Notre Dame church organ sound

[acc]

Here is a good sample of what the organ sounded like, as played by Pierre Cochereau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abwyPS5fQCc&fmt=18.

(This is taken from the Solstice CD “Pierre Cochereau, l'organiste liturgique”: http://www.solstice-music.com/caddie...hp?id_art=200&.)

The Sortie from that same Pentecost mass has now also been uploaded: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04xOFQfP5ck.

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha acc,

Thank you for being such a *Mensch* - A rare breed these days for sure. Thank you for posting that latest vid with PC doing what he does best - I have it now bookmarked. WOW! Had it not been for the info tools we have today, so much would never have been experienced - And I'm not talking about so much trash that one also finds on YouTube.

Humbly,

CD

[acc]

And I'm not talking about so much trash that one also finds on YouTube.

Well, I guess Youtube is just a cross-section of our society. Any community of several millions of people (or more) is bound to have its less engaging neighbourhoods; Youtube, alas, is no exception.

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha acc,

You're darn tootin' - YouTube is a virtual global community.

Humbly,

CD

[Soubasse]

Cochereau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abwyPS5fQCc&fmt=18.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04xOFQfP5ck.

Those definitely fall into the category of "who-am-I-kidding-saying-I-can-play-the-organ-when-he-goes-and-makes-up-something-like-that" improvisations

EDIT: I don't mind being shamed for having taken this long to finally read the full specs of the Notre-Dame organ, but I don't think I've ever seen an instrument with quite so many mutations on the pedals - more

[acc]

I don't think I've ever seen an instrument with quite so many mutations on the pedals

Believe it or not, but these mutations are not additions from the 1960s, but were put in there by... Cavaillé-Coll himself, in 1867! Actually, he has included three full mutation series:

• 32' – 16' – 10'2/3 – 8' – 6'2/5 – 5'1/3 – 4'4/7 – 4' in the Pedal
• 16' – 8' – 5'1/3 – 4' – 3'1/5 – 2'2/7 – 2' in Bombarde (now the 4th manual, called Solo)
• 8' – 4' – 2'2/3 – 2' – 1'3/5 – 1'1/3 – 1'1/7 – 1' in Grand-Chœur (now the 5th manual)

Although he never actually built anything similar elsewhere, he must have been pleased with the result at Notre-Dame, since he included an identical array of mixtures into his 1875 mammoth proposal for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

[pcnd5584]

Believe it or not, but these mutations are not additions from the 1960s, but were put in there by... Cavaillé-Coll himself, in 1867! Actually, he has included three full mutation series:

• 32' – 16' – 10'2/3 – 8' – 6'2/5 – 5'1/3 – 4'4/7 – 4' in the Pedal
• 16' – 8' – 5'1/3 – 4' – 3'1/5 – 2'2/7 – 2' in Bombarde (now the 4th manual, called Solo)
• 8' – 4' – 2'2/3 – 2' – 1'3/5 – 1'1/3 – 1'1/7 – 1' in Grand-Chœur (now the 5th manual)

Although he never actually built anything similar elsewhere, he must have been pleased with the result at Notre-Dame, since he included an identical array of mixtures into his 1875 mammoth proposal for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

However Soubasse did state specifically that there were a large number of mutations on the Pédale Orgue. Those on the Petit Pédale were, of course, not installed by Cavaillé-Coll, but added after 1963. These include: Tierce 3 1/5*, Quinte 2 2/3, Tierce 1 3/5 and Larigot 1 1/3.



* This rank may have been added between 1959 and 1964 (when Jean Hermann died).

[acc]

Those on the Petit Pédale were, of course, not installed by Cavaillé-Coll, but added after 1963. These include: Tierce 3 1/5*, Quinte 2 2/3, Tierce 1 3/5 and Larigot 1 1/3.

You're absolutely right; I forgot about the Petite Pédale (although I'd say that the Grande Pédale on its own already has an unusually high proportion of mutations).

[pcnd5584]

You're absolutely right; I forgot about the Petite Pédale (although I'd say that the Grande Pédale on its own already has an unusually high proportion of mutations).

I would agree with this.

Incidentally, you were correct regarding S. Suplice - I had forgotten about the removal of the free reeds - and I was unaware of the addition of the other mutation.

I had heard about the recent (possible) revoicing from another forum - where it was also regarded as unsubstantiated. Personally, I hope that the claim was incorrect; I rather like the sound of the S. Sulpice instrument the way is is - or at least, the way I think it is....

[Soubasse]

S. Sulpice was, when I heard it (to put not too fine a point on it and to use a certain vernacular), an eargasm!

[Corno Dolce]

S. Sulpice was, when I heard it (to put not too fine a point on it and to use a certain vernacular), an eargasm!

Aloha Soubasse,

Yes, the CC at St. Sulpice *dazzles* the minds ear.

[Soubasse]

Ah, so it's true what they say about great minds thinking alike (either that or "fools never differ" )

[Corno Dolce]

Aloha Soubasse,

You, dear sir, are no fool - your insightful postings on music and other fields are full of wisdom and intuition.

Cheerio,

CD