Washington National Cathedral Organ

[markpianoman]

totally amateur!

[railfanatic844]

wow, i didn't think the chamades were at such a high wind pressure

[samc726]

@railfanatic844 - the trompette en chamade located in the high altar in the triforiums, they are on 27" of wind pressure.

[Salmagundiii]

yes, I've read of that one too...you really have to experience those stops in person. And big organs in general for that matter. When the National Cathedral organ is being played at full blast, with those 64 & 32 ft. Bombardes, if you are sitting in the choir you literally feel like you innards are being "sonicated" (google it!) It's "gut wrenching"!

[bvb553]

Thank-You for sharing! Well done on a magnificant organ!

[lookingon65]

A Mighty fortress is our God.

[cronoskronos]

What is the name of this song? Thanks in advance

[allenorgan27]

i hope that i could come and play this organ sometime! thanks for the performance

[bvb553]

Incredible Organ! Many taleneted musicians that play this Organ!

[bobjohnson001]

Wow... this is stunning and magnificent...

[Octavkoppel1]

this is cool!!

[rehactancia]

nice

[mpsnknox]

OH but its really a hooded trumpette! MUAHAHA

[trompettechamade1]

@mpsnknox Actually, only partially hooded. Above the pipes visible from the floor, there are two row s(about 2 octaves) of pipes that are smaller and play; they are visible only form above. In addition, there are about two octaves of pipes in the rifirium arches; these are the hooded pipes. They sound the same as the straight pipes. My only wish is that after the navewas completed, they would have raised the pressure to 40' or 50' inches instead of keeping it at 27".

[AeolianSkinner1983]

@trompettechamade1 I dont know if you want them to be on 50' inches of pressure when there right up front. I can see why the Skinner organ at St. John the Divine has their state trumpet on 50 inches. It 500 ft away. 27' inches is plenty of pressure when the trompette chamade is right near the rest of the organ. At least thats what I think.

[trompettechamade1]

@AeolianSkinner1983 The reason I said on 50" of pressure is that from the crossing on and continuing toward the West entrance they get lost in the organ when the full organ is playing. They sound like another reed voice, not THE solo reed voice. They need more pressure to be heard as a trompette fanfare (I could not add a French accent acute over the "e"!) in the nave. Maybe a the set of 8' and 16' chamades planned for the Cassavant in the West end will solve that problem.

[Salmagundiii]

@trompettechamade1

I'm not sure it needs to be louder. Somewhere on the video tape I had of Katherine Graham's funeral - which I've probably lost now nor do I have the means to digitize anymore - there's a moment where Henry Kissinger is visibly startled by it! To make it breathtaking at the West End of the nave would probably require it to deafen people in the choir! That being said I really want to get up and hear the one at St. John the Divine. It's legendary.

[trompettechamade1]

@Salmagundiii I meant to say that when the en Chamade is used as a solo voice above the full organ, it gets lost in the rest of the organ by the time you reach the crossing becaus it has to cut through the entire rest of the organ, including the trompette harmonique and the tuba mirabilis (25"ressure). After all, it only has 27" pressure. When used as here, and one is in the great choir (or it is properly miked), it does sound very impressive.

[trompettechamade1]

@Salmagundiii I would like to hear the combination of the Tuba Magna & the Trompette Militaire playing together in Liverpool Cathedral - they are both on 50" of pressure, and they are both touted as among "the loudest organ voices in the world!"

[organpipe8]

Beautifully played - thanks for that stirring performance - Lance † ♫

[PBRTV1998]

Magnificent use of the glorious Trompette en Chamade! This instrument is like no other and can only get better. Thanks for posting.

[organist99x]

Love this video! How did you get to play this organ? I would love to play it before it is removed!

[patt30521111]

@organist99x  REMOVED?????????????????

[organist99x]

@patt30521111 Well... basically they'll remove to instrument to do the renovation- and who knows what it'll be like when its done- and how much re-voicing is done to it. Dobson builds some nice instruments- but their organs don't sound like the great Skinner organs do.

Fortunately, the organ isnt going anywhere until the Cathedral has the money for the project, and who knows how long that will be.

[tman8077]

@patt30521111 Is there anyway that I could get in contact with them so that I could play the organ? I have just been invited to play the pipe organ in Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg, VA!

[trompettechamade1]

@tman8077 Got to the Washington Cathedral web site and check the "Music" tab. Or call the Cathedral at 202-537-6200.

[trompettechamade1]

@tman8077 Call the Washington Cathdral at 202-537-6200 and ask for the Music Department. You will probably have to submit an audition tape.

[trompettechamade1]

@organist99x I believe that this organ as constituted now sounds like the Willis organ in Liverpool Cathedral. I remarked that to a visiting English organist 2 summers ago and he greed. He said that Father Willis and Mr. Skinner had many similar ideas o what a great organ should sound like.