The public radio program “Sunday Baroque” recently interviewed Dr. Dennis Keene, organist and choirmaster at the Church of the Ascension and the artistic director and conductor of Voices of Ascension. He described Ascension’s magnificent new instrument, the Manton Memorial Organ, what makes it so special and his plans to introduce it to the musical community. You can listen to the interview as a podcast.
FRANCK, MENDELSSOHN & BACH Cantabile (from Trois Pièces) César Franck (1822-1890) One of the twelve great organ pieces of Franck, this sweet, touching piece is very beautiful indeed. It begins with four rich chords on the foundation stops (fonds) of the Grand-Orgue division, with the principal melody of the piece hinted at in the pedal line. Then the melody officially starts – on a
What better way to start Lent than with two of Bach’s greatest large-scale works? At the Prelude (10:50 am) Fantasia & Fugue in C Minor Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) What a special piece this is! I have always loved this Fantasia very much and find it unique among his large organ works. For me, it has a very expressive, almost vocal manner about it.
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 (10:50 am) ROUEN CATHEDRAL 1623 The organ music today represents what you would have heard in two of the great churches of France during the 17th century. First, the great gothic cathedral of Rouen. Hymne de l’Eglise: Exultet coelum Jehan Titelouze (1563-1633) For centuries, Rouen Cathedral was a center of music in France. It was famous for its boy choir which
At the Prelude (10:45am) Foundation Stops All of the foundation tones of the organ are now voiced and playing. Today we will go from just one stop (in the Bach Kyrie) to almost all the foundations (in the Widor.) Kyrie eleison (for manuals, from Clavierübung) Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) This short piece is played on the Montre 8’ of the Grand Orgue (bottom keyboard.)
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,
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
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.