Outstanding vignette, thank you, Zephyrinus, of the 1898 Henry Willis Lincoln Cathedral pipe organ: the exact specifications (67, done say 70 stops, and over 90 ranks) are here:
..And it is tonally unaltered since the time of “Father” Willis (d. 1901). It is said this cathedral Oregon was the first one to be electrically powered for a steady wind supply.
As the specification shows, it has magnificent 16’, 8’, & 4’ reeds on both the Great and Swell keyboards, and two commanding 8’ & 4’ Tubas on the Solo. The pedal has a rumbling 32’ reed (“Contra Posaune”) and a 32’ Open Wood Diapason that underpins the most dramatic pieces, which effects truly awe-inspiring.
The Willis organ also has, however, very delicate and unique soft stops, such as the Vox Angelica Celeste, a string that undulates (it is tuned slightly sharp, for a “shimmering”effect) combined with the other Swell strings, and on the Solo, an Orchestral Oboe and Orchestral Clarinet stops, which provide haunting and mysterious light reed solo tones.
There is no doubt there are different genres of pipe organ sound ensembles, varying differently in America, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and so on. But “the English Cathedral Pipe Organ” sound, as exemplified at Lincoln Cathedral, (as well as Durham Cathedral, which we’ve already “toured” with Zephyrinus), the experts state is/are some of the most quintessential in all the world . Thank you, for the tour, Dom Zephyrinus! -comment by Dante P
Outstanding vignette, thank you, Zephyrinus, of the 1898 Henry Willis Lincoln Cathedral pipe organ: the exact specifications (67, done say 70 stops, and over 90 ranks) are here:
ReplyDeletehttps://lincolncathedral.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Detailed-Specification-of-the-Lincoln-Cathedral.pdf
..And it is tonally unaltered since the time of “Father” Willis (d. 1901). It is said this cathedral Oregon was the first one to be electrically powered for a steady wind supply.
As the specification shows, it has magnificent 16’, 8’, & 4’ reeds on both the Great and Swell keyboards, and two commanding 8’ & 4’ Tubas on the Solo. The pedal has a rumbling 32’ reed (“Contra Posaune”) and a 32’ Open Wood Diapason that underpins the most dramatic pieces, which effects truly awe-inspiring.
The Willis organ also has, however, very delicate and unique soft stops, such as the Vox Angelica Celeste, a string that undulates (it is tuned slightly sharp, for a “shimmering”effect) combined with the other Swell strings, and on the Solo, an Orchestral Oboe and Orchestral Clarinet stops, which provide haunting and mysterious light reed solo tones.
There is no doubt there are different genres of pipe organ sound ensembles, varying differently in America, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and so on. But “the English Cathedral Pipe Organ” sound, as exemplified at Lincoln Cathedral, (as well as Durham Cathedral, which we’ve already “toured” with Zephyrinus), the experts state is/are some of the most quintessential in all the world . Thank you, for the tour, Dom Zephyrinus! -comment by Dante P
A wonderful dissertation on Lincoln Cathedral's Great Organ from our Organ Correspondent, Dante P, for which we are very grateful.
DeleteWe learn so much from reading Dante P's Comments.
The Willis Organ is, indeed, worthy of such praise given by Dante P.
It is hoped to add to the “Tour” of English Cathedral's Great Organs in the near future.
Gracias, Zephyrinus. Also, correction “Oregon” should be “organ” (aargh), “spellcheck.”
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