Aaronorganist19]

About the 64 Bombard. I no the in and the out`s Of the Gloucester Cathedral Organ From when it was First Installed. There was No 64 Bombard installed on that organ. Untill 2003Nicholson was the first company to install the 32 Bombarde On the Organ. so ware u got that story From my friend Is On belif Really . Sorry

[lithwl]

Mere words cannot describe this sonic splendor! Someone who plays with such expression - not needing to race through like some contest. A truly moving experience.

[zanteson]

SUPERB! BRAVO!

[zerocurve]

Speaking of Bombardes, did you know SS Wesley had a 64' Bombarde installed under the Nave in Gloucester Cathedral!? They took them out after he died because they were causing structural damage to the foundation and windows! :O

[JFSnail]

Interesting story! Wesley died in 1876, 14 years before Hill built the first ever 64' reed for Sydney Town Hall. Interesting place to put one though :-)

[boltonbrowne]

Do you happen to know the name of the Sydney Town Hall's 64' reed stop?

Is it Bombarde Gravissima by any chance?

[JFSnail]

64' Contra Trombone. Combined with the 32' Contra Posaune it does sound incredible.

[poopingeneral]

@JFSnail I agree with you, however the Atlantic City Hall Convention Center has a 64 ft. 9 inch Diaphone Dulzian Low C Pipe that they can combine with a 42 ft. and 2/3 pipe. Very tonal and massive!

[ds1868]

There were also problems at St George's, Windsor Castle, where the 32' pedal reed was also causing structural problems as well! I don't think they allowed for huge reed stops when building in the 15th Century! Interestingly they corrected the structural problems, not the stop!!

[bachprofessore]

There are also churches where the gallery organs are installed on huge steel-constructions, Vierzehnheiligen in Germany is one, for example.

[robertgift]

Wonderful clear performance and great recording.

The 64' could not cause any structural damage to the foundation..

If something was that weak, it needs to be strengthened.

Reinforce the windows.

Where are the 64' Bombarde pipes?

I bet the real reason was because they would not speak or speak quickly enough.

[samc726]

@zerocurve Was the 64' Bombarde actually 64 feet high? They are pretty expensive just for one pipe! It probably cost around $60,000 - $90,000 for one rank (1 - 12).

[blogson]

Stunning performance and amazing recording, even with You Tube's limitations. Is there a CD? It demonstrates why many believe this organ to be Cavaille-Coll's finest work, even though when he built it he thought what already was present to be one of France's best and preserved some 20 of the existing ranks. Many thanks for the performance and the recording!

[goncourt49]

a beautiful performance. uplifting and elegant.

[belamoure]

Wonderbar you play it with fire and mastery- just listen to a sleepy version- yours is bouncing and lively!

[BoilerMan75]

Good Lord that Bombarde could crack a diamond. No wonder so many organists are deaf. Great stuff.

[boltonbrowne]

Bombarda Maxima!

xD

[Gball223]

Nice en-chamades (inside the casework??) at the end! I love that 32' Bombarde down to the final chord!!! That's just awesome. Thanks for posting.

[voltigeur1850]

Pedal entrance at 3.38...oh my!

[Menrathorgan]

I would be sooooo glad to hear or play that 32' Bombarde in real. You know, most Speakers or Redorders suck at 16 Hz :)

[ds1868]

It's the finest 32' Bombarde in the world.

[Menrathorgan]

That's a matter of common knowledge dude :D:D

[Arky83mi]

i second that! the pedal 8' trompette sure brings out the clarity in the pedal division too

[bachprofessore]

Cavaille-Coll is the best organ builder ever lived, and there will never be a better one! I sometimes play a 19-stop Cavaille-Coll inpspired organ in Germany, and it sounds more powerful than most of those American Organs.

[janmoeyaert1]

I agree!

[tamiasthechipmunk]

Amen to that!

[boltonbrowne]

American Organs are teh Sux0r!

French and English Organs are teh L33t!!

[bachprofessore]

What???

[boltonbrowne]

I'ts internet speak for:

American Organs suck.

