Uppsala Cathedral new Pipeorgan!!

[VeniVidi2009]

The Cathedral in Uppsala is larger than Saint-Sulpice, I do not know if it's bigger than Notre Dame de Paris!

Janne

The inside measures for the Uppsala cathedral are 106 metres long, 42 metres wide and 27 metres high (the outside is 118.7 metres long and 52 metres wide).

For Notre Dame de Paris I have found the measures 130 metres long, 48 metres wide and 35 metres high - so it is apparantly bigger than Uppsala cathedral.

But Uppsala has a higher tower - 118.7 metres compared to 90 metres in Paris.

[Canning]

Dear friends,

I am sincerely delighted that several of you have taken the time to comment about the new Ruffatti organ at Uppsala Cathedral. Having read all that has been written about the organ on this site, I feel that I should now jump in and make a few comments myself since I know the instrument very well indeed, designed the specification, followed the building and voicing very closely, and have the pleasure of playing it every day.

Corno Dolce claims that the organ is buried in the left transept and that only half of the organ sound gets out to the main body of worshippers. I’m sorry, but this is nonsense. Long before the organ was built, extensive acoustical tests were carried out to determine the best place to build a new organ and both the south and north transepts proved to be superb. The sound certainly DOES get out into the whole building and the combined principal choruses alone (without reeds or mixtures) can lead a congregation of several hundred people.

Corne Dolce’s “Swedish Concert Organist friend” says that the new Ruffatti is a “glorified choir organ”. I’m sorry, but I don’t really understand what this means. What is a glorified choir organ? As for building an organ behind the High Altar, this was never an option and never even discussed. There is no space there for an organ, and even if there were, the Swedish Preservation Authorities would never have granted permission. In addition, we required an organ that can accompany the cathedral choirs – this would be nigh impossible with an organ behind the altar.

VeniVidi2009’s recording is sadly of poor quality, but as he says, the entire concert was recorded very well by Swedish Radio and broadcast at a later date. This concert was however not the inauguration concert (as even advertised by Swedish Radio). It was a short lunchtime concert held two days after the inauguration concert. I played the inauguration concert myself for an audience of over 2000 people but Swedish Radio could not come to record on that day.

I have recently completed the first CD recording of the new Ruffatti for Priory Records as part of their “Great European Organ Series” and this will be released quite shortly I believe.

The new Ruffatti at Uppsala cathedral is without doubt a stunning success. If anyone has any doubts or questions, please ask me, or better still, come to Uppsala at try it out for yourself (but contact me first so we can book a time).

With best wishes,
Andrew Canning

[mathetes1963]

Priory do very nice work with that series Andrew, I look forward to hearing it! What repertoire did you play?

[Canning]

The CD of the new Ruffatti should be out quite soon. The sound quality is quite stunning and I am very happy with the result.

Here's the repertoire:

Franz Schmidt Prelude & fugue D major “Halleluja”
(1874-1939)

Girolamo Frescobaldi Bergamasca
(1583-1643)

Emil Sjögren Three Legends – D major, A major, E major
(1853-1918)

Oskar Lindberg Introitus Solennis
(1887-1955)

Oskar Lindberg Old Swedish folktune from Dalecarlia
(1887-1955)

Ad Wammes Vallée des danses (Valley of dances)
(b. 1953)

William Albright Sweet Sixteenths - a concert rag for organ
(1944-1998)

Arno Landmann Variations on a theme by Handel, Op 29
(1887-1966)

Philip Glass (1937- ) "Satyagraha" Act III – Conclusion
arr. Riesman

Andrew Canning (1967- ) Scherzo (improvisation)

[Wammes]

Actually the CD is out right now!
Feel very proud to be recorded by such a giant like Andrew

Ad Wammes

[mathetes1963]

Actually the CD is out right now!
Feel very proud to be recorded by such a giant like Andrew

Ad Wammes

Thanks for the heads-up, Wamme, but per the Priory website, it is actually volume 78:

http://www.priory.org.uk/cgi-bin/usa...test%20release!

[Soubasse]

Franz Schmidt Prelude & fugue D major “Halleluja”
Girolamo Frescobaldi Bergamasca
Emil Sjögren Three Legends – D major, A major, E major
Oskar Lindberg Introitus Solennis
Oskar Lindberg Old Swedish folktune from Dalecarlia
Ad Wammes Vallée des danses (Valley of dances)
William Albright Sweet Sixteenths - a concert rag for organ
Arno Landmann Variations on a theme by Handel, Op 29
Philip Glass (1937- ) "Satyagraha" Act III – Conclusion (arr. Riesman)
Andrew Canning (1967- ) Scherzo (improvisation)

Great programme Andrew! I must keep an eye out for this disc. Particularly interested in the Frescobaldi, Lindberg, Albright and Glass pieces. Also, having heard your improvising, I would be much looking forward to that one too!