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Some news about Notre-Dame organ...

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Just found some good info on the restoration project on the "C-C Hybrid" at Notre-Dame but it is in French and the project is due to be completed sometime in 2014. Pascal Quoirin has some interesting ideas and he created a marvelous instrument for the Church of the Ascension in New York. Here's the main page about Notre-Dame:

http://www.atelier-quoirin.com/ParisND_etude.php


A fair translation from French to English via google translate can help with the deciphering...
 
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Soubasse

New member
Wow - what an extraordinary console! And from what little of the French I can follow, the computer system seems very state-of-the-art. As for the dividable pedal - that should be fascinating.
 

CatOrg

New member
For me, it seems it will become complicated to keep all these ressources in mind. But its nice.
 

dll927

New member
That's quite a piece of equipment. Ought to keep the organists busy for a while learning all its ins-and-outs. Now, i wonder what dear old Aristide would think of it. Chances are pretty good he would approve, if he could follow the modern technologies.
 

pcnd5584

New member
Wow - what an extraordinary console! And from what little of the French I can follow, the computer system seems very state-of-the-art. As for the dividable pedal - that should be fascinating.

The grand organ of Nôtre-Dame de Paris has possessed an adjustable Pedal Divide facility since about 1963 - this is not a new feature.

There has been much discussion regarding this extraordinary rebuild on another board, of which I am a member. Having been familiar with the previous, elegant console, I find that this new console is almost unbelievably ugly. If it were a car, it would be a Citroën 2CV.

If anyone here has never seen one of these vehicles, and is any doubt as to the accuracy of my description, see here: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=c...FFile%3ACitroen_2cv_1949_060117.jpg;2608;1952
 
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pcnd5584

New member
That's quite a piece of equipment. Ought to keep the organists busy for a while learning all its ins-and-outs. Now, i wonder what dear old Aristide would think of it. Chances are pretty good he would approve, if he could follow the modern technologies.

I am not so sure of this. It took a great deal of persuasion on the part of Guilmant simply to get Cavaillé-Coll to abandon his 'progressive' compound stops and return to including more true 'chorus' mixtures and mutations in his later schemes.

Being familiar with the sound of the organ in its former incarnation (both in the building and through recordings), I doubt that these additions are either necessary - or that they will actually enhance what is already a versatile and comprehensive instrument.
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
The grand organ of Nôtre-Dame de Paris has possessed an adjustable Pedal Divide facility since about 1963 - this is not a new feature.

There has been much discussion regarding this extraordinary rebuild on another board, of which I am a member. Having been familiar with the previous, elegant console, I find that this new console is almost unbelievably ugly. If it were a car, it would be a Citroën 2CV.

If anyone here has never seen one of these vehicles, and is any doubt as to the accuracy of my description, see here: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=c...FFile%3ACitroen_2cv_1949_060117.jpg;2608;1952

A Citroen 2CV? Now thats just a tad too harsh, don't you think? I would love it if they could have designed a new terraced console like that of Saint Sulpice but to include all the new "bells and whistles and appurtenances" but, ah well, times are a changing, and change is good - or so the Liberalism of the day will let you know...:grin:
 
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pcnd5584

New member
A Citroen 2CV? Now thats just a tad too harsh, don't you think?...

Not really. I doubt that there was anything wrong with the former console - which was almost entirely new in 1992. The console of my 'own' church organ dates from 1965 (with a large portion of the electric action also of the same age). It functions perfectly and still looks beautiful and elegant. The instrument was last rebuilt by J W Walker, in 1965 and incorporated a substantial quantity of pipe-work from both 1664 and 1764.
 

Dorsetmike

Member
It functions perfectly and still looks beautiful and elegant. The instrument was last rebuilt by J W Walker, in 1965 and incorporated a substantial quantity of pipe-work from both 1664 and 1764.

Sounds great too, I first heard it not long after the '65 rebuild when Michael Austin was "on the bench", and have an LP from that time as well as more recent CDs including your own.
 
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pcnd5584

New member
Sounds great too, I first heard it not long after the '65 rebuild when Michael Austin was "on the bench", and have an LP from that time as well as more recent CDs including your own.

Yes - Michael Austin was a fabulous player. I have been told that, at his interview for the Wimborne post, he was asked to play a piece of organ music. He turned to the selection panel and asked them what they would like. Someone suggested something by J S Bach and Austin replied 'Which piece would you like?' A further suggestion for one of the 'great' preludes and fugues was made, whereupon Austin turned around on the bench and played it faultlessly - and from memory.

Here is a link to his current website: http://www.michaelaustin.dk/


However, our superb 'Walker' organ is now in urgent need of a major restoration and rebuilding, so if anyone knows the whereabouts of any surviving relatives of Andrew Carnegie - or any other generous organ lover, please let me know....
 
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Dorsetmike

Member
I met him with some other students after a short RSCM course for choristers and organists held at Amport House, must have been about 1967 or '68. We spent most of a morning at the Minster followed by a visit to his home where we admired his pedal harpsichord, both sight and sound.

I have another LP of his recorded at one of the London churches.

Just ordered 2 CDs of his from amazon.
 
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pcnd5584

New member
I met him with some other students after a short RSCM course for choristers and organists held at Amport House, must have been about 1967 or '68. We spent most of a morning at the Minster followed by a visit to his home where we admired his pedal harpsichord, both sight and sound.

I have another LP of his recorded at one of the London churches.

Just ordered 2 CDs of his from amazon.

Ah, yes. I drive past his old house (which the Minster sold years ago) quite often.

The other LP which you mention was, I believe, either recorded on the FHW/H&H organ of Saint Augustine, Kilburn - or the Hill/HWIII organ of Birmingham Town Hall. I think that it included the Prelude and Fugue, in B major (Op. 7), by Marcel Dupré.
 
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pcnd5584

New member
The Kilburn one, must get it out for an airing.

An interesting instrument.

It was also used in the Merchant Ivory film The Bostonians (1984), where, during the opening title sequence, Nigel Allcoat improvised a series of variations on God Save the King (or, America, if you prefer). It included several good close-up shots of the console, whilst Allcoat played. As far as I know, this is the only mainstream film which used a pipe organ in this way.


Perhaps one day, this organ, originally built by FHW, will be restored to its 1871 state, but with the prepared-for ranks inserted. Perhaps the H&H Sub Bass (which was probably added to the Pedal Organ by Harrisons, in 1915) could be retained, otherwise the H&H additions and alterations should be removed. This includes returning the stop nomenclature to that which was given by Willis. For example, the G.O. reeds were originally called Contra Posaune (16ft.), Bombarde (8ft.) and Clarion (4ft.). The use of the name Bombarde for the 8ft. G.O. reed was not unique with FHW. He also used it for the 8ft. G.O. reed at another London church - that of Saint Michael and All Angels. West Croydon. However, at Kilburn, the 16ft. G.O. reed is one of the stops which is still prepared-for*; although, in this case, the chest and action are present. Tantalisingly, only the pipes remain to be provided.



* As is the Pedal 32ft. flue (to be constructed of wood), two 8ft. extensions to the Pedal foundation stops, the Swell 4ft. Lieblich Flöte (frequently omitted in quite large schemes by FHW), the Swell double reed (Contra Hautboy) and the entire Solo Organ. This latter department was originally specified by Willis to have four stops, including a Tuba (8ft.) and Clarion Harmonique (4ft.). However, H&H made provision at the console for two further stops - and for the enclosure of the flue-work and orchestral reeds of this division.
 
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