justinf

Hmmm, this site lists a "Fourniture II-V rgs" in the Solo, so perhaps it does extend to five ranks after all (your original post called it a "Progression Harmonique V"). "Harmonique" was Cavaillé-Coll's name for mixtures without breaks which add lower ranks as they ascend, e.g. 12-15-19 > 8-12-15-19 > 5-8-12-15-19 > 1-5-8-12-15-19. There was some discussion a few years ago of the unusual Cymbale Harmonique at Notre-Dame, which added progressively higher pitches instead.

Click on the "Deleted Titles" link on the Priory site and you should be able to order the CD if you wish. According to their site, the booklet may be photocopied but the CD will be identical. I very much hope you will enjoy it as much as I! Looking through my bookshelf, I see another recording of the Sacré-Cœur instrument. If memory serves, the clarity of this recording suffers due to echo. I still pull it out every now and again, if only to sing along with the Kyrie from Vierne's Messe Solonnelle (when nobody else is home).

Here in the States I have heard it said that certain composers simply cannot be performed more than a few hours outside New York. Although clearly a gross simplification, it is not without a kernel of truth. I grew up about an hour outside New York in a church where we received a steady and wholesome diet of Messiaen, Alain, Langlais, Tournemire, and similarly aventurous fare. I distinctly recall Duruflé's Suite being very well received, and even Hakim's The Embrace of Fire made a welcome appearance one Sunday. On the other hand, here in the South I have heard some extraordinarily snippy things said of mainstream works by Franck, Vierne, and others. Some people I knew left in the middle of a recital by a visiting concert organist several months ago. When next I saw them, they explained they were put off by Dupré's Prelude and Fugue in g minor and could not understand why anybody would want to listen to it. Similarly, one church member said (to my face!) that he thought the Carillon de Westminster sounded like circus music. Sigh... I don't wish to give the impression that this part of the country lacks taste or culture. Good music abounds! And last year I received such appreciative compliments on the Langlais Chant de Paix as to make up for the (considerable) cost of Neuf Pièces. Still, one must tread very carefully.

Priory Records has a wonderful recording of the Sacré-Cœur in their Great European Organs series (No. 22, PRCD 327). Naji Hakim plays his own music (Memor and Hommage à Igor Stravinsky, which I found quite thrilling even they are not to all tastes) and Franck's Prière and Chorale in E Major. The reverberation is incredible; The big D Major chord at the end of the Hommage seems to roll on forever! Back in 1996 I went with some friends to a recital in York, Pennsylvania given by M. Hakim and he autographed the CD. I'm still a bit embarrassed to have bothered him, but he seemed a pleasant fellow and more than happy to oblige. As for that "Progression Harmonique", it appears in the liner notes from 1990: Solo expressif (IV) Bourdon 16 Diapason 8 Flûte harmonique 8 Octave 4 Flûte octaviante 4 Octavin 2 Progression Harmonique Grand Cornet 8 rangs Clarinette 16 Trompette 8 Cor Anglais 8 Solo Chamade (IV) Tuba magna 16 Tuba mirabilis 8 Cor harmonique 4 Assuming this composition matches the 1985 specification given at this site, the "Progression Harmonique" corresponds to a "Fourniture II-IV". According to yet another site, JP Swiderski did some restoration work in 2000, so perhaps this mixture was renamed as part of that work. I don't know its composition, though. Any takers?

I hope I may be forgiven for reopening an old topic. Ben-Hur (1959) is showing on the television today, and while reviewing its IMDb entry I found that Finlay Currie was in his early years an organist and choirmaster in Scotland. He narrates the introduction and also plays the part of Balthasar, friend of Sheik Ilderim. You may also remember him as Magwitch in Great Expectations (1946). Naturally, I waited for the chariot race to finish before posting!

It is shocking to see what happens to some instruments and parts thereof. Recently someone (MM?) linked to an organ on NPOR whose pipes were twisted into 'interesting shapes' and pedal flues sawn into window boxes. I shudder merely thinking of such wanton destruction. At the same time, I am amazed to see instruments and pipe ranks rescued which I would have thought irretrievably damaged. This 1800 Tannenberg restoration is a good example. The façade pipes had been flattened by children but have been restored, apparently with satisfactory results. Perhaps there is hope yet for the pipes you mentioned.

The Daniel Roth CD appears to have both layers, but his narrated tour of the organ is only available on the SACD layer. I am curious to hear some of the stops in isolation, such as the Voix Éolienne. For those interested, organist Christine Kamp has put up some interesting pictures of the instrument including a short video. Thank you all for the helpful SACD information, although I must apologise for diverting this thread with technical talk. To put us back on track, here is Stanford's Magnificat in G from YouTube.

There are several excellent videos in various formats (YouTube, blip, WMV, even the dreaded RM) available at this St. Sulpice web page. The most interesting are those of Daniel Roth improvising for visitors while calling out the stop changes: "Voix Humaine by Clicquot", "a wonderful stop, Flûte Conique, just behind the façade", and so on. Watch him stretch for the fourth manual and imagine Widor playing the Allegro from Symphonie No. 6 back back when the Récit was on V: The mind boggles! Here is another recording of M. Roth, this time playing in Rouen. I very much want to pick up this CD after watching the video, but it requires an SACD player. Has anyone on this forum invested in an SACD player? Was it worthwhile? I wonder if they make computer optical drives with SACD capability? Moving a bit closer to home for most forum members (warning: PDF) I found myself enjoying this recording of Petr Eben's shortly after he passed. Linked off to the right you can find the same piece recorded in three parts at the Bätz organ in Utrecht Domkerk with some very busy stop-pullers! Finally, for a laugh try some of this insanity. It must be rather difficult to keep up with the Joneses up at West Point, but the U.S. Naval Academy is gamely trying. Their "64' Double Ophicleide" reminds me of the sideline artillery fire at the Army-Navy (American) football games I saw growing up. It must be said that Veterans Stadium was a better acoustic for such cannonades.

Thank you for this link. At the very bottom there is also a series of ten Buxtehude recitals by John Scott on their Taylor & Boody gallery organ, hand- or rather foot-winded, no less. The instrument and the performance is refreshingly light and mild; What a pleasant way to conclude the year! Happy Near Year to everyone. Justin (first post, and about time too)