[St Peter's Basilica]

NEW CONCEPT ORGAN FOR

ST. PETE’S, THE VATICANT

 

The basic concept for this organ is to do away all the manuals except for one so the space saved can be used to house as many stop tabs as possible.  The manual will be divided and there will be eight expression pedals with two crescendo pedals, one to control the stop and the other to automate the thurible..

emMANUEL

64 Gravissimaria

32 Open Toilet

32 Closed Toilet

16 Bourdon the Ridiculous

  8  Open Pope Pius 1

  8  Open Pope Pius II

  8  Open Pope Pius III

  8  Open Pope Pius IV

  8  Open Pope Pius V

  8  Open Pope Pius VI

  8  Open Pope Pius XXXI

  5 1/3  Squinted John-Paiul

  4  Half-arsed Fundie Gay Haters

  4  Pretense

  4  Voix Angelica

  4 Voix Celestes

  4  Voix Loud Touriissimo

  2 2/3 & 2 Piccolot a Nasal

  III Mixture (popes, tarts, altar-boys)

 

 

Pedal Pulldowns

Pedal Pullups (quick, someones knocking on the vestry door)

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FINALLY -- A USEFUL Vatican Specification!!!!!!!!!!

 

(only kidding!)

[St Peter's Basilica]

W/O offending anyone, I would like to put the greatest possible distance between myself and the comments of a certain Mr. Steve Bournais. Not only are they patent nonsense to any right-thinking person, his views are certainly NOT shared by the church musicians of the US.  We have, and will continue to look to England for the brightest and best in church music.  The standards achieved in Britain w/ a fraction of the resources (money) common in the states is something to be admired by one & all, not to mention CHERISHED.

 

Karl Watson, Staten Island, NY

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Please allow me to add my agreement with Karl! Even though I do speak only for myself, ("officially"), I think I can say with fair certainty that most other American church musicians would NOT share Mr. Bournais' terrible comments.

 

Indeed, we DO look to England as upholding the highest possible standards in church music. As a Roman Catholic musician, I can attest to some sad examples of the dismal state of Roman Catholic church music. My own R.C. choir is proud to be affiliated with RSCM (and "Voice for Life"). My church is blessed with a long nave and about 3 seconds of reverb with very warm acoustic. Given the dead, dead, DEAD acoustic of many churches over here, I'd think it fair to say that many American church musicians would gladly work in those old, hard-to-heat-or-cool, stone churches and cathedrals in England! What glorious sounds that live in those old places!!

 

If Mr. Bournais is going to place his frighteningly huge (and "unique") specification for St. Peter's Basilica on this board for discussion, he'd best be willing to accept graciously the comments by other posters. And, he would do well to not make sweeping accusations and negative comments "on behalf of" other Americans -- musicians or otherwise.

 

All best wishes to our dear friends in England!

 

David

[The Passing Of Noel Mander]

I, too, offer my deepest sympathy to John Pike Mander on the passing of his father, Noel Mander. I know of Mander organs only through this website and through recordings - most notably in the US that of St. Ignatius Loyola, New York City. The organ- and organbuilding-community has lost a true pioneer and master builder. Thankfully, his wonderful work continues in the hands of his son, John Pike Mander.

 

For Noel Mander, grant him eternal rest, and may light perpetual shine upon him.

 

David Minton

Louisville, KY, USA