Pipe Organ - "Prière A Notre-Dame", Léon Boëllmann

"Prière A Notre-Dame", Léon Boëllmann (1862-1897);
Prelude 25 November 2007
(camcorded in practice session).

Wayne Burcham-Gulotta, Organist

Boëllmann was an early musical talent and was accepted at nine years old into the Ecole Niedermeyer in Paris. After his graduation as organist and cantor, he was employed as organist of the choir organ in the Saint Vincent de Paul Church in Paris in 1881. Six years later he became cantor and "Organiste Titulaire" of the main organ in the same church. He would work at the church until his untimely death, probably from tuberculosis. The "Prière..." is the third movement of his most famous organ work, the "Suite Gothique".

The organ is J.W. Steere, Opus 701, 1918
originally 4/40 drawknob console
now 3/49 stoptab console
as it exists 2007:
Three manuals (61 notes) and Pedal (32 notes), six divisions
Austin console, 1962
Church Organ Company, Cantilevered Great, 1979
New Century Products, Zimbelstern, 2005

Great Organ I, Unenclosed, Manual II, Cantilevered
8' Principal (61 pipes)
8' Rohr Flöte (61 pipes)
4' Octave (61 pipes)
4' Rohr Flöte (12 pipes)
2' Block Flöte (61 pipes)
Fourniture IV (244 pipes)
8' Trompette (61 pipes)
4' Clarion (12 pipes)
Zimbelstern 9 bells

Great Organ II, Unenclosed, Manual II
16' Bourdon (61 pipes)
8' Open Diapason (61 pipes)
8' Gross Flute (61 pipes)
8' Gemshorn (61 pipes)
4' Octave (61 pipes)
4' Harmonic Flute (61 pipes)
8' Trumpet (61 pipes)

Gt. to Gt. 16'
Gt. Unison Off
Gt. to Gt. 4'
Sw. to Gt. 16'
Sw. to Gt. 8'
Sw. to Gt. 4'
Ch. to Gt. 16'
Ch. to Gt. 8'
Ch. to Gt. 4'
Echo to Gt. 8'
Echo to Gt. 4'

Swell Organ, Expressive, Manual III
16' Bourdon (73 pipes)
8' Diapason (73 pipes)
8' Gedeckt (73 pipes)
8' Salicional (73 pipes)
8' Voix Celeste (61 pipes)
8' Aeoline (73 pipes)
4' Flauto Traverso (Harmonic) (73 pipes)
2' Piccolo (61 pipes)
Mixture III Ranks (12th, 15th, 17th) - (183 pipes)
16' Pousaune (61 pipes)
8' Cornopean (73 pipes)
8' Oboe (73 pipes)
Tremolo
Sw. to Sw. 16'
Sw. Unison Off
Sw. to Sw. 4'
Ch. to Sw. 8'

Choir Organ, Expressive, Manual I
16' Contra Gamba (73 pipes)
8' Diapason (73 pipes)
8' Concert Flute (73 pipes)
8' Flute Celeste (TC) - (61 pipes)
8' Quintadena (73 pipes)
8' Dulciana (73 pipes)
4' Flute d'Amour (73 pipes)
8' Clarinet (73 pipes)
8' Orchestral Oboe (73 pipes)
Tremolo
Celesta 49 bars
Ch. to Ch. 16'
Ch. Unison Off
Ch. to Ch. 4'
Sw. to Ch. 16'
Sw. to Ch. 8'
Sw. to Ch. 4'
Echo to Ch. 8'
Echo to Ch. 4'

Echo Organ, Expressive, Floating
(North Clerestory, 4th bay)
8' Fern Flute (73 pipes)
8' Muted Viole (73 pipes)
8' Viole Celeste (73 pipes)
4' Flute a Cheminee (Harmonic) (73 pipes)
8' Vox Humana (73 pipes)
Tremolo
Chimes (Degan) 20 tubes

Pedal Organ
32' Resultant (32 notes)
16' Diapason (32 pipes)
16' Gamba (Choir) (32 notes)
16' Bourdon (shared with Great) (32 notes)
16' Gedeckt (Swell) (32 notes)
8' Diapason (from Steere Great Processional) (32 pipes)
8' Flute (Great II) (32 notes)
8' Violoncello (Choir) (32 notes)
4' Octave (from Steere Great Processional) (12 pipes)
4' Flute (Great II) (32 notes)
2' Octave (from Steere Great Processional) (12 pipes)
Mixture II (Church Organ Company) (64 pipes)
16' Trombone (shared with Swell) (32 notes)
8' Trompette (Great I) (32 notes)
4' Clarion (Great I) (32 notes)
Gt. to Ped. 8'
Gt. to Ped. 4'
Sw. to Ped. 8'
Sw. to Ped. 4'
Ch. to Ped. 8'
Ch. to Ped. 4'
Echo to Ped. 8'

Pistons:
10 General Pistons and Toe Studs
8 Swell Pistons
8 Great Pistons
8 Choir Pistons
3 Echo Pistons
6 Pedal Toe Studs
Swell to Pedal 8' Reversible Piston
Great to Pedal 8' Reversible Piston and Toe Stud
Choir to Pedal 8' Reversible Piston
Tutti Reversible Piston and Toe Stud
General Cancel Piston
Zimbelstern On/Off Buttons

Balanced Echo, Choir and Swell Pedals
Balanced Crescendo Pedal

Wayne Burcham-Gulotta
Music Director/Organist
Church of the Redeemer, Episcopal
Morristown, NJ, USA

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Léon
• Boëllmann
• Boellmann
• Priere
• Notre
• Dame
• Suite
• Gothique
• Pipe
• Organ
• Redeemer
• Morristown
• NJ
• USA
• Historic
• Episcopal
• Anglican
• Church
• Orgue
• Orgel
• Organo
• Classical
• Wayne
• Burcham-Gulotta
• Burcham
• Gulotta
• Music
• Director
• Organist

[radiosteve999]

Absolute bliss to listen thank you. One of the best interpretations of this beautiful piece I've ever heard. What registrations are used please? I'm guessing tremulant flutes and vox humana?

[joenwayne]

@radiosteve999

Thanks for your very kind comments and for viewing. No tremulant nor vox, but celestes from Sw., Ch., and Echo.

Greetings to you in the UK from The Colonies.

Cheers,

Wayne

[radiosteve999]

@joenwayne

Hi Wayne,

Thanks. I have an early 1970's recording of Jane Parker-Smith playing this piece on the Willis organ of Westminster Cathedral (not to be confused with Westminster Abbey). She uses a very similar registration and I've always wondered what the exact combination is, it's so very beautiful. It was my favourite version but yours I now rank equal. It's a shame so many people think all organ music is just thundering Diapasons and never hear the more subtle registers.

Regards.

[joenwayne]

@radiosteve999

Thanks for viewing and your most kind comments.

Greetings to you in the UK from The Colonies!

Cheers,

Wayne

[indytriton]

Very nice!!!

[joenwayne]

@indytriton

Thanks for viewing and your kind comment.

[joe22twentytoo]

excellent playing, beautiful organ sounds, wonderful program notes, you do it all so well. looking forward to more.

[stefiot]

Bravo Monsieur !

[joenwayne]

@keyboardjeff Thanks for your comments and for viewing.

[keyboardjeff]

I love the suite gothique!

[issueagent]

@joenwayne Your welcome :) I am looking forward to learn this song !

[joenwayne]

@issueagent

Thanks for your kind comment and for viewing.