Historic Organs of Québec
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American Public Media's PIPEDREAMS fi Presents Historic Organs of Québec May 17-330, 2008 | 14 Days | Hosted by Michael Barone A Canadian Caper? Why not, since the elements for which all I love visiting in Québec Province, with its blend of French and previous PIPEDREAMS tours were notable also can be found just English cultures, and know that you will enjoy our journey. As north of the border: (1) a 'foreign' country, with the exoticism of a always, this tour is organ-centric, with a rewarding music-rich itiner- different language, customs and cuisine; (2) a sense of antiquity, ary and full schedule. We will visit our share of generic historic sites, since the earliest Canadian pioneer settlements and religious foun- but if you require a day for art museums or shopping, please dations date back to the mid 1600s; and (3) a variety of exception- arrange to come early or stay longer. And pack your comfortable al pipe organs in architecturally and geographically interesting set- shoes, since our coach cannot always bring you directly to the tings. Plus no trans-oceanic jet lag! church door, and a degree of often strenuous walking is inevitable. Go online to www.uquebec.ca/musique/orgues/orgueq.html, and I hope that you will be able to join me for our PIPEDREAMS 2008 discover that though Canada¹s organists are not so numerous as Tour of Québec. Your memory-bank will be the richer afterwards. here in the USA, they are remarkably organized! What a catalogue of riches. The oldest surviving Canadian organ dates from 1854, and the most recent will be under construction when we visit two busy organ workshops in St. Hyacinthe. Though the newer Canadian organs are very up-to-date, several recent projects repli- cate esthetics of the 1700s. Casavant Frères, Ltd., Canada¹s largest and longest-lived organ builder, evolved from the early efforts of Joseph Casavant (1807- 1874) and is directly descended from the company established in 1879 by his sons Samuel (1850-1929) and Claver (1855-1933). The Casavants were not the first in this business, as the historic work of Samuel Warren, Eusebe Brodeur, Louis Mitchell, and Napoléon Déry reminds, nor are they alone today, as recent work International Tours by Karl Wilhelm, Hellmuth Wolff, Guilbault-Thérien, Juget-Sinclair for the Arts and others proves. MICHAEL BARONE is a SAT 17 MAY Depart USA/Arrive Montréal WED 21 MAY Montréal/Trois Riviéres well known voice on pub- Pipedreams vous souhaite les bienvenues After breakfast and hotel check-out, begin lic radio as host for national au Québec! Arrive at Montréal's Trudeau a day's journey along the south bank of the broadcasts of Pipedreams®. He came to Minnesota International Airport on flights by individ- St. Lawrence River. There are original Public Radio in 1968, ual arrangement. Montréal's 360 years of organs to be found in lovely town church- served as the system's history have left an indelible mark on the es en route, such as the splendid sanctuary music director through vibrant character of the city. It's been in at Boucherville. Enjoy lunch on your own 1993, and continues as a Senior Executive turn a French settlement, a British strong- in Sorel, the fourth oldest city in Canada, a Producer. His long running local Thursday night hold, and today, the world's second-largest historic port at the confluence of three program, “The New Releases”, delights listeners French-speaking city. With prepaid shuttle rivers - perhaps try the local perch stew with its odd-ball repertoire and candid commen- vouchers, transfer to the hotel and check called "gibelotte des îles." This afternoon tary. Barone is a graduate (B.M. in Music in for a four-night stay. Meet this evening visit Saint-Frédéric Church - its gallery History) of the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, for a welcome dinner on site. Your host, organ is among the largest Casavants in and an internationally-known advocate for the Michael Barone, will greet you and intro- Quebec. Continue along the St. Lawrence pipe organ and its music. He has received spe- duce the evening's speaker who will pre- to arrive in Trois Rivières, founded in 1634 cial honors from the American Guild of view the organ culture of Québec. and the second oldest city in New France, Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the Sheraton Four Points Centre-Ville (D) after Québec. The city lies at midpoint American Society of Composers, Authors and along Le Chemin du Roy (King's Road), Publishers (ASCAP), and the Minnesota Music SUN 18 MAY Montréal completed in 1737 and the first travel wor- Hall of Fame for his contributions to the musical thy road between Québec and Montréal. The morning is at leisure