French and English organs are the best.

[JFSnail]

There are good and bad organs all over the world, I personally love them all! No two organs are the same, thats what is so wonderful, I have favourites of course and St Ouen is one of them :-)

[menschmaschine5]

I do like French organs. However, to say that American organs suck when we have such marvelous instruments as the E.M. Skinner in Woolsey Hall (Yale University), the Aeolian-Skinner in St. Mary the Virgin (Times Square, NYC), The Skinner/Quimby in St. John the Divine (NYC) is a bit of a blanket statement. Sure, there are many poor instruments in America, but poor instruments exist throughout the world.

[EccentricRichard]

@boltonbrowne - that's just not fair. Now, I live in England, and a close family friend of mine is an organbuilder, but you go listen to the work of C. B. Fisk. Their organs are bloody good.

[simonsteam]

You could play Ba Ba Black sheep on that organ and it would still sound incredible;-p

[ds1868]

I agree! To hear this organ live in the Abbey is an unforgetable experience. Full organ sends shivers down the spine!

[marsvltor2]

You've given me an idea! Baa-Baa Black Sheep as a subject for a four-movement symphonic improvisation lol (Cochereau was known to do worse lol)

[JFSnail]

David Briggs improvised on that very theme on his Improvisations 2 CD :-)

[ContreBombarde]

I MUST add this CD to my library. One, I adore this instrument... my second favorite organ in the world (Notre-Dame de Paris is # 1). Two, I love this piece. Such a glorious combination!!!!

[marsvltor2]

Great to hear about the early history of the organ here... I haven't finished looking for clues either...

[dulzian64]

The 32' Contre-Bombarde combined with the acoustics of this building create a sound like no other. Awesome!!

[marsvltor2]

Cavaille-Coll: the greatest builder of all. Here we have his final instrument, including everything he had learned...what a result! (Finest CD recording of it is, in my view, Moriset-Balier, playing Widor 2: just listen to the Final...

Regards

Paul :-)

[ds1868]

I agree Paul, I have the M-B CD of Widor 9, Final totally awesome. How did C-C achieve all this with 64 stops? You don't need big instruments to be the best! Try telling that to the Americans!!

[marsvltor2]

rofl over the Americans: the more stop-knobs the better (even if they do nothing...) ;-)

[2468HOTROD]

Is this music on a CD? Someone please tell me that it is and where I can find this. I have to have this. Thank you so much for this wonderful music.

[JFSnail]

I have added details of the CD to the video info to your right, just click on more info :-)

[2468HOTROD]

Thank you, thank you, thank you

[skyler6290]

Have heard this piece played from time to time but love this performance of it with the organist taking the time for the notes to sing forth into the building - - of course on the glorious Cavaille-Coll instrument there. Glorious building and glorious acoustics combine with a spectacular organ and great playing for wonderful moment here! Good God, don't you just love those incredible C-Coll reeds!!!! I get goosebumps listening to them!!

[ds1868]

The finest organ in the world, in one of the finest church buildings in the world. An intriguing combination. Do go and listen to this organ in concert (the Abbey church is sadly deconsecrated for services), and wait in awe for the finest 32' Contra Bombarde ever created by the hand of man.

[marsvltor2]

ds - but was it the hand of man or the hand of God???

[ds1868]

Could be the hand of either, marsvltor, but it would be interesting to know, from a technical viewpoint, why this particular 32' reed is so effective. Acoustic and position of the organ gallery apart, there is obviously genius at work with this particular example. Is it 100% Cavaille Coll or did he use pipework from the previous instrument? Any clues?

[marsvltor2]

ds - without downplaying Cavaille-Coll's genius, I genuinely think that the combination of that instrument in that acoustic is a wonderful freak. I'm sure that when C-C first heard it, he would have been as surprised as anyone (but agreeably so!!!). None of C-C's other contras sound anything like S Ouen's.

