I'm back from Paris, the cathedral organ was great

[Jazz+]

One of the highlights was being invited upstairs in St. Sulpice cathedral in Paris, the same one in the Da Vinci Code. I stood beside resident organ master Daniel Roth and watched him perform for an hour. Being the resident organist at St Sulpice is the most prominent position of all for a French organist. Roth likes to play a repertoire of modern classical organ music, virtuoso works, Bach , and his own improvisations.

 

Playing (sound quality is very low fi):

 

 

 

Here is one of Daniel Roth's improvisations:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KjtWbxQNGk

 

More playing:

 

 

 

Here Daniel Roth demonstrates some of the organ settings: (also see text below photo)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kau-hubf2Gc&feature=related

 

More explaining:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYhKKc6aEoU&feature=related

 

 

http://www.bfoms.com/images/DRothSSulpice.JPG

 

.

 

http://www.stsulpice.com/Images/sulpice_buffet_largedk.jpg

 

"The organ tradition of St. Sulpice dates back a long time. From the mid 16th century we can observe the presence of an organist. Then the well known Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers and Louis-Nicolas Clerambault follow. But these organists served the first parrish church of St. Sulpice. The current church building, built during the mid 18th century according to the design of the architect Chalgrin, contains the monumental organ case (also designed by Chalgrin) that we can admire to this day. This case originally contained an instrument built in 1781 by Clicquot, with five manuals, 64 stops, and a Montre of 32 ft. The organ was considered one the finest organs of the French kingdom, along with those of Saint-Martin de Tours and Notre-Dame de Paris. Thanks to the talent of its organist, Nicolas Sejan, the instrument became celebrated throughout Europe.

 

During the 19th century, the famous organ builder Aristide Cavaille-Coll constructed a new instrument that conserved much of the previous organ, with the intention of realizing the union of the "older art with the new." Thus the Grand-Orgue of St. Sulpice, one of the three "100 stop" European organs accompanied by Ulm Cathedral (Walcker) and Liverpool Cathedral (Willis), rapidly became admired throughout the world. Professor Adolphe Hesse of Breslau, a noted performer of Bach who had visited the organ just after its completion, wrote: "I must declare that of all of the instruments that I have seen, examined, and played, that of St. Sulpice is the most perfect, harmonious, largest, and really the master work of modern organ building."

 

In 1863, the brilliant virtuoso Lefebure-Wely was nominated organist. He was succeeded in 1870 by Charles-Marie Widor who was only 26 years old. Nominated with the title as a "temporary organist," he was never given the official title of "titular" during his 63 year presence at St. Sulpice! He resigned on the 31 December 1933, handing the post over to Marcel Dupre, another great figure in the organ world. Dupre died during the afternoon of the Pentecote in 1971 after playing for the mass that morning. He was succeeded by his student, Jean-Jacques Grunenwald, another great musician who would only hold the post for ten years. These artists, with high regard for Cavaille-Coll's work, had left the instrument intact; such was not the fate of many of his other instruments, which more or less have been modified during the first half of the 20th century.

 

In fact, this instrument should not be viewed as that of a romantic-symphonic style, which many may suggest. Instead, the creater desired an instrument where the classic tradition and the new romantic style are intimately linked!"

 

Daniel ROTH (translation by B. Epstein)

 

http://www.orgel.com/vlm/img/sulp-l.jpg

[Jazz+]

The only jazz I heard was a group called "Borsalino", they play outside for tips all over Paris.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsE2GdObQXs

 

In the subway tunnels and on subway trains lots of musician in Paris are playing for tips. I heard many good classical players and Russian or gypsy musicians around every other corner.

 

Classical in the subway:

 

 

 

Gypsy/Russian music in the subway:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppCI90cZ5D0

[Dave Ferris]

Does it come in a module?

Kidding...What a great artist he is.

 

Welcome back +.

That must have been a once in a lifetime, memorable experience.

You were gone for awhile man..we thought you might turn into an expatriate like Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin or Kenny Drew.

 

I'll bet it was inspiring to experience a culture where music and art are actually embraced.

[Jazz+]

Thanks, Dave. speaking of expatriate jazz musicians, here is Johnny Griffin talking about music life in Paris back in the day:

 

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=36768

[ITGITC]

 

Great to have you back, Jazz+. Thank you for that story.

 

Here in Raleigh, Edenton Street United Methodist Church is getting a new pipe organ. Click on the link KLONK HERE for the story and a photo gallery slide show of the workers assembling the parts in the sanctuary.

 

This organ is from Orgues Letourneau Ltee, based in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec

 

[Dave Ferris]

I remember reading that article in the Times last year.

 

I hung out w/ the pianist in his last US group, Michael Weiss.

Great player, has at least one trio record out on Crisscross I believe. Michael also arranged for JG's "The Cat".

Great record released back in the middle 90's.

[Tusker]

Welcome back. I can see you had a lot of fun.

 

There's something about those instruments isn't there?

[Dave Horne]

Sounds like you had a great time. How was the weather during your stay?

 

I assume you took the metro to get around. Any personal stories to pass on?

[Yoozer]

There's something about those instruments isn't there?

When they say "pulling out all the stops" they actually mean it!

[Strategery]

WOW....great post!

 

I bet the sound in person was just unbelievable!

 

Randy

[eric]

Please post some photos that you took on the trip!!! Sounds like fun.

[latchmo]

PIPES!!!!! That organ in St. Sulpice is incredible sounding.

 

A few ex-pat piano tinklers that relocated to and stayed in France come to mind like:

 

Memphis Slim

stride pianist Joe Turner

Nina Simone

Liz McComb

Hammonist Rhoda Scott

Champion Jack Dupree lived in France for a while as well but also lived in Switzerland, England, Denmark and Germany.

[DafDuc]

Widor and Duprè were some serious mofos. And that is one glorious instrument. Very cool.

[rod76]

Jazz+, that's quite a priviledge to have witnessed Maître Daniel Roth in action from so close. Very nice to hear.

 

 

Does it come in a module?

 

It comes in the form of software called Hauptwerk. Although there's no St-Sulpice set, it still has an impressive list of sampled organs from throughout England and Europe. Worth trying.

 

 

 

[Bobadohshe]

What an amazing looking organ! I would love to hear that beast. Does that organ blow the one in Notre Dame out of the water? I've heard that's an incredible one also.