Capturing the spirit of French reeds for the organ

Here is the result of some experiments on the organ to add the brilliance of French Baroque reeds in addition to those already on the Bombarde/Solo manual. I'm using a special loudspeaker to give the flashy brilliance to the new Trompette / Clarion chorus and this helps with the effect.

A visit to Albi Cathedral in real life is well worth the trip and the organ is sonically shocking. I've wanted to capture the spirit of that instrument for recitals at Hammerwood Park near East Grinstead.

If anyone wants to introduce Beauvarlet-Charpentier and Dandrieu to audiences in England then Hammerwood might be the place to play it.

Thanks to the theremin137 who inspired this http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BROuHql6ni8

A visit to an organ recital in Albi Cathedral is recommended and http://pagesperso-orange.fr/ass.christophe.moucherel/_private/concerts.htm gives details of forthcoming opportunities

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• French
• reed
• Trompette
• stops.

[1trompette]

French Cathedralsound?? LOL

[latribe]

@1trompette :-) LOL of course. But this is step one, just a mere exploration knowing that I had the germ of the seed to make it possible. Check out "french baroque masterclass" to hear how it turned out in the end and look forward to your comment there. There are few organs in England able to demonstrate the Grand Jeu let alone sport a Grand Tierce.

[latribe]

Hi! What a privilege to hear from you. Of course one cannot imitate actual pipes from such a master.

However, in the organ as presently working, I have created the sound of trumpets at 16ft and 8ft with a Gabrieli Clarion 4ft which are in the spirit of the French "Trumpets fit for the arrival of the King" and few trumpet stops in England can compete with the sound. Organists who come to Hammerwood to play cannot resist using the stops. If you come to England you might be intrigued!

[christiancolard]

Hello!Sorry,i'm not speak english, only french,german or italian.I was working as intonator by Formentelli for the Moucherel organ in Albi.I know very well this intrument.I would to say :it s impossible to imit with electronic system. Its very more efficace to make real,normal reeds, and very more economical; nothing could be simpler...Yours sincerely.

[latribe]

PS By the way, do you know which temperament the Albi instrument is tuned to?

[latribe]

Near East Grinstead, Sussex UK - telephone 01342 850594 to come and we have a regular programme of concerts. Since this the instrument has been much perfected and I have had the pleasure and priviledge of studying the instrument at St Maximin - search "St Maximin Bach" for a fabulous performance of the Bach D minor

[y11971alex]

And otherwise, issue a matching vedio that has the same content!

[latribe]

Yes - of course . . . . but there are very few organs with exciting French reeds in England and the music of Beauvalet Charpentier and Corette is wholly unknown in the UK and unplayed. It's very exciting.

The purpose of this instrument is as a concert instrument in a chamber setting and atmosphere in order to introduce the best of the repertoire to concert audiences. See the video "A Plea for Organs" and you will start to understand why. We have a 4 stop one manual and a 2 manual too!

[marsvltor2]

Electric electric elecrtric. Even a three-stop one manual pipe organ sounds a million times better... The electric (or electronic) organ (no difference - they're both imitations) is a curse on real organ building. Wait two hundred years - Schnitgers and Cavailles will still be playable. What happens when an electronic box of tricks needs a new chip? rofl

[willowthebored]

Maybe just a *little* bit bright, but that could just be personal taste butting its way in. Sounds very nice overall.

I love how she's just wrapped in midi boxes and loose wires :D