Ely Cathedral Pipe Organ Wills Plays Widor

Cathedral organist Arthur Wills recorded Widor's Marche Pontificale in 1978, just after a major re-build of the (primarily) 1908 Harrison & Harrison. It's a IV/70/95, & was restored again in 1999-2001

Category:

Music

Tags:

• pipe
• organ
• Ely
• Cathedral
• orgue
• orgel
• Widor

[mrsmpfowler]

I was a layclerk ay Ely at the time when  this recording was made, and Dr wills dedicated an organ piece piece (Versets on "A solis ortus cardine") to me. What a privilege! I am proud to have sung in his choir and to have studied organ briefly with him. (John, Sydney, Australia.)

[a55b47]

Care to give a translation for us non-Latin scholars? ;-)

[amripley1991]

what piece is this, and from which symphony(ie)?

[a55b47]

The Marche Pontificale is from the 1st Symphony, I believe.

[pommersche]

I love it! I heard it in St.Pauls-Cathedral in Muenster. The bishop there celebrated his 75th birthday and as he left the cathedral the organ played this piece. It was fantastic!

[a55b47]

Well, I guess, in that case, it was the Marche "Bishopale" instead of "Pontificale."

;-)

[colora75]

WOW!! WHAT BALLS!! Love it! I have not heard that piece by Widor. Got to find it now.

[ihadaralf]

Arthur Wills notoriously always played everything full blast, so his style suits the really rather bombastic Widor. The Ely instrument is a superb beast, perfectly matched to the masculine architecture. It has a beefy, uncompromising edge. I played it a few years ago and it's liking being punched in the face with an anvil.

[dod4luce]

TOO GORGEOUS FOR WORDS.

[jimamia77]

where da hell is this Cathedral? All deceased buried there are now awake cause of the organ! I shall situate my sarcophagus in a quieter setting! less then ten ranks! I desire true RIP!

[AlexanderLenton]

6:12 that's one hell of a pedal division roaring out xD

[goodchappy]

Good acoustics, not too much echo unlike Liverpool.

I like the organ, I can imagine taking out my frustration on it.

[trompettechamade1]

@wsanders1 I have a series of premium EMI vinyl recordings done in the late 70s called the "Great Cathedral Organ Series." THe one recorded on the Ely Cathedral Organ included the comment "[T] he Bombardon is audible at three, loud at two, and objectionable at 1 miles' diatance"! I also have a CD of Jeremy Filsell performing French organ music on it, to which it is well-suited, and a recording of orgn with brass band recirded by Arthur Wills, on Hyperion/Helios. It is an outstanding organ.

[wsanders1]

Wills actually recorded all of Pictures at an Exposition on this organ in the 80s, I have it on vinyl. It's very nicely engineered: The last movement will send your tonearm skittering across the record if your player isn't up to the task of tracking the huge grooves in the vinyl.

[1401JSC]

@excitingusername

Not many organs with a Horn Quint 5 1/3' even in France! :)

[silverstartrucker]

Terrific depth of sound from this organ. My large Fisher studio speakers makes this place shake.

[simoniddon]

titchy bit slow?

[Contratrombone64]

I just love the fiery reeds from the Pedal division, thunderous. I've had the honour of hearing this organ played by the great Mr Wells ... such a thrill.