Washington Cathedral Cesar Franck: Pièce Heroïque

[steelersfanhawaii]

There are some stunning, breath-taking Roman Catholic Churches in the Philippines that are more than deserving to be a warm and loving home to an Aolean-Skinner pipe organ. They would grace the Catholic mass acclamations in Tagalog extremely well, and the people sing very robustly well in that country. So any Skinners (Aolean, EM, GD Harrison, whatever) awaiting a home, there you go. Any organizations willing to make contributions?

[thechristian01999]

I am not an expert in organ but this guy is just amazing, great job, i love frank and this is one of my favorite pieces. Congrats to the performer

[gerardbedecarter]

A beautiful performance.

[jmcm02]

Beautifully played

[JohnBennett1947]

I was home from college visiting the cathedral on a weekday. Standing at the east end of the choir admiring the organ, I noticed Paul Calloway. He sat down at the console and played this work. When he finished we made eye contact. I nodded and smiled at him. He smiled and left. This instrument is a part of his legacy that needs to be preserved. There's more to say, but difficult to put into so few words. I can only hope that since the last organist left, there's still a chance to save it.

[jorobinson]

The cathedral's website says there is no money for a new organ, and all plans have been set aside for the time being. Why not write to them and express your opinions?

[rowlandorganlover]

Why don't they do what Duke Chapel did? Put in another organ and totally restore this one all at the same time? It's a pity to destroy our national treasures, especially in the NATIONAL cathedral.

[mkl62]

I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. On this Easter (April 12), I attended a later service at another Lutheran Church. The organist played this for the postlude. Just thought I'd share.

[omahas4023]

I was privileged to hear Nicholas first hand on two occassions when he performed for the regular Wednesday organ demonstrations. He is indeed a marvelous talent and I must say that this is one of the finest performances of this great work I have heard. Too many execute it too quickly, at least in my opinion.

[LJBSasha]

Wolfgang Rübsam plays this piece with more passion and spaciousness (without being so hard-driven to the point of even feeling mechanical!) compared to this performance (on Bayer Records - the recording was originally made by Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft - at the Cathédrale de St. Croix, Orléans, France). Herr Rübsam in fact is even more effective in terms of playing relative to that building's acoustics (every bit as reverberant). No, this recording gets but 3 stars out of 5...

[suduiraut64]

Incredible!

Great talent.

I'm living in the little country where César Franck is born in 1822 ;-)

[CoutureOrganiste]

Casavant is not doing any work in regards to the Skinner. Casavant is only supplying a new West End Organ which will help in the delay of organ sound at the West End, which is a problem many large buildings face. Lets just hope that Lynn Dobson doesn't butcher the Skinner. Apparently they are "keeping the more beautiful ranks" of the Skinner. I say leave the organ as is, restore it and maybe move the cases a bit further into the choir to help with the sound "getting out".

[zanteson]

Maybe they will build the Casavant around the Skinner.

[2468HOTROD]

Who are the forces behind removing this organ from this cathedral? For what reason? You don't tear it out. You repair it and restore it. Gotta be some money changing hands in this deal, don't you think?

[a55b47]

You're preaching to the choir, HotRod ;-) I don't understand it either.

[Mojeans04]

Amen to that!

[Gball223]

Unreal. Not sure how newcomers (in leadership positions) to the Cathedral intend that Dobson, Casavant, or any other firm will seriously and monumentously improve upon the glory of this sound. With all due respect, the organist is amazing as well.

[a55b47]

Nick White is an amazing guy; I hear he's doing well on the musical scene in NYC.

[animalgurl88]

Who cares about congregational singing!! Leave the building and the organ alone.

[skyler6290]

How sad to hear that this monumental Skinner organ is being. I have great respect for the Casavant firm, but hate the thought that this instrument will be lost in the procession. If, as the Washington Cathedral proports itself as being the 6th largest cathedral in the world, the building is so large why couldn't they have both the Skinner and the new organ as well? Do love the superb reeds that Casavants employ, but think its sad that this Skinner could be lost for good. Any plans for it?

[flentrop2009]

One of the main reasons for a new instrument is that the current Skinner just doesn't support congregational singing into the nave, therefore the need arose for an instrument in the back. I question the Cathedral for choosing Casavant, however Dobson might not have been a bad choice.

[Salmagundiii]

This singing argument is a canard. People can't sing these days because they are so tone deaf they can't get through happy birthday w/o help. Even at a church like St. Paul's K Street, where a relatively huge organ dominates a small space (it would be like the WNC having a 35,000 pipes) you can hear that many people in the congregation are haphazardly murmuring. When the WNC is actually filled with skilled singers, they do just fine. Free singing lessons for all would be a better use of money.

[flentrop2009]

I definitely concur.

[interignis]

Is it a Catholic Church?

[organ1029]

Episcopal

[BayAreaBiker2001]

WNC with 35000 pipes? That's a little larger than the Midmer-Losh organ in Atlantic City, the largest organ in the world. As for being tone-deaf, I think it is due to a lack of training.

[ppbisagit]

If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not) the organist is composer Nicholas White.

[Viniagrette84]

composer, conductor, artistic director...very talented, wouldn't you say? He is very good with his hands.

[flentrop2009]

too bad they're replacing the organ. truly one of Skinner's gems

[a55b47]

Flentrop, eh? I love the screen names some of us organ junkies pick ;-). I've got to think of something more organ-like.

[swellshades]

That is so tragic-- So like an American institution, just throw it out... the hell with it, it doesn't meet our present needs, whatever they are.

Is there anything one can do, any 'Save the Skinner' organizations??

[southernboi59]

@swellshades Only The Historical Organ Society. Someone could get them involved. Sadly though when idiots want the latest and greatest, there is not much one can do. Shame on Dobson for agreeing to do it! Shame on the Vestry for wanting to take it out. What a slap in the face to all of those that gave until it hurt to help that fabulous instrument become a reality!

[steelersfanhawaii]

If they are replacing the Skinner, then where is it going? Will the GSA (Government Service Administration) put it up for bids? Anybody know?

[jorobinson]

The GSA has nothing to do with the property of the cathedral!

[a55b47]

I like that. ;-)

[jasonc001]

I knew he wasn't American. "Very French English" is obviously very good.

[2468HOTROD]

Yeah, can't beat the English and the French when it comes to music like this. Americans are still so puritan about everything. Snap out of it America.

[Reesman95]

Sorry. I'll "snap out of it."

[organimagister]

Wonderful organ and wonderful organist.

Congratulations!!!

[jasonc001]

Kind of takes you there and back doesn't it?

[jasonc001]

This was breathtaking! Awesome performance by a musician who knows how to play to a room this large. He has to be French. Luxurious.

[a55b47]

Actually, he's English. But a very French English ;-)

[jasonc001]

I just listened again. One of my favorite interpretations of this piece. I'll just name him Etienne Stuart. I think that name covers the French and English camps quite nicely, with a push to the French.

[Chesterbarnes1]

Who is the musician, organist. And what organ? Is this a Skinner what year OPUS

[claumusic3]

Love this piece !!