More joy for the Cathedral- and cathedral-pipe-organ lover, thank you, Zephyrinus.
The first brief YouTube demonstration was the fiery full reeds and principals of the opening chords of E. Gigout’s “Grand Choeur Dialogue,” followed by the Finale to Vierne’s Symphony No. 1 (his “best” symphony, before he got indecipherably chromatic); and finally the last piece, a very soft piece demonstrating the “silvery” quality of the 8’ strings and flutes of this magnificent Willis, using an excerpt from Cesar Franck’s “Pastorale.”
As the cathedral organist Jeffrey Makinson notes, although the organ case is magnificently imposing, much of the pedal pipework (being the largest, with two 32’ stops and the many ranks of the Swell organ) had to be situated in the North triforium. The main case was completed by Willis in 1898, but because Lincolnshire did not have a power station til sometime in the 1920’s or so, the organ’s wind source had to be supplied by being pumped manually for all services —-and practices—by soldiers of the Lincolnshire Regiment (!).
A wonderful historic English cathedral organ. So many of these great English cathedrals that Zephyrinus brings forward have unexcelled pipe organ sonorities; but many music experts say that the acoustic and the Henry Willis Lincoln Cathedral pipework, if you have to choose a “best,” is the finest of all. (Durham Cathedral, Winchester, Westminster, Truro, and S. Paul’s may dispute that). Thank you, Zephyrinus—-Comment by Dante P
Indeed: The source for the story of the “organ pumping power” provided by the Lincolnshire Regiment is here: https://lincolncathedral.com/father-willis-organ/
Of course, the Lincolnshire Regiment, as it is believed Zephyrinus has noted elsewhere, has a notable Armed Services Chapel dedicated to the quite significantly gallant contributions of the Lincolnshire Regiment in WW1 & WW2:
More joy for the Cathedral- and cathedral-pipe-organ lover, thank you, Zephyrinus.
ReplyDeleteThe first brief YouTube demonstration was the fiery full reeds and principals of the opening chords of E. Gigout’s “Grand Choeur Dialogue,” followed by the Finale to Vierne’s Symphony No. 1 (his “best” symphony, before he got indecipherably chromatic); and finally the last piece, a very soft piece demonstrating the “silvery” quality of the 8’ strings and flutes of this magnificent Willis, using an excerpt from Cesar Franck’s “Pastorale.”
As the cathedral organist Jeffrey Makinson notes, although the organ case is magnificently imposing, much of the pedal pipework (being the largest, with two 32’ stops and the many ranks of the Swell organ) had to be situated in the North triforium. The main case was completed by Willis in 1898, but because Lincolnshire did not have a power station til sometime in the 1920’s or so, the organ’s wind source had to be supplied by being pumped manually for all services —-and practices—by soldiers of the Lincolnshire Regiment (!).
A wonderful historic English cathedral organ. So many of these great English cathedrals that Zephyrinus brings forward have unexcelled pipe organ sonorities; but many music experts say that the acoustic and the Henry Willis Lincoln Cathedral pipework, if you have to choose a “best,” is the finest of all. (Durham Cathedral, Winchester, Westminster, Truro, and S. Paul’s may dispute that). Thank you, Zephyrinus—-Comment by Dante P
Our Liturgical Choral Architectural and Church Organ Correspondent again regales us with magnificent detail about Lincoln Cathedral's Organ.
DeleteOne really did not know that Lincolnshire was bereft of a power station until the 1920s !!!
And, in addition, that The Lincolnshire Regiment (nickname “The Yellow Bellies”) had to manually supply the Organ's wind source.
Thank God for The British Army.
Indeed: The source for the story of the “organ pumping power” provided by the Lincolnshire Regiment is here:
Deletehttps://lincolncathedral.com/father-willis-organ/
Of course, the Lincolnshire Regiment, as it is believed Zephyrinus has noted elsewhere, has a notable Armed Services Chapel dedicated to the quite significantly gallant contributions of the Lincolnshire Regiment in WW1 & WW2:
https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/57717/Armed-Services-Chapel-and-Roll-of-Honour-Lincoln-Cathedral.htm
-Note by Dante P
Thank you, Dante P, for these most useful Links, which provide a wealth of fascinating information.
Delete