Organ seminars

British and French Organ Music Seminars 2013 By Cliff Varnon and Helen VanAbbema Rodgers

British Organ Music Seminar an exciting masterclass on French and this period, the organ is set consider- , or Westminster July 25–29, 2013 German works, played by members of ably sharper than modern concert Cathedral. The seminar ended with The ninth British Organ Music Semi- our group. Later in the day we attended pitch. David Humphreys, assistant a visit to , just nar was held for four days in , Evensong at Westminster Abbey, which director of music of the cathedral, gave down the street from the abbey. It con- beginning on July 25. The seminar began was sung by a visiting choir from Breda a brilliant demonstration, after which tains the Apse Organ built by T. C. Lewis with a train ride to Cambridge to visit Cathedral in the Netherlands. Follow- participants had ample playing time prior to World War I and the Grand the chapel of Emmanuel College, with ing the service, Peter Holder, organ on the instrument. In the afternoon, Organ, which is one of the two heroic its three-manual 1988 Kenneth Jones scholar of the Abbey, talked to the we traveled to Cambridge for some instruments built by Henry Willis III, tracker instrument, which used the case group about the history of the organ and free time, shopping in the local music the other being the Liverpool Anglican and some of the pipework of the original gave a demonstration of the stops. The store, and having afternoon tea. In the Cathedral. Peter Stevens, the assistant Father Smith instrument of 1688. Colin organ was originally built in 1727 by evening we attended Evensong at Ely master of music, talked about the history Walsh, organist laureate of Lincoln Schrider & Jordan, with several rebuilds Cathedral, followed by a demonstration of the instrument, gave a fine demon- Cathedral and a visiting organ teacher by William Hill in the 19th century and of the organ by assistant organist Jona- stration of the organ, and assisted par- at the University of Cambridge, was our most recently by Harrison & Harrison. than Lilley. The organ was first built ticipants as they played this magnificent host. He conducted a workshop on litur- Afterwards, participants were given the in 1685 by Renatus Harris. Elliot and instrument, which made a spectacular gical improvisation with several reluctant chance to play the instrument. Hill installed a new organ with existing end to an eventful seminar. volunteers followed by a session of vari- We then went across the street to pipework in 1831, with William Hill —Cliff Varnon ous British organ works, performed by Central Methodist Hall. The organ, with doing restoration work in 1850. In 1908, Church of the Holy Comforter members of the group. its imposing 32-foot façade, was built by Harrison & Harrison built a mostly new Cleburne, Texas On July 26, we visited the French Hill & Son in 1912 and was later rebuilt organ, using pipework from the previ- Church of Notre Dame de France, by Rushworth & Dreaper in 1970. A ous instruments, with a restoration in French Organ Music Seminar where we attended classes all day. The major rebuild by Harrison & Harrison 1974–1975 supervised by Arthur Wills, July 29–August 7, 2013 church, which serves a large French in 2011 was based on the original Hill who was then the cathedral organist. population in London, is located near scheme. Gerard Brooks, the director The final day of the seminar was Sun- “If you listen, you will learn.” and dates back to of music, is associated with French rep- day, so participants attended services at —Thomas LaCôte, La Trinité, Paris 1861. The organ was originally built ertoire and has recorded the complete various churches, including St. Paul’s Organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll by August Gern, who had worked works of Gigout. His class for the eve- Cathedral. In the afternoon we visited listened to the sounds in his head before with Cavaillé-Coll. It has undergone ning was on the organ works of Gigout All Soul’s Langham Place, which is a he started building the romantic organ. several rebuilds, most recently by B. (other than the well-known Dix Pièces), familiar landmark at the end of Regent Louis Robilliard of Lyon told us that if C. Shepherd & Son in 1986. Duncan along with works of Saint-Saëns. Street. In 1913, Alfred Hunter installed there had been no Cavaillé-Coll, there Middleton, the organiste titulaire at On July 27, we traveled to Peter- a new instrument in this church, replac- would be no romantic organ music. the church since 1989, had studied borough Cathedral to play one of the ing the original organ built by Bishop When Widor sat at the Cavaillé-Coll, liturgical and concert improvisation finest William Hill organs in the coun- in 1824. This Hunter instrument was he listened, and came up with ideas for in Bordeaux and Lourdes; he led us in try. Built in 1894, Hill, one of the two rebuilt and enlarged by Henry Willis III his symphonies. Vierne and Guilmant the opening session on improvisation. most celebrated organ builders of the in 1951, with the most recent restoration listened and did the same. A stunning In the next masterclass, participants nineteenth century, incorporated the by Harrison & Harrison in 1976. Gerard reminder to the organist: the dream organ played British organ works with John existing pipework in his four-manual Brooks conducted a masterclass, played came before the compositions. Here’s a Hosking, assistant organist of St. Asaph organ masterpiece of 86 stops. Its last by the members of our group. Later dream: to travel back in time, attend a Cathedral in Wales. In the afternoon restoration took place after a fire in in the afternoon, participants could concert at the Palais du Trocadéro, and session, Dame Gillian Weir conducted 2001. Like other Hill instruments of attend recitals at St. Paul’s Cathedral, listen to the now-extinct Cavaillé-Coll as Widor conducts his Third Symphony with Vierne at the organ! Thanks and appreciation are due to Christina Harmon, Dallas organist, teacher, and composer who led this group of American organists. Through her well-established FOMS program, we are privileged to experience the French tradition. Additional indispens- able co-directors this year were Cliff Varnon and Masako Gaskin. All three worked hard to keep this group of organists, organ students, and organ lovers happy and informed. For more information and notice of future events, see www.bfoms.com. Participants varied from virtuosos with ever-expanding organ repertoire to lifelong students who treasure their favorite pieces and still look for interpre- tation ideas from close connections to the source. In addition to masterclasses, there were classes in improvisation and ample opportunities for private lessons. Our youngest organist was 15 and the oldest 83! How fortunate for this group that there are still essentially unaltered romantic organs in existence that we are able to touch and play. The first on this trip was the Cavaillé-Coll in Lyon at St. Francois de Sales, the Widor family par- ish, where Charles-Marie was baptized Jean-Baptiste Robin teaching at the Royal Chapel of Versailles Peter Holder talks to the group at Westminster Abbey and later first performed Symphony V.

