Grandes Orgues Notre-Dame-de-Paris Présentation par Jean-Pierre Leguay.wmv

[lorbo77]

Notre-Dame organ is wonderful, was one of major masterpiece of Aristide and still now sounds better than any modern organ. Not true it's no more a Cavaillé-Coll! who said this?? in my ears it sounds the same of Cochereau recordings.. and Cochereau in interview said he changed the consolle and added the Chamade but the original voicing of organ was never modified, so organ of Cochereau (and of today) is still the same of Vierne!

[SuperRoxas04]

Wooow, very great music, I love that ! :-)

The organ is my favorite musical instrument ! :-3

Very good ! :-)

[1994208]

Just listen to those Chamades at the end! Amazing! Even though this improvisation is quite simple, the power just blows me away. This improvisation contains so much emotion, especially towards the end. It makes me feel like Mr. Leguay is trying to portray longing or sadness, but with a happy (and quite joyful!) ending.

[SuperRoxas04]

@1994208

Thank you very much ! :-)

Can you give me the YouTube adress for the video, please ?

Thanks ! :-3

[1994208]

@SuperRoxas04 The address for this video?

[SuperRoxas04]

@1994208

Yes, thanks ! :-)

[ds1868]

This is Leguay at his best. His measured performances seem to suit this instrument the best of the Titulaire's, never using the full tutti and by using the foundations and just a couple of the chamades in the treble he is able to avoid the worst excesses of the 1990s restoration. This way he achieves clarity in his style and is able to build an exciting crescendo from ghosts of Clicquot, Cavaille-Coll, and Pierre Cochereau. Thanks for posting.

[lipsbach]

what a neat style, so close to the keys! great post.

[ThePipeorganman]

I am sorry to say this after working on over 20 pipe organs in my life Cavaillé-Coll made there instruments so they would never half to be restored if they just left it alone it would of never had to have been worked on. Look and St.Sulpice it still has its original console and it will always have it. There's a quote "if its not broke don't fix it. Unfortunately they have completely destroyed the original sound of this wonderful pipe organ today it sounds like crap.

[vhhil]

@ThePipeorganman Is there someone who actually has heard 'the original sound' of this organ? Many modifications in the past make it extremely difficult to talk about its 'original sound'. Personally, I think a great job has been accomplished in 1992 after the devastating modifications in the past century. Every time I have the privilege to listen to this wonderful organ, I'm totally overwhelmed by its beauty and power. Of course, it may have sounded even better at the time of Cavaillé-Coll :)

[cliveso]

@vhhil What I don't understand is why so many people think that because it's not the original Cavaille-Coll it automatically sounds bad. Notre-Dame's is a magnificent instrument for what it is: a modern instrument. Yes, it will never sound like Vierne's organ, but then, without all the modifications made, would we still have the same Pierre Cochereau? Can I not equally say Cavaille-Coll destroyed the Clicquot instrument? For me it is the Concorde of organs: unique and exciting.

[ds1868]

@vhhil It's not as simple as that. Cavaille-Coll retained much of the 18th Century Thierry pipework and really created a 'double organ', both romantic and neo-classical. The 20th Century work, notably Robert Boisseau under Pierre Cochereau, strengthened the Neo-classicism with a new 32' feet Solo division. Admittedly the chamades were 'controversial'. You cannot take any single point in this organ's history as the 'ideal'. It is a continuous moving soundscape which continues to evolve.

[lipsbach]

@ThePipeorganman what organs have you worked on?

[ds1868]

@ThePipeorganman The problem with this instrument is that, being nationally and internationally famous, it is so heavily used that restorations and even rebuilds are inevitable. The temptation when an instrument falls to bits is to always make changes. Having said that, the pinnacle of this instrument for me is the Pierre Cochereau era, but I know many people won't agree with this. Still, there's always St Sulpice across the Seine, or further downstream of the river Seine St Ouen in Rouen.

[menschmaschine5]

@ThePipeorganman This video too? I reiterate that you're full of crap. All organs must be constantly maintained, or they fall into disrepair and eventually become unplayable. St. Sulpice recently had a major restoration done (more faithful to the original). Notre Dame was in terrible shape before the first restoration.

[dmwilk99]

@ThePipeorganman well just picking, but "half" to be restored? I believe it is "have" to be restored! and Cavaille-Coll made "their" instruments, not "there" It is "their" instrument, and it sits "there" in the cathedral. The video sounds wonderful. People are always trying to improve on the past. Sometimes it is good, and sometimes it is bad. Cheers,

[tamiasthechipmunk]

@ThePipeorganman A crappy organ can sound good when played by a good organist and a good organ can sound like crap in the hands of an bad organist. Biggest importance is how well the music is performed. To me this music in this video is beautiful to listen to and that is all that really matters to me regardless if its the original Cavaille-Coll sound or not.

[cliveso]

At first I dismissed this improvisation as "empty" and too simple, but somehow it got stuck to my mind and I have since come back to it many times. Perhaps this is precisely his genius!

[lipsbach]

@cliveso wow, glad you came to your senses, i mean the guy is a natural improvisor, and studied with the best, messiaen for one. nothing simple here, but it is deceptive...elusive!

[christianvs1]

@cliveso Indeed!! I heard only a simple parallel chordal progression lasting only 4 bars; these are then constantly transposed and varied very skillfuly. He uses the gradus or gradual crescendo to gently tease the soul into excitement meanwhile using this simple chordal progression. Simplicity is ALWAYS the characteristic of genius - look at Bach! This is why when I hear an improvisation that tries too hard, I say that organist is still a beginner - even if they've been playing for 50 years!!!

[lipsbach]

@christianvs1 can you identify the progression? i would be much obliged.

[christianvs1]

@lipsbach If I'm not mistaken, it is a pentatonic progression with parallel progression of chords. He begins on the progression: B-flat, D-falt, F, E-flat (1st inversion?), G (with the e-flat), a minor, E-Flat. (holding an a" in the soprano throughout). Then he keeps on transposing 'ad nausium' and adding stops and interesting additions to the chords.... I do hope this is close to it.... :)

[cliveso]

This makes me think of Gaston Litaize.

[nufenenpass]

Eccezionale ! 

[bombarde1701a]

I love it!!!

[chamade216]

I listened this improvisation 5 times today:-)

[chamade216]

Incredible. He has so unique musical language.

[Bachlives2]

@chamade216 Lots of Jazz in his improvisations!