The oldest playable organ in the world.

[tittualex]

Hi ,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrTEo...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD3z8...eature=related

It sounds really good.............


Alex.

[rovikered]

This organ at Sion in Switzerland in the Church of Notre-Dame de Valere is indeed a remarkable instrument. Unfortunately, the short clips on you-tube do not do it justice, not just because only simple hymn tunes are played, but mainly because the you tube sound is so poor.
I have not had the privilege (yet) of hearing this instrument in the flesh (let alone playing it) but I have heard some excellent recordings of it played by eminent organists who, together with their recording engineers, have made it sound unbelievably impressive. Most recently, I heard it at an illustrated talk on Europe's Oldest Organs when it was heard played by Albert Bolliger who performed appropriate music on it by 15th/17th century composers :
Cabezon, Alvarado, A.Gabrieli and Hofhaymer.
According to the information hand-out at the talk, this organ, ' [p]reviously understood date c1380 now considered to be a half-century later (c1430). Case and some pipes of this date, with additions & modifications during C17th & C18th.' The hand-out also shows the specification :

Man: Pr.8;Oct.4;Copel 4;Qu.Maj. 2-2/3;Super 2; Qu.Min. 1-1/3;Mix.2r.
Ped: Ged.16+8

[tittualex]

that was good information indeed.......... We can hope that some day somebody will take the pain to sample the pipes and create a VPO...... so that everyone can have the experience of the worlds oldest playable Organ....

Alex.