20 n THE DIAPASON n JANUARY 2014 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM John Hosking with Lynnette McGee at the French French Organ Music Seminar participants at the organ Jill Hunt listens to Gillian Weir at London’s Church of Church of Notre Dame de France in London of Manigod, built in 1996 by Italian firm B. Formentelli Notre Dame de France

July 29–30: Lyon and Chambéry August 4–7: Paris Blanc told us that Duruflé was not a one of four titular organists. The others The perfect warm-up act to the In Paris we visited the always-amazing man for big chords, but rather the musi- are Michel Bouvard, François Espinasse, frenzied pace of Paris was the time organ at St. Sulpice (suffering from the cal line. He favored flutes and celestes. and Frédéric Desenclos, with Michel spent in Lyon and the Alps, organized unusual heat of Paris in August), as well He also told us that the famous story of Chapuis serving as honorary titulaire. by the organist of Chambéry Cathe- as the Cavaillé-Coll of Notre-Dame des Duruflé not liking his Toccata was not To be in France and therefore in the dral, Thibaut Duret, with the help Champs, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll’s own necessarily true, but that at the time he center of the vital and enduring influence of François Espinasse, professor of parish, built in 1877. This organ was was very tired and had composed this of the world’s greatest organ tradition is organ at the National Conservatory of extensively altered by Schwenkedel, piece during a very stressful period in as fascinating and transforming as ever. Lyon. Françoise Webb, the charming although, fortunately, the Barker action his life. The spirits of Widor, Vierne, Messiaen, French native who spent her youth was retained. Thanks to Cavaillé-Coll, Our last day was spent with Jean- et al. continue to permeate the sensibili- in Reims, assisted with the prepara- who was on the building committee for Baptiste Robin in Versailles and ties and ethos of this beautiful part of the tions and organization. Our first day the church, also built in 1877, the acous- included a concert by him on the Clic- world through the brilliant French artists was spent with Louis Robilliard at tics for the organ are some of the best quot organ (modified by Cavaillé-Coll) at of the present. There is no more amazing the great Cavaillé-Coll organ of Saint- in Paris. the Versailles Cathedral, a masterclass at experience, or better pilgrimage, for an François-de-Sales. Built in 1880, it was At Notre-Dame des Champs, we had the church of Notre Dame des Armées organist. Teach us to listen, and learn… restored in 1964 and is still in its origi- stimulating masterclasses with Sophie- of Versailles, and playing at the Royal —Helen VanAbbema Rodgers nal and unaltered state. Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, Bea- Chapel organ of Versailles Palace. The Director of Music, Time spent with François Espinasse trice Piertot, and Yannick Merlin. palace organ was originally built by St. James Episcopal Church and Thibaut Duret and two concerts In the masterclass with Dupré expert Robert Clicquot in 1710. After severe Fairhope, Alabama on the marvelous 1847 Augustin Zeiger Cauchefer-Choplin, three participants damage during the French Revolution organ at Chambéry Cathedral allowed enabled us to delve into segments of it was rebuilt as a two-manual organ by Cliff Varnon is a director of the British each of us a performance turn, fol- the Symphonie-Passion, the composer’s Cavaillé-Coll in 1873. In 1936 it was sold Organ Music Seminar and has been an lowed by a third inspiring performance Wanamaker improvisation that he later to the seminary in Châteaugiron and assistant with the French Organ Music by our regional host Thibaut Duret. wrote down after returning to France. later to St. Martin Church in Rennes, Seminar since 1996. He is organist and Duret is a brilliant young organist and Cauchefer-Choplin said Dupré loved where a reconstruction was attempted choirmaster at the Church of the Holy improviser who studied with François the sound of the gambe alone because it by Victor Gonzalez. In 1995 a completely Comforter in Cleburne, Texas, and a Henry Houbart at Rueil Malmaison was mysterious. new instrument was made by the firms piano and voice instructor at the Dallas and with François Espinasse and Loïc Stimulating duo-organ performances of Boisseau and Cattiaux, which not only School of Performing Arts in Garland, Mallié at the Lyon Conservatoire, where and masterclasses by upcoming organ- reconstructed Robert Clicquot’s creation Texas. He has served numerous churches he received a master’s degree in organ. ists Beatrice Piertot and Yannick Merlin but also reconstructed the additions of in the Dallas area, including 14 years With the Alps as backdrop, we spent also took place at this church during the Louis-Alexander and Francois-Henry as music director at John Calvin Pres- Wednesday and Thursday playing the week in Paris. These two brilliant young Clicquot as well. This result was amaz- byterian Church. For