The Organ, Master of them all - general organ thread

[bioluminescentsquid]

I haven't heard the recording in question, but I know that feeling from other recordings of Bull's organ music by Kevin Komisaruk, Leon Berben's In Nomine recordings and most of all Étienne Baillot. I find Bull's music disorienting to a certain extent, as if some points of reference are missing. Therefore, there are limits to how much this music can engage me.

I particularly like Étienne Baillot's Bull - the nobility and subtlety of it. I think this music is colorful and confusing enough in itself that it actually benefits from a relatively straightforward delivery. As in, maybe there's limited utility in gilding the lily. I do think the fantasias and plainchant-based works do equally well on organ and harpsichord.

[Mandryka]

Big French organ, you'll be glad of your subwoofers, Mollau in Haut-Rhin, 19th century instrument. Werner Jacob on excellent form, intense and mystical playing. 

[Elk]

Big French organ, you'll be glad of your subwoofers, Mollau in Haut-Rhin, 19th century instrument. Werner Jacob on excellent form, intense and mystical playing. 

Thanks for reminding me of this recording which I have ignored since I first heard it because it bored me. I was in a much more receptive mood last night I guess and enjoyed it thoroughly from beginning to end. I must admit though I was waiting for the bass to wow me. It could be the level in which I have adjusted it; however, the bass was just there. I have many other recordings where the bass seems better balanced to the mids and treble IMHO and some indeed where the bass is recorded too loudly.

[Mandryka]

Thanks for reminding me of this recording which I have ignored since I first heard it because it bored me. I was in a much more receptive mood last night I guess and enjoyed it thoroughly from beginning to end. I must admit though I was waiting for the bass to wow me. It could be the level in which I have adjusted it; however, the bass was just there. I have many other recordings where the bass seems better balanced to the mids and treble IMHO and some indeed where the bass is recorded too loudly.

Hello Elk! Long time no see.

I think it was the first track, or maybe the second, where I thought to myself "hmm . . . glad I've got subs!"

I also listened to the whole CD -- something I rarely do. When Werner Jacob is on form, he really is a bit special!

[Mandryka]

Just listened to a handful of recordings of Bull's Salve Regina - Cuckson, Winsemius, Baillot, Kenneth Gilbert, Scott Ross.

Some seemed slightly playful(Cuckson, and maybe Gilbert), some are fast and intense (Ross), some are sweet and serious (Winsemius)

Ross uses a fabulous organ, at Cuers in the Var - I've put a link to it. How could I have been to the Var so often and not heard this organ?! That's the performance which I'll remember most I think - I need to explore the CD more I think.



https://www.musiqueorguequebec.ca/orgues/france/cuers.html

[bioluminescentsquid]

Big French organ, you'll be glad of your subwoofers, Mollau in Haut-Rhin, 19th century instrument. Werner Jacob on excellent form, intense and mystical playing. 

It took me a while to warm to this (and maybe get over my first impression skepticism - Pachelbel on a 19th century French organ??) but you're right, beautiful recording. The playing is old-school, disciplined and serious, but still contains a surprising amount of nuance (for instance in the Aria Sebaldina).
Have you heard Helmut Winter at Trebel?

[Mandryka]

Just bought this. Does anyone know it?

 

[prémont]

Just bought this. Does anyone know it?

 

Yes, I do. I think it's up to Bolligers usual standard and the organs are - don't I need to say - most interesting. The so called Dorothea organ in Sønderborg is expertly reconstructed. There is another worthwhile recording of it here (HCD 1028):

http://www.helikonrecords.dk/orgel.htm

[bioluminescentsquid]

Just bought this. Does anyone know it?

 

Actually your recent John Bull salve regina reminded me of this, there's this recording on the same Dorothea organ that I like a lot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYdBHQiA3oE&list=OLAK5uy_lvQKLfh_DkZuFsDE1Eme8mwppXcHMxcdI&index=11

[Mandryka]

Have you heard Helmut Winter at Trebel?

Yes, I used to really like listening to Helmut Winter and it's a pleasure to be reminded of him.

[Mandryka]

Here's Jan Willem Jansen playing CU3

[bioluminescentsquid]

Recently released recording of Klaus Mertens singing intimate sacred song settings by Bach, accompanied by Ton Koopman (who else?) on a little 1762 Jacob Engelbert Teschemacher cabinet organ in Oosterland. I listened to the solo organ pieces on this recording, haven't heard much of Klaus' singing on it. Nice, gently colorful organ! Koopman's playing seems to have sobered up these recent years, his harpsichord playing has always been a little too forceful and choppy but it comes off as charming and clean on this little organ.

[Mandryka]

Enjoying this, this morning. Götz seems to have completely missed the boat due to poor distribution. Large catalogue but on a niche and now defunct label for the original CDs, hardly any digital presence. This is a great shame.

Also been really enjoying this Titelouze




Sylvain Ciaravolo also hasn't done well in the transition to digital, but better than Roland Götz! This is a valuable recording IMO - full of colour and life.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Mandryka,

I'm just curious that given how much you love organ music, did you ever have lessons?  Can you play any pieces yourself? [Meant kindly]  Just curious.

Best,

PD

p.s.  How did you fall in love with this instrument?

[Mandryka]

Mandryka,

I'm just curious that given how much you love organ music, did you ever have lessons?  Can you play any pieces yourself? [Meant kindly]  Just curious.

Best,

PD

p.s.  How did you fall in love with this instrument?

My school had an organ, a serious large instrument, and I was friends with an organ scholar there. He used to let me come in and change stops for him. That's the closest I ever got to actually playing one.

Being interested in organ is inevitable if you're interested in keyboard music from the 18th century and earlier. So much of the music, the best music, is organ music.. And so many glorious old instruments are baroque organs. Also, it's a great thing to listen to at home if you've got big speakers!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

My school had an organ, a serious large instrument, and I was friends with an organ scholar there. He used to let me come in and change stops for him. That's the closest I ever got to actually playing one.

Pardon, but I don't know a lot about organs.  What does it mean and how does one changes the stops?

PD

[Mandryka]

Pardon, but I don't know a lot about organs.  What does it mean and how does one changes the stops?

PD

The stops are switches which change the timbre of the music the organist plays.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The stops are switches which change the timbre of the music the organist plays.

Oh, interesting.  And how does one do that?

PD

[Mandryka]

Oh, interesting.  And how does one do that?

PD

Well, from the player's point of view you pull a knob in or out. There's a bunch of knobs with labels on telling you what effect they will have. In preparing to play the music, the organist decides what timbres he'd like to create, and when. 


Internally, when you push the knob in or out, it determines which pipes the air will flow through -- organs are pipes, wind instruments. There is a lot of plumbing in an organ.

I used to love the names of the stops at school -- especially the Latin ones

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Well, from the player's point of view you pull a knob in or out. There's a bunch of knobs with labels on telling you what effect they will have. In preparing to play the music, the organist decides what timbres he'd like to create, and when. 


Internally, when you push the knob in or out, it determines which pipes the air will flow through -- organs are pipes. There is a lot of plumbing in an organ.

Thanks for sharing how it works.

PD