Carlo Curley at Chester Cathedral, England, Part 1/5

Carlo Curley at Chester Cathedral, England, Part 1/5.
Marcel Dupré
Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in G Minor

A brief history of the Organ of Chester Cathedral

An earlier instrument, with material dating back to 1626 was replaced in 1844 and moved to St Paul's Cathedral, Valetta, Malta. In the same year a completely new instrument was installed in Chester Cathedral by Gray & Davison of London. This was rebuilt and enlarged by the Chester firm of Whiteley Bros in 1876 and this re-build was notable for the inclusion of harmonic flutes and reeds by Cavaillé-Coll! The organ was re-erected in the present position at the front of the North Transept in a new case designed by Sir Gilbert Scott. At that time a small choir organ was sited on the nearby rood screen.

In 1910 William Hill & Son of London extensively rebuilt and revoiced the organ, replacing the Cavaillé-Coll reeds with new pipes of their own. The choir organ was enlarged and moved to a site behind the choirstalls on the South side. Rushworth & Dreaper of Liverpool overhauled the instrument in 1969, providing new mechanism and some new pipework, notably flute mutations on the solo organ and extra mixtures on each division. This design, drawn up by Roger Fisher, respected the sterling quality of the Hill work while adding significantly to the tonal palette available for effective performance of baroque and modern music. Since 1991 the organ has been in the care of David Wells of Liverpool and a programme of mechanical refurbishment has been put into operation.

Specification of Chester Cathedral Organ

GREAT
Double Open Diapason 16
Open Diapason I 8
Open Diapason II 8
Open Diapason III 8
Flute à Pavillon 8
Open Flute 8
Höhl Flute 8
Octave 4
Principal 4
Harmonic Flute 4
Spitz flöte 2
Fifteenth 2
Tierce 1 3/5
Mixture (15.19.22.26.29) V
Sharp Mixture (29.33.36) II
Contra Posaune 16
Posaune 8
Clarion 4

SOLO
Viola (enclosed) 8
Celeste (enclosed) 8
Bourdon 8
Koppleflöte 4
Nazard 2 2/3
Blockflute 2
Tierce 1 3/5
Cymbel (29.33) II
Vox Humana (enclosed) 8
Clarinet (enclosed) 8
Tuba 8

SWELL
Open diapason 8
Stopped Diapason 8
Salicional 8
Vox Angelica 8
Principal 4
Suabe Flute 4
Fifteenth 2
Mixture (19.22.26.29) IV
Sharp Mixture (26.29.33) III
Double Trumpet 16
Bassoon 16
Trumpet 8
Horn 8
Oboe 8
Clarion 4

PEDAL
Double Open Wood 32
Open Wood 16
Open Diapason (metal) 16
Violone 16
Bourdon 16
Dulciana (Choir) 16
Principal 8
Violoncello 8
Bass Flute 8
Fifteenth 4
Mixture (19.22.26.29) IV
Contra Trombone 32
Trombone 16
Trumpet 8

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Carlo
• Curley
• Organ
• Chester
• Cathedral
• Marcel
• Dupré
• Prelude
• Fugue

[ds1868]

That really is very well played by Carlo Curley. This is a very difficult piece to play, but not only does he play it well, he also brings to life the spirit of this piece, and amazingly on a mediocre English organ.

[Mackaronni]

"Foxy" or Not, this guy plays with an energy and vitality that we seldom see in organists today. Jolly good performance with very precise playing. Bravo.....

[davlber221]

I just wish I had his technique!

[pmzephyr22]

Ladies and Gentlemen! THE GREAT CARLO!!! Need I say more?

[byrdntallis]

@Ericb61 I know many organists who play in just socks. And a couple who always where different colour socks so they can see which foot is which.

[accousticdecay]

Bravissimo!

[stormkingfan]

Thanks, Carlo, for sharing this clip. Interesting to watch this piece being played.

You left out the Choir in the stoplist. :)

[keithcb2003]

@joeyboi87 what utter rubbish!! You can't damage an organ by using "wrong" registration

[Lopear27]

Don't listen to them Carlo (not that you would anyway!) A fine performance, full of fire and passion - what more could we ask for?! Encore Sir!

[MrBrysonD]

@mcsw99 Agreed but the instrument at Chester Cathedral is more than adequate to follow the composers actual interpretation. Yes, I should be more patient and less critical of CC's work however when you seek an authentic performance of a composers work and here a bad performance it sometimes is frustrating. I appologize to all of CC's fans. Of one I am NOT!

[mcsw99]

@MrBrysonD Registration is indeed not what Dupre specified - but it may be worth noting that Dupre frequently ignored his own instructions, particularly when faced with instruments in the USA that could not reproduce the timbres he wanted. (There is even a recording of him playing this very piece using Oboe where he originally asks for Celestes...)