There seems to be a fashion to include a loud, splashy trumpet in almost all organs, classical or theatre. This phenomena is somewhat new as it did noe exist 20 or so years ago. Why has this trend started, What use is made of these stops? These are expensive and limited use stops, so why are they in such demand today?
hey Allan, nice to see you post again, it's been too long.
I find these sorts of stops a little starteling, personally, and can't see much use in them unless they're on a huge monster in a VERY large space. Then, they are good for waking up a congregation that's drifted off to sleep ...
I'm not an atheist and I don't think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many different languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God.
—Albert Einstein.
IT depends upon how the horizontal trumpet is voiced ... they don't have to part the hairs on our heads to be heard. A local Holtkamp which has horizontals are voiced in such a fashion that they became they blend quite well with the rest of the organ and often used as a solo reed stop.
What I detest the most about horizontals is when the organist plays block chords on them ... it's far too brash for my ears when they are abused in that manner.
In Mesa (Az) where there is a IV/79 Wurlitzer, the horizontal is mounted at the rear of the auditorium ... coming from the back is quite pleasing as opposed to being hit with it in the face. Mormon Tabernacle organ has an En Chamade, but it is behind the facade.
If the church or auditorium has the money, why not? As long as it isn't overused by the organist.
Lars - fascinating. I read in a CD sleeve about the wonderful organ at the National Cathedral in Washington loosing one of them whilst being tuned as it hadn't been secured properly ... it shot across the nave ... !!
Allan: enjoyed your article on your organ. What a lucky guy you are and I am sure hours of playing pleasure. Take care..Maybe post sample of the sound for us>>>>
" The essance of reproduction,to feel and re-create that which was felt and impared by the creater,does not exclude- within natural limitations-the assertion of creative power" - Dr. Hugo Goldschmidt.
I wish you the Best for each day, now and always.
Bill
Wimborne Minster had one added in the 1965 rebuild by Walker, attached is a short excerpt of the opening of Gigout's Grande Choeur Dialogue which features it.
gigoutex58916.mp3
Certainly a "wake up call"
I think they've been around in Europe for a lot longer than 25 years.
Oh, about 300 years in Spain and PortugalOriginally Posted by Dorsetmike
Makes me think of a band of roving krumhornists ...
GReat sounding reeds,Trumpet (chamades) amd full organ sound..Thanks for mp3 Mike.
I wish you the Best for each day, now and always.
Bill
Here's two views of the En Chamade at Wimborne. Thanks to Mike, I was able to play this organ during my visit there in the summer of 2010.
What gives the original poster the idea that en chamades are new or a recent fashion? They have been around for eons and quite often are probably the loudest single stop in (above??) the organ. Quite useful for waking up sleeping children or anyone else dozing off.
I can understand a problem with playing chords on them. One note is usually quite sufficient.
About that pipe flying through the National Cathedral -- maybe the organ technician was trying to become an amateur rocket scientist. Just don't aim it at the rose window.
As it happens, the chamade at St. Sulpice is also "inside" the organ. That may be safer -- since the organ is in the back of the nave, it could get downright dangerous up at the altar.
Last edited by dll927; Oct-11-2011 at 17:01.
dll927, fascinating post, thanks. I'm not fond of them, I must say. Though there is a recording of Bach I have owned but now don't where Richter using the En Chamade coupled with the pedal in one of his fugue interpretations - enough to rattle your eyeballs and loosen your false teeth.
I'm not an atheist and I don't think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many different languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God.
—Albert Einstein.
David..This one made me laugh....bet the Rues even hop around
I wish you the Best for each day, now and always.
Bill
Thank you for the nice greeting. I agree with you about the "en chamade" stops, most organs don't nood them. Allan
@Allan, I love "nood" ... a much nicer sounding version of need! LOL
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