St. Paul's Cathedral London Fanfare

[newgeorge]

what a weird sound!

[kontrahylian]

I remember worshiping here in November of 2009 when I went to London, First day in London I actually woke up to the bells of St Paul's Cathedral. I felt really amazed during the Postlude, because it was Transports de Joie.

I Love this Video The Trumpets and possibly the Tubas seem to glorify Psalm 100 "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord"

and indeed

Soli Deo Gloria

kontrahylian

[LaraJess94]

ok, all you guys seem to actually know something about trumpets or organs or whatever, I on the other hand, do not. But this is funky :P

[petronopulas]

I had the privelage of playing with the State Trumpeters of the Blues and Royals up in the dome. Wonderfull experience to play in that building.

[toddplum]

check out my Organ Sonata No.1, here on you tube.....peter coukis

[stormkingfan]

Getting back to the old Dome Tubas' removal:

tsk-tsk-tsk.... the fiery blasts from the Dome, when John Scott recorded Dupre's Variations sur Noel (the ending) in the 80s, came from these.

Well, okay.....

Are the new Tubas replicas? Or, how do the new ones compare with the old?

If they have been ebayed, I hope to God they found a good home!

[ThirtyTwoFoot]

The Tubas are brand new. Replaced earlier this year i think it was

[449GO]

absoloutley 100% correct

[gerdi911]

Nice organ, but the piece boring!!

[anneroelofse1]

sound of the organ very good, bud it is a ugly organ in my oppinion

[marsvltor2]

If you're referring to the organ cases, these are by Grinling Gibbons, the greatest English woodcarver of all!!!

[lyndon1904]

@marsvltor2 I suspect anneroelofse1 thinks the en chamade trumpets ARE the organ case...

[crusader037972]

That was a cool place to visit. Very majestic.

[kneelworship]

no pictures...because they are places of worship!

[glevantino]

to bad they don't let you take video or pictures inside.

[a55b47]

It's the same way at Westminster Abbey. I have never understood why the British prohibit picture-taking in certain places of worship.

[Gathol]

it's cuz of the nature flash foto's have on the interior walls. it would cause undo deterioration.

[someonespadre]

@a55b47 I do. It used to be standard church etiquette, no applause and no photos. I suppose the English are upholding tradition a little better than standard American Episcopalians.

[MusicPredominates]

@someonespadre : And now they clap in parliament and forget the poor people that actually voted them in. it is the New West !

[Classicalytrained]

@a55b47 isnt it obvious? because if you took pictures.... they wouldnt sell half as many post cards! hahaha

[JFSnail]

Thankfully the Dome Tuba pipes have been preserved in case someone wishes to reverse the changes.

[ThirtyTwoFoot]

They will never be heard again in St Paul's I'll bet you. They will be sold to someone, at the right price of course. I bet they will go to America!

[spootyrat]

Very beautiful piece and such rich chord voicing!

[schneckenturm]

it is beautiful. DO you know the title? I want to play it myself at the Rieger-Organ in Dinkelsbuehl/Germany. Next sunday I play the service at 9:30. Just come to a visit!?

regards

Uli Metzner

[HD41117]

Can anyone please tell me who recorded this?

[a55b47]

Christopher Dearnley. If you want to know the name of the recording company, I can't remember. I transcribed it to CD several years ago from an old LP I bought in London about 25 years ago, & the LP is long gone.

Sorry. I assume it was a British label, because I don't remember ever seeing it here in the US.

[HD41117]

Thank you, yes, I meant the recording engineer. Was the LP a recent release when you bought it? That would help. It's a marvellous recording. Thank you for saving it and for uploading it.

[JFSnail]

Hello, I have an old copy of this. This is from an old LP GRSP7011 from Guild Records, recorded in 1977. Engineers were Nicholas Ware and Brian Roberts :-)

[HD41117]

JFSnail: Thank you very much indeed for that excellent information. I really appreciate it. 8^)

[Waresound1]

@HD41117 Hi, this was the opening item on a Guild Records vinyl LP recorded in 1977. Christopher Dearnley was the composer and organist of this piece, entitled "Fanfare". I was the recording engineer on this recording. All of the Guild catalogue was later sold to Guild Music Ltd. but as far as I know this LP was never released as a CD. I still have a copy of the LP and the original master tape.

