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A beautiful instrument in Halmstad, Sweden...

giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
There is a gorgeous instrument in St. Nikolai Church in Halmstad, Sweden built by Pels & van Leeuwen. It is of 3-manuals/Pedal and 54 stops - no borrowed or duplexed stops anywhere. Sir Christopher Herrick recorded a CD on it recently and it has been rumored to be his favorite instrument of all that he has played on. The CD does not do justice to the beauty of the instrument, although the repertoire is excellently chosen and musically well performed as always by Maestro Herrick.

Here's the stoplist - just scroll down to it:http://www.nikolai.halmstad.net/orgel.htm

Blessings,

Giovanni
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Thomas Dressler

New member
That is a very interesting looking organ! It has a German-Baroque-looking case, but a French-Romantic-looking stoplist. From the picture, it also looks like a nice room. Have you seen it in person or played on it?
 

giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
I played a short program on it last year - Tournemire and Bach - I can freely say it's about as close to a Cavaille-Coll sound as one can get. One of the earliest voicers at the firm had been a close disciple of Grand Maitre Aristide C-C. Rumor has it that he had some copies of scaling lists, pipe construction diagrams and many other goodies at his disposal. It is a real gem of such a rare quality and seriousness of purpose - It does Bach as well as it does Tournemire or Vierne or Dupre or Messiaen or Buxtehude or whomever's music you wish to play.

Ciao,

Giovanni
 

Thomas Dressler

New member
I've been one to say on occasion that a well designed instrument with a lot of integrity in its style will play other music nicely, if not with the sounds the composer had in his ear. I have some old records of Marcel Dupre playing Bach at St. Sulpice, and I enjoy those recordings very much. This sounds like a wonderful instrument based on your enthusiasm! Lucky you to have the chance to play it!

Tom
 

giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Dear Mr. Dressler,

I understand that you are an organ scholar who appreciates quality. You speak of Dupre's Bach recordings at St. Sulpice - I wish I had them. St. Sulpice is my favorite instrument above all others. Yes, I like the Wanamaker, The Woolsey Hall organ and a few others but the unforced yet pervading sound of C-C at St. Sulpice just sends me
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I recently acquired Daniel Roth's recording of "Ad Nos" at St. Sulpice - Ahhh - Splendiferous! A question for you, sir: Where did David Tannenberg get his skill in organbuilding? Also, did he not build a sizeable instrument for a Lutheran church in Pennsylvania?

Respectfully Yours,

Giovanni
 

Thomas Dressler

New member
Dear Giovanni,

I love the recordings I have of the St. Sulpice organ, and I hope to get to hear it in person someday! What a lucky person Daniel Roth is! Years ago I spent a few hours with him in a car, driving him to the airport in New York. He was very nice and very interesting to talk to.

In my mind, St. Sulpice and the Cavaille-Coll organs are a different kind of instrument than the American Orchestral organs like Woolsey Hall and Wanamaker. I like all three instruments, but they play different music in very different ways. I, myself, tend to prefer Romantic instruments like St. Sulpice because I like the basis on a classical chorus. However, I find the Woolsey Hall organ to be a spectacular example of an orchestral organ.

You asked some questions near and dear to my heart when you brought up David Tannenberg!! Did you already know of my appreciation of his instruments? I'll start a new thread to answer your questions.

Sincerely,

Thomas Dressler
 

giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Mr. Dressler,

I knew not of your expertise in Tannenberg's instruments. Yes, Daniel Roth is probably the luckiest man alive, having such a glorious instrument at his disposal, at St. Sulpice. He probably works his tush off with all the responsibility he has.

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Giovanni
 
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