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Notre Dame church organ sound

cerosunos

New member
Hi all,

Some month ago, I travelled to Paris, my girlfriend gave me the travel like a gift.
All there was very good, but one of the things that made me feel different, was the church organ... the sound, the song, the way they played...

I'm from Spain. Here all the Pipe Organ sounds similar. I know, it's not the sound of the instruments, it's because the way and the tunes they play here in my country.

I was wolking into Notr Dame, the ceremony was going to end... no Pipe sound... sundenly the ceremony finished, and the PiPe Organ, made a sound... a very loud, and disonant, special, hard, like a thunder over the cathedral... I stoped, and become to walk in the wrong direcction. I need to evade lot of people, but finally y managed to stay in a good place to hear the sound, the tune.

I can't describe it, but Tim Burton, use this kind of dark sound, in his video Vicent he use it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH3R5ntFK3c

I'm looking for this kind of tunes, some sugestions? some autor, some name, some CD or DVD?

Obviously, I put money for the Pipe Organ player in the place for the gifts. And I write a note for the good sound, and my opinion about it.

Sorry for my english, I would like to express better my feeling about the sound of the Pipe Organ...
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha cerosunos,

Welcome aboard! Please do make yourself feel right at home and stay for a spell. I write to you as working musician(organ, voice, piano). I know the instrument at Notre-Dame in Paris quite well - yes, it is capable of a cornucopia of sounds from dark to bright as the video link below(if you click on it) will demonstrate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSxVO3EoCRM&fmt=18

Cheerio,

Corno Dolce :):):)
 
musicalis

musicalis

Member
spanish organs

Hello
I am French, but I have played on a spanish organ in Blanes. It was a small organ, but I still remember it has well ballanced sounds.
 

cerosunos

New member
That just what I'm looking for

Wow lots of things...

Thanks Corno Dolce, that's just what I'm looking for...

This kind of severe sound. Sometimes scratching, low, solemn, dark... But other times, soft, calm, relaxed... I love this kind of tunes, and the way he plays it.

In this way, can you, tell me some CD titles, or webs, or discografic, to buy it, or ask for it?? Perhaps I can find a player better than a place, I don't know.
I would like to find, tunes like that. And listen it in my house, my car... every where, can you help me? :)

Here in Spain, lots of Pipe Organ fall in desuse. Something very sad, but real, no money to restore it. My sister works restoreing churches over my country.
So it's a pity, if you know some good Organ concert near Madrid, tell me.

Another question... Oliver Latry spontaneusly create his tunes?

I can't belive, I'm talking with people who has played important Pipe Organ, like Notre Dam... I havn't got any idea about play an organ... I made music since 12 years... but percussion, and composition over my computers.
That's why I know all of your work, and I can apreciate it... a lot.
This summer we went to Ireland, to play and mix bagpipes, 60 bagpipers, with our 34 drum players. New sounds :)

Well, thanks a lot, for everithing and no doubt to say me... when are you going to play Organ in Spain ¿OK?

Hugs & Kisses Blanes is a very pretty country. I love Asturias.
 

sunwaiter

New member
the 60 bagpipers and 34 drum players must have been something to hear!!! if there was a sound experience i would have like to do lat summer, it sure is that one!
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha cerosunos,

There is much more organ music than just *dark sounding music*. There is just so much to cover. Since I posted a vid of Olivier Latry, I'll share a little about him. Maestro Latry is one of the finest organists out there. He is one of three organists at Notre-Dame in Paris. He is a part of a tradition of organ music in France that trains organists to improvise on a melody line, whether it be Gregorian Chant or another composer like JSBach or any other. JSBach also improvised on old tunes, even those heard in a Pub.

Anyway, Organ performance and improvisation taught at the music conservatoires in France is widely known for its academic rigor and thoroughness, with a series of exams and competitions. Harmony, counterpoint, fugue, composition, musicology, piano, and organ performance are thoroughly tested. Very high standards have to be met. Those who *survive* are usually very keen on developing the ideas that they have received during their formal music education. Note well that I have only shared a fraction of whats going on. We have a few members on MIMF, like *ACC* who can further clue you in on what goes on.

Olivier Latry has excelled beyond measure. His professionalism wowed the committee that selected him to be one of the organists at Notre-Dame. Anyway, the tradition of improvisation is also tied to the fact that the great organ builder Aristide Cavaill-Coll of Basque heritage, designed and constructed pipe organs that heralded the French *Symphonic Organ* era. Without his forethought organ composers(in no particular order) like Cesar Franck, Widor, Vierne, Tournemire, Dupre, Guilmant, and others would not have developed the justly famous tradition. There are numerous other factors involved which are too many to mention at this point.

Another fabulously brilliant organist is Daniel Roth at St. Sulpice - I'll share a vid of him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGG3Zcc7yqw&fmt=18

Also, a joyous organ piece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0coB_k23T8&fmt=18

Thats it for now. I'll share more if you want.

