Charles Tournemire "Postlude Choral" from "L'Orgue Mystique"

Postlude Choral from L'Orgue Mystique by Charles Tournemire from the Feast of Saint Joseph recorded at Trinity Cathedral Trenton, New Jersey during a practice session for a recital. Richard Spotts, organist

For more information, see "Charles Tournemire" on Facebook

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Saint Joseph
• Postlude Choral
• Tournemire
• L'Orgue Mystique
• Organ
• Trinity Cathedral
• Trenton
• Richard Spotts

[richspotts]

@TheMysticalOrgan I'm not sure what the old organ was like. Your assessment of Möller isn't entirely unfair. However, Möller did a great deal to provide affordable organs to churches throughout the USA. And frankly they are pretty damn durable. The Whitelegg period was actually fabulous. I just played an untouched Whitelegg organ and it was so full of warmth and color. I could play the thing for hours and still find new tonal possibilities.

[richspotts]

Pédale

32' Bourdon, 16' Contrebasse, 16' Flûte, 16' Soubasse, 8' Principal, 8' Flûte, 4' Octave, 4' Flûte, 2' Flûte, V Fourniture (2'), 32' Bombarde, 16' Bombarde, 16' Basson (Récit), 8' Trompette, 8' Hautbois, 4' Clairon, 4' Chalumeau

[richspotts]

III. Récit (Expressif)

16' Bourdon, 8' Principal, 8' Viole, 8' Céleste, 8' Flûte à cheminée, 4' Octave, 4' Flûte, 2 2/3' Nazard, 2' Doublette, 2' Quarte de nazard, 1 3/5' Tierce, V Fourniture (1 1/3'), III Cymbale (1/3'), 16' Basson, 8' Trompette, 8' Hautbois, 8' Voix humaine, 4' Clairon, Tremblant

IV. Antiphonal

8' Trompette-en-chamade

[richspotts]

I. Grand-Orgue

16' Principal, 8' Montre, 8' Flûte harmonique, 8' Bourdon, 4' Prestant, 4' Flûte conique, 2' Doublette, 2' Flûte, II Sesquialtera (2 2/3'), VI Fourniture (1 1/3'), 16' Bombarde, 8' Trompette, 4' Clairon, Tremblant

II. Positif (Expressif)

8' Dolce, 8' Unda maris, 8' Bourdon, 4' Prestant, 4' Flûte à fuseau, 2 2/3' Nazard, 2' Doublette, 2' Flûte à bec, 1 3/5' Tierce, 1 1/3' Larigot, 1' Flageolet, IV Fourniture (1'), 16' Basson, 8' Trompette, 8' Cromorne, 4' Clairon, Tremblant

[richspotts]

The organ is a Petty-Madden. It is an amazingly successful reworking of an old Moeller. It is done in a "French Style" and is extremely aggressive from the chancel. The instrument has to turn a corner to go down the nave and with the generous acoustic the sound is allowed to blend and sounds wonderful in the room.

[richspotts]

The organ is a Petty-Madden. It is an amazingly successful reworking of an old Moeller. It is done in a "French Style" and is extremely aggressive from the chancel. The instrument has to turn a corner to go down the nave and with the generous acoustic the sound is allowed to blend and sounds wonderful in the room.

[TheMysticalOrgan]

@richspotts - "isn't entirely unfair"? So what is unfair about it? ;-)

I read the other day of some tiny church in Massachusetts that's just restored its tiny 9 rank Moller organ and they think it's the best thing in the world and want to share it with the rest of the world. They may be perhaps a tad delusional, but it really says something for the quality of Moller's work that they think so highly of it and have such affection for it, doesn't it?

[TheMysticalOrgan]

@richspotts - thanks for the info! What was the old Möller like? They had a very good reputation, particularly when Christopher Whitelegg was in charge - he had been trained by Willis and voiced the 1930s additions to the Salisbury Cathedral organ, which are gorgeous. However, he left Britain to go to the US, worked for Austin for a bit IIRC, then went to Möller. Henry Willis III, in his writings on North American organbuilders, described Möller simply as "a third-rate organbuilder"!

[EccentricRichard]

Hi! I've tried to find out about the organ at Trinity Cathedral, Trenton, but information is extremely scarce... who built the organ and when? What sort of size is it?

[pastorjackw]

Albert Ludecke was my teacher. He worked very closely with Petty-Madden on the design of this organ. Ludecke loved playing the French Masters: Frank, Widor, Vierne, Tournemire, Mulet, etc. I used to practice on this organ when I was a student in college. It was an amazing experience. Thanks for posting this!