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A question about the Notre Dame organ

Soubasse

New member
^^ Amen to that. And dll has made an interesting point too. Whilst it's obvious to anyone who plays a modern concert instrument, just how much easier programmable combinations and stop sequencers make for performances, I'd also be curious to know how much today's advanced technologies have aided or improved the actual mechanical processes from the keys to the pallets. I suppose some parts and connections can be more finely machined than they can by hand, but given that remarkable devices like the Barker lever and similar pneumatic and/or mechanical systems have been happily built and even restored by hand, is it still a case of "if it ain't broke..."?

Obviously I need to read more :)
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Insofar as mechanical action is concerned I have come to appreciate the servo-pneumatic lever action as designed by Stephen Kowalyshyn of C.B. Fisk.
 

GoneBaroque

New member
The smallish city in which I live (about) 35,000 population has a magnificent Fisk in one of our churches. It is the best organ in the area and one of the best in the state. Perhaps rivaled only by the Frobenius in Cambridge and a Flentrop in a museum at Harvard College.
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Thanx for sharing about the Fisk in your area - My experience with Fisk is limited to the instrument in Lausanne Cathedral and the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.

Back on topic: At this point we all probably know how much "change" took place when Cochereau was master at N. de P. These days I find my self divided as to all the necessay and/or unnecessary changes, (removal of Synaptel system excluded for very obvious reasons). It is most impossible to return the instrument to its original state and maybe its just as well that it will never happen.
 
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Thierry59

New member
Thanx for sharing about the Fisk in your area - My experience with Fisk is limited to the instrument in Lausanne Cathedral and the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.

Back on topic: At this point we all probably know how much "change" took place when Cochereau was master at N. de P. These days I find my self divided as to all the necessay and/or unnecessary changes, (removal of Synaptel system excluded for very obvious reasons). It is most impossible to return the instrument to its original state and maybe its just as well that it will never happen.

In fact, the synaptel system which is largely out of date, should be replaced in the coming months. It is also foreseen that the stops of the small pedal(petite pédale) will be extended to 56 notes.
 
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