Cheerio,

Corno Dolce :):):)

Ps. Here's a link to a catalogue of organ CD's:

http://www.ohscatalog.org/

There are lots of instruments and organists in this catalogue. Look through the catalogue and, if you want, I can give a few tips on good selections, as can my forum colleague *ACC* who accesses other interesting organ CD sites.
 
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cerosunos

New member
Thanks a lot for your reply, full of history and new recomendations.

That's just what I want, recomendations for my ears.

Do you know some DVD recorded at Notre Dame, with this particular sound that I'm looking for?
Yes I know there is a lot of different sound, and Yes, you can give me more links, or recomendations, because I will hear all of them, no doubt about that.

I think a DVD, with the great dinamic range, the low and high layers will sound like a cathedral in my home... well I know, I think the same, nothing could be compared with a church or cathedral... but, something quite similar.

I remember, when I was in Paris. We went to a little cherch in the street Rue Des Pretres Saint-Severin... and surprisingly the tune played at the organ, sounds equal to the played at NotreDame. For me this kind of tunes is new, here in Spain, I heard for tipical tune for the mass... really it sounds different.

Well I'm yours... continue to introduce me in the world of Pipe sound, and thanks again for your time and knowledge.
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha cerosunos,

DVD's of organ performance at Notre-Dame in Paris? I'm sorry to say that I know not of such things. There are a number of CD's however by Maestro Latry at Notre-Dame - among others:

http://www.ohscatalog.org/latplayvier2.html

You should try to get the following CD of Daniel Roth at Sacre-Coeur - Its all improvisation:

http://www.ohscatalog.org/danrotatsacc.html


Both Latry and Roth are at the top of the organists food chain - they reign supreme.

Cheerio,

CD :):):)
 

dll927

New member
Does there exist another church as ballyhooed as Notre Dame?

I ran across a tape that I burned to a CD of one of their organists (not sure which, there are about five) doing an improvisation that goes on for about ten minutes.

Of course, that organ is not the Cavaille-Coll that Vierne knew - and died at. The C-C was replaced with an electric action one back in the 1960's.
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha dll927,

It is very true that the original C-C that Vierne knew is almost unrecognizable. But nevertheless, a lions share of the pipework is still C-C.

Cheerio,

CD :):):)
 

acc

Member
Corno Dolce said:
Both Latry and Roth are at the top of the organists food chain - they reign supreme.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more — funny that they are precisely the last two recitalists I've listened to live (Latry last Saturday, and Roth this evening!).
 

cerosunos

New member
Acc I'm a bit jealous... I would like to stay another time there... I prefeer to go first at Sacre-Coeur, then see the sunset over Paris and finish at Notre Dame listening some requiem at night...
Well call me sentimental :)

I still looking for tunes and videos... thank of you :)

I can see the Notre Dam Pipe Organ has something like a computer. I think the purpose is to program the pipe select change. Isn't it?

Another question. With the feet, they can change the pipes? And play de low notes? Something like the armony of the low notes?

Continue looking for this great sound.
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha cerosunos,

*Program the pipe select change* - Yes, one could say that. The organist can with feet effect stop changes by the use of *toe pistons* which can engage or disengage any or all stops available, depending on the piece and the performers artistic integrity.

There are a goodly number YouTube vids with Notre-Dame available but don't be surprised that they are sometimes *truncated*.\

Btw, here you can see an example of the *extremes* in organ consoles:

http://www.usna.edu/Music/Accessable/organ12.JPG

Cheerio,

CD :):):)
 

cerosunos

New member
Yes, seeing the vids I perceive the number of different buttons, switches, levers, pffffff

To many things to control while they plays the tune, or improvise it.
Another thing I think when I saw the vids, is the number of mechanisms that control all this sound. I told my girlfriend the difficult of those mechanisms years, and years ago. And the need of the quick response in the sound, you know, something like latency now a days in our computers and sound cards. We want to hear the sound in the exact moment.
Years ago, the air mechanisms, the compresors, the pipes, the buttons... pfff.

I`m looking for some vids about the mechanisms to.

;-)

Cheerio, is something like see you in some country ??
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha cerosunos,

Just like excellently performing flamenco on the guitar like Paco de Lucia takes tons of practice, blood, sweat, and tears, playing the organ like Olivier Latry also takes tons of practice, blood, sweat, and tears.

Cheerio is just a figure of speech; approximately like *see you again soon*.

Cheers!

Corno Dolce :):):)
 
Contratrombone64

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
As always, Corno is spot on (about the organ and about English). I think Olivier Latry really is one of the most gifted musicians I've ever heard (sadly not live). And by musician I put him up there with Stern, Richter, Argerich, Gould etc.
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Aloha CT64,

Thanx for your kind words. Tbh, I sometimes find my usage of the English language to be of a most miserable mishmash and carnal wreckage :shake::shake::shake:

Humbly,

CD <:-|
 
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