As many of you know, we are hearing the first sounds of the new Manton Memorial Organ. Built by Pascal Quoirin of St. Didier, France, it is the first French-built organ ever installed in New York City, and will no doubt be one of the most significant organs of our time. During the Fall the organ was assembled here, the mechanisms all put together,
At the Prelude (10:45am) REED STOPS (LES ANCHES) During the past few weeks, Pascal Quoirin and his head voicing assistant, Frédéric Potier, have turned their attention to one of the two main families of pipes: reeds. (The other main family is foundation pipes, which includes principals, flutes and strings.) Reeds stops include trumpets (trompettes, in French), bombardes, clairons, oboes (hautbois), bassoons, cromornes, voix humaine,
A year ago we were at the beginning of what we called a “Year of Construction” and were settling into the Parish Hall as our temporary worship space. We learned that spending all those weeks shoulder-to-shoulder in folding chairs brought us closer together, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Now that we have returned once more to our beautifully-restored sanctuary and
At the Prelude (10:50am) CELESTES A celeste is a string stop tuned a little bit sharp. When it is combined with another similar string stop that is tuned normally, the two strings together make a beautiful undulating sound, similar to a large string section in a symphony orchestra. Our new organ has two sets of strings, and, oh my, are they beautiful! Adagio (from
Those interested in learning about the Ministry of Healing Prayer are invited to join Mother Shelley on Monday nights beginning on February 7th at 7pm for a five-week class on intercessory prayer and the healing ministry of Jesus. The course will examine the different ways in which Jesus healed those in need; discuss the meaning of healing and wholeness; and how healing prayer is
Ascension’s Social Concerns and Action Committee will sponsor a special event in celebration of Absalom Jones’ Feast Day and Black History Month on Sunday, February 13th following the 11 o’clock service. A light lunch will be provided.
The Annual Meeting will be held next Sunday, January 30th, directly after the 11 a.m. service. All are welcome to attend and all pledging members are eligible to vote for new Vestry members.
At the Prelude (10:50am) CORNETS A “Cornet” is a special organ sound made when 5 flute stops of different pitches (8’, 4’, 2-2/3’, 2’, 1-3/5’) are combined. The timbre created is rather “reedy” even though only flute pipes are playing. Cornets are an integral part of all organs, particularly in Spain, and even more so in France. Our Holtkamp organ had 2 cornet combinations.
At the Prelude (10:50 am) BACH Today I turn to the “center of the universe,” the most important composer for the organ of all times: Johann Sebastian Bach. And why not start with the single most famous organ composition ever written? Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) This amazing piece almost lives in a world of its own among the
At the Prelude (10:45am) The Continuation of the Plein Jeux Right now the organ team is voicing the various Plein Jeux of the organ. A Plein Jeux is also known as Organo Pleno, or Plenum, or Principal Chorus in various languages. It refers to the group of principal stops of different pitches that all go together, right up to the highest pitches of the