Regards

P :-)

[ds1868]

Well I just wonder if the scale (width) of the stop is a little bit bigger than other C-C examples? But I go along with the setting, an incredible acoustic and of course the near perfect position of the organ gallery half way up the West End (thus also showing near all the rose window, unlike NDdeP where the organ gallery/tribune is too high, imho). But yes the St Ouen 32' is head and shoulders above NP and St Sulpice! and by definition the best in the world, as no one can match the C-C reeds!

[marsvltor2]

ds - I'll do a little bit of 'digging around' over the S Ouen scalings. Not at home at present (laptop!!), but I'll look at the big Motette Cavaille-Coll boxed LP set, as it has comprehensive specs and more... Maybe tomorrow before I get back though...

[JFSnail]

There is a pic in this video at 3:05 which shows the top portion of some of the 32' Bombarde pipes.

[ds1868]

Saw that JF, I notice the light colour of the metal, would this suggest a high tin content? If so I wonder if the 32' Bombarde is from the old organ, but revoiced in the C-C style? Perhaps P can dig out some further info.....

[marsvltor2]

Nothing yet - apart from the fact that in a photograph taken in the 1980s, the contras look the same dark colour as the rest of C-Cs metal pipework. Haven't given up yet though. P :-)

[ds1868]

Funny the tops of the very bottom registers of the 32' look a lighter colour - must be me!

[marsvltor2]

My knowledge of photographic history is not good, but I've found a photograph taken during C-C's rebuilding of S. Ouen's organ.  I don't know how much old film distorted relative colours, but the contras look almost black!!!

Regards,

P :-)

[tjugofyra]

I have three pictures of the Contra bombarde in my computer and the pipes are in the exact color as the pipes on the organ case! :)

[marsvltor2]

Agreed to some extent over the position of NDdeP's organ: whenever I'm there it does look VERY small lol

[tjugofyra]

Cavaille Coll kept approximately 20 stops from the previous organ!

[ds1868]

That's very interesting tjgofyra, thanks for the information! Do you know which stops they are?? My guess would be some of the reeds at least?

[tjugofyra]

I don't know exactly witch stops he kept, but I have read that he kept the ones in good condition! What I do know is that he kept the Montre 8' from the organ before the organ before the Cavaille coll organ! :P

I just saw some pix of the contra bombarde!

I didn't know that the top of the pipes were enclosed!

[ds1868]

The only info I have of the previous organ is taken from the sleeve of Michael Murray's recording on the Telarc Label: " Little is known about the first organ to occupy the elegant case of 1630...Destroyed during the Revolution, this instrument was rebuilt by Dallery in 1828". Cavaille Coll then rebuilt this instrument in 1890. It would be interesting to get a detailed breakdown of the history of the pipework, but probably now impossible.

[tjugofyra]

The first organ (1630) was an 8-foot instrument with two 48-note manuals and a 12-note independent pedal.

1741, the organ was dismantled in order to obviate damage and considerable loss that could be incurred to their organ by the presence of wheat and other grains in their church.

Major works were carried out from 1823 to 1939by Dallery. When Dallery was "finished" the organ then had 50 stops over 5 manuals and pedal.

1888-1890, Cavaillé-Coll almost completely rebuild the organ:)

[BeFrSc]

They're enclosed to keep dirt out. Apparently its just cloth, but it forces a bit more air to travel back down, thus resonating more etc.

[casavantlover]

Take that Scary Larry!(Lawrence Phelps) This is a real organ, not some screamy 1960's baroquen North German imitation. Cavaille-Coll forever!

[DesireeDeFete]

OH GOD not him!

[a55b47]

By the way, JF, the Altenburg instrument is, I think, my favorite Klais. I've got a CD recorded there about 20 years ago by Paul Wisskirchen that I keep going back to often to listen. It's an absolute stunner

[2468HOTROD]

Awesome! Just freakin' awesome! Can anyone recommend to me some recordings of this kind of organ music and playing? I have to have only the best. lol

[jmeister321684]

Of wich CD and label is this ? That Contrebombarde 32' (and organ) is really "hair rising", as a55b47 said very well !! lol!

[a55b47]

Ah ! St. Ouen !! As close to perfection as a musical instrument can get.

[jeanseborg]

This is great!