Contratrombone64
Admiral of Fugues
I love this, great footage of a wonderful French masterpiece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PVMj9T6BRA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PVMj9T6BRA&feature=related
If I could afford a digital sample of S-S, I'd just get a building to match (not that anything could really!)Corno Dolce said:It would be neat to get a *digital* version of it with the acoustics of St. Sulpice sampled in.
I've read more than once that, somewhere along the line, the 4th and 5th manuals on that organ were reversed. The Recit (swell) was originally the fifth manual, but it was something of a reach, especially with any pedal part to speak of. So they reversed the two manuals for a (somewhat) lesser reach.
As long as we're on the subject, that rather odd-ball pedal for controlling the swell shutters (way over on the right side) must operate so it's either open or closed - no keeping it at some intermediate setting. Anyone know for sure?
My understanding is that the Grand choeur and Grand orgue are one division, with the first manual devoted mainly to the reeds and upperwork.
As for couplers, we have to keep in mind that they didn't yet have electric consoles. No thumb pistons. So it wasn't as easy to include all the couplers we are used to nowadays. Since most of the coupling and ventil system were controlled by those little pedals above the pedalboard, there's only so much room for so many pedals.
When you look at the specifications of Cavaille-Coll organs, you often see "octaves graves", which would mean a sub-octave coupler. But rarely do you see "octaves aigues", the super-octave coupler. Interesting. One reason might be that 4' and 2' stops have smaller pipes than 16s and take up less room. So do it that way instead of with couplers.
I've watched numerous tapes and "YOU-tubes" of Roth playing that organ, and it seems that he spends 90 % of the time playing on that Grand-choeur manual. Meantime the other manuals are obediently following along.
Ah, mechanical organs!! With more modern organs you often see mechanical key action but electrical stop controls with pistons and the whole regalia.
Then there's the whole discussion about why we still have mechanical action to begin with.
funny thing is that i never entered st sulpice, but i walk along this church many times in a year! one can often hear the organ play on the right side, on a little place with benches. on the other side there's always a homeless on top of the little stairway.
at this moment they seem to be repairing or cleaning the facade, as it's often the case with precious buildings like this one.