[a55b47]

@Waresound1 It's been way too long since I scrolled through the comments on some of the pieces I've uploaded, so I just discovered your information. Thanks for providing it. My compliments on a superb engineering job on this. It has to be a challenge to capture the magnificence of this instrument in this vastness.

[PiedPuyper]

When the Wurlitzer Brass trumpet arrived in the Willis shop, for St. Paul's Cathedral, Henry Willis took the shallots right out of the boot and threw them in the trash. Then proceded to make his own , and re-voice the stop.

[ds1868]

Correct, the brass resonators are American, everything else English. An interesting and effective combination!

[JFSnail]

Willis III said that he replaced the shallots, but when NP Mander rebuilt the organ in 1970s, they found the originals intact. All Willis did was to rub out the maker's name on the boot block of the low C pipe, which was not Wurlitzer but Gottfried.

[449GO]

AAAH, but it wasnt wurlitzer, it was gottfried, and willis had saw them while speaking to emerson richards, who had already specified them on the Atlantic city organ, and willis ordered one!

[ds1868]

Not sure why the Trompette Militaire is being discussed in relation to this recording, as we're not listening to the Trompette Militaire! These are the West End Royal Trumpets, made by Noel Mander and installed in 1977. They are near 100% Cornish tin, and are full length (indeed the 16' Trumpet is the only extant full length 16' en chamade in the British Isles).

[ds1868]

There seems to be some confusion as to the Division used in this 'fanfare'! The trumpets used are the 'Royal Trumpets' positioned at the West end of the Cathedral (see photograph shown). They are of high tin content, were made by the firm of Manders (London)for the rebuild of the Grand Organ in 1977, with three ranks at 16.8.4, and are on 25" wind pressure. Westcath is completely correct with respect to the Dome Trompette Militaire; and what a great stop it is too!

[westcath]

Thank you very much for your wonderful videos.

[CoutureOrganiste]

The fanfare trumpets are by Wurlitzer yes?

[jmeister321684]

No, CoutureOrganiste, the "Royal Trumpets" (16'8'and 4') of the West end are from Mander 1973-77, and are on 15'to 25'inches of pressure (remenber trumpets are the most flamboyant of reeds and need half the pressure (perhaps a third!) of Tubas to "spread" sound.

[CoutureOrganiste]

This organ has always been a treat to listen to as well as one to play. I believe the West End Fanfare Trumpets are by Wurlitzer, yes?

[jmeister321684]

Although what we may hear as well here is from the Dome section; with a Double Tuba 16' on 17", Tuba 8' and Clarion 4' on 20-25", but especially the Trompette Militaire 8' (there goes the blaster!) on 30", all from Willis of 1900. (I took these infos from one of many John Scott Hyperion CD's organ specifications) JW

[a55b47]

I thought the Trompette Militaire was in Liverpool, as part of that Corona organ way up in the tower. Does St. Paul's have one too?

[a55b47]

Ignore previous question. I just checked the St. Paul's & see what you're talking about. Those Brits, they do like their military horns, don't they? ;-)

[BeFrSc]

yh, St. Paul's has a militaire to.

[fluteceleste]

the sound of the trumpets is really harsh

[a55b47]

When you've got a huge reed operating on 50 inches of wind, I don't think you can expect a whole lot of refinement. You want a massive volume of sound. These trumpets fulfill that mission.

[acchos]

well, the midmer losh has reeds on 100" wind, they are very fine. 2 of those were built by an employee of Wurlitzer.

Tone is just as important at high pressures as it is at lower pressures.

[a55b47]

Ah, you Atlantic City folks, always standing up for that beast ;-). Actually, I love that monster myself, & have bought the CD's you guys have produced. But I can't recall hearing the 100" reeds on them. I'll have to go back & refresh my memory.

[acchos]

The grand ophicliede on 100" is used in several tracks on the cds. Its produces a volume of around 120-130Db

[acchos]

OOOH, and i`m from scotland, not the U.S

[a55b47]

Ooops! My mistake. I thought ACCHOS stood for Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ Society. But I guess you don't have to be from Atlantic City to be a member ;-)

[cromorne]

I believe the founder is English!

[acchos]

Yes, you are correct.

[claumusic3]

Gracias !