Pipe organs in the movies! (updated) - Page 4

smilingvox · Feb-02-2009, 03:35

The organ in the chapel at College of Mount St. Vincent is seen in Doubt (Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman). This is one of Hilborne Roosevelt's first organs (1873), 2-16. The Clarabella is one stop primarily heard.
The college is in the Bronx.

comet · Feb-10-2009, 02:33

I am an organist who is trying to put together a recital of organ music with pieces that have been used as part of movie soundtracks. Any idea how I can get the titles of the works used in some of the movies listed?

Krummhorn · Feb-10-2009, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by comet

I am an organist who is trying to put together a recital of organ music with pieces that have been used as part of movie soundtracks. Any idea how I can get the titles of the works used in some of the movies listed?

You may have to buy the sheet music and then create your own transcription for organ. That's how the theater organists like Charlie Balogh and Lew Williams do those, anyway.

Some of the 'golden oldies' tunes may be in public domain, but will require some searching on the internet to find them. Sometimes there is a 'midi' of these which can be imported to a music notation software program and made into a score. The application I use, NWC2, does this easily.

Drinklicafix · Apr-01-2009, 11:04

Looks like A Canterbury Tale (1944) wasn't mentioned in this thread.
I was looking through it today and found a portion in the last quarter of the movie where a soldier plays Bach's Toccata & Fuge BWV 565 and in the last scene at the church he plays something I don't recognise. Can someone please tell me what it is?

smilingvox · Oct-29-2009, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by smilingvox

In Chariots of Fire, the 1885 Hill in Eton College Chapel is seen about 20 to 30 minutes into the movie.

There was an assembly taking place in a town hall or church in France (most likely actually in England). An organ is seen there. The facade pipes had the English inverted mouths. Perhaps someone, who has seen this movie, can identify this organ and place?

At the end, after everybody returns from France, there is a service in what seems to be Christ Church Spitalfields, London, with Parry's Jerusalem being played on the 1735 Bridge. Only problem with this, is a 16' reed is heard and I don't believe this organ has a 16' reed. Sound track from another organ was used, as the Bridge has been silent since around 1960.

Just went to the National Pipe Organ Register website and found history on the 1735 Bridge. I was surprised to find that there were two 16' reeds during that time. The period in which the story was set.

Gray & Davison enlarged the organ in 1852. Additions included a 16' Grand Trombone in the Pedal and a 16' Contra Fagotto in the Swell.

dll927 · Oct-29-2009, 17:33

As for the exact type of organ involved, I question whether ANYONE can really tell from recordings just what is going on. Nowadays they can do a lot with recording equipment. Next thing we know, someone will try to tell us they know if it's St. Sulpice or Wanamaker.

Of course, if the organ is visible, that's another story. But short of that or some type of documentation, who knows?

wljmrbill · Oct-29-2009, 20:08

As far as pipe organ goes.. or virtual reproduction of: every organ carries particuliar individual characteristics which can be noted in the sound of the instrument as it is played.... Takes a good ear but they are there... electronics also carry some of the same tonality characteristics.

smilingvox · Oct-31-2009, 16:42

Like I said before, concerning Christ Church Spitalfields, because of its silence since 1960, a recording of another organ must have been used in Chariots of Fire, which was shot in 1981. A brief shot of just the organ shows it was the old 1735 Bridge.

smilingvox · Feb-03-2010, 02:21

After a 3-month slumber for this thread, I found another flick with an organ.

The Haunting.

Most of this movie was shot at Harlaxton Manor in Lincolnshire (England). Its Great Hall is this rotunda with a massive staircase, opposite of which is a pair of huge doors. On either side of the doors are guilded 16' facades, Aeolian-esque. Feet are painted. Smaller pipes appear high over the doors.

I tried googling this, but got no results. Lots on the Manor, itself, though. Nothing found in the BIOS site, either. Organ was not heard in the movie. Any of our friends across the pond have any info on this organ?

Apr-01-2009, 11:04	#49 (permalink)
Drinklicafix Midshipman, Forte Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 32	Looks like A Canterbury Tale (1944) wasn't mentioned in this thread. I was looking through it today and found a portion in the last quarter of the movie where a soldier plays Bach's Toccata & Fuge BWV 565 and in the last scene at the church he plays something I don't recognise. Can someone please tell me what it is? Last edited by Drinklicafix; Apr-01-2009 at 14:34.

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Feb-02-2009, 03:35	#46 (permalink)
smilingvox Ensign, Principal Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 69	The organ in the chapel at College of Mount St. Vincent is seen in Doubt (Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman). This is one of Hilborne Roosevelt's first organs (1873), 2-16. The Clarabella is one stop primarily heard. The college is in the Bronx.

Feb-10-2009, 02:33	#47 (permalink)
comet Recruit, Pianissimo Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1	I am an organist who is trying to put together a recital of organ music with pieces that have been used as part of movie soundtracks. Any idea how I can get the titles of the works used in some of the movies listed?

Oct-29-2009, 17:33	#51 (permalink)
dll927 Captain of Water Music Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 369	As for the exact type of organ involved, I question whether ANYONE can really tell from recordings just what is going on. Nowadays they can do a lot with recording equipment. Next thing we know, someone will try to tell us they know if it's St. Sulpice or Wanamaker. Of course, if the organ is visible, that's another story. But short of that or some type of documentation, who knows?

Oct-29-2009, 20:08	#52 (permalink)
wljmrbill Commodore con Forza Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Taylors, South Carolina, USA Posts: 596	As far as pipe organ goes.. or virtual reproduction of: every organ carries particuliar individual characteristics which can be noted in the sound of the instrument as it is played.... Takes a good ear but they are there... electronics also carry some of the same tonality characteristics.

Oct-31-2009, 16:42	#53 (permalink)
smilingvox Ensign, Principal Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 69	Like I said before, concerning Christ Church Spitalfields, because of its silence since 1960, a recording of another organ must have been used in Chariots of Fire, which was shot in 1981. A brief shot of just the organ shows it was the old 1735 Bridge.

Feb-03-2010, 02:21	#54 (permalink)
smilingvox Ensign, Principal Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 69	After a 3-month slumber for this thread, I found another flick with an organ. The Haunting. Most of this movie was shot at Harlaxton Manor in Lincolnshire (England). Its Great Hall is this rotunda with a massive staircase, opposite of which is a pair of huge doors. On either side of the doors are guilded 16' facades, Aeolian-esque. Feet are painted. Smaller pipes appear high over the doors. I tried googling this, but got no results. Lots on the Manor, itself, though. Nothing found in the BIOS site, either. Organ was not heard in the movie. Any of our friends across the pond have any info on this organ?