for worship or community at large and to organ music in par- individual activities in the "City of a Hotel Gouverneur (B, D) ticular. Hundred Bells"; your guide will assist with Our valuable collaborators in Québec: suggestions. We recommend the nearby THU 22 MAY Trois Riviéres Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul with its This morning's visits are in walking dis- Yves G. Préfontaine is President of Les Amis de 1932/1978 Casavant. Meet in the lobby tance of the hotel. Stroll to the Ursuline l'Orgue de Montréal. Since 1966, he has been early this afternoon to begin exploring the Convent and Museum. The Ursuline sis- organist, with Bernard Lagacé, of the Casavant many and varied instruments of Montréal. ters arrived in Trois Rivières in 1697 and organ at Marie-Reine-des-Cœurs Shrine in By mid-afternoon arrive at Saint Joseph's built their first chapel in 1711. Hear the Montréal; since 1994, he has also served as Oratory, high atop beautiful Mount Royal, diminutive five-stop 1901 Casavant that director of music and as titular organist of the for the weekly organ concert and private stands in their festivities hall. After visiting Guilbault-Thérien organ in Montréal's Great introduction highlighting the unique Seminary. Mr. Préfontaine has served on the the 90-rank organ at the Cathédrale de majesty of this landmark five-manual 1960 l'Assomption, enjoy time for lunch on your music faculty at Marie-Victorin College in Beckerath instrument from Hamburg, Montréal since 1984. own in the old town. This afternoon's vis- Germany. Continue with visits until early its will end at Notre-Dame-du-Cap, an evening return to the hotel and dinner. important pilgrimage site, its large basilica Marc D'Anjou was appointed organist of Sheraton Four Points Centre-Ville (B, D) Québec Basilica-Cathedral in 1993. He is very crowned by a 114-rank Casavant organ active as member of the board of directors of from 1964, this firm's 'home-built' Amis de l'Orgue de Québec and the Claude MON 19 MAY Montréal response to the imported Beckerath at the Lavoie Foundation, and as diocesan leader of Today is Victoria Day, an official holiday Montréal Oratory. Return to the hotel for LAUDEM-QUÉBEC. that recognizes the birthday of Queen an evening on own. Hotel Gouverneur Victoria and honors the currently reigning (B) Denis Gagné performs as an accompanist and sovereign. Les Amis de l'Orgue Montréal recitalist, and has been organist in St. Edouard, will share visits with the Pipedreams group Notre-Dame-du-Très-Saint-Sacrement, and FRI 23 MAY Trois Rivières/Québec Notre-Dame-de-Grâce parishes in Montréal. He today. In the Italian community is Notre Dame de-la-Consolata Church, which fea- Return to the south side of the river to visit is now the titular organist in St. Leonard parish charming and elegant country churches. and co-organist in Holy Sacrement Shrine and tures one of the few non-Canadian organs to be seen on this trip. The instrument was On April 2, 1890, the parish church in since 2005, Mr. Gagné has served on the board Sante-Monique-de-Nicolet burned and its of Les Amis de l'Orgue de Montréal. built in 1964-65 by Pontificia Fabbrica d'Organi Tamburini, from Crema, Italy. 1878 Mitchell was partially destroyed. As Also hear the very first organ by Casavant part of the church's rebuilding, a new Raymond Perrin has served as assistant organist organ was ordered from Eusèbe Brodeur in at the Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Cap since Frères from 1880 at Notre-Dame-de- 1993. He teaches organ, harpsichord and com- Lourdes parish. Return to hotel. Dinner St. Hyacinthe and the salvaged Mitchell position at the Conservatory and at the on own. Sheraton Four Points Centre-Ville pipes incorporated. Continue for after- University of Québec in Trois-Rivières. Mr. (B) noon arrival in Québec, capital of the Perrin conducts choirs at both institutions, has province. Embark on a panoramic overview tour of the city, 400 years old concertized abroad and has written works for TUE 20 MAY Montréal organ, choir and orchestra. this year. On July 3, 1608, Samuel de Travel outside of Montréal to St. Hyacinthe Champlain founded a settlement at Kébec, David Szanto concertizes extensively in Canada where a surprisingly vibrant organ building an Algonquin word meaning "place where and the U.S. He received the Doctor of Musical culture thrives in a lush agricultural region. the river narrows." In doing so, he estab- Arts degree from New England Conservatory, Visit first the splendidly decorated lished what would become the first perma- where he studied with William Porter and also Cathedral, then the factory of Casavant nent French settlement in North America served on the faculty. Mr. Szanto received the Frères (brothers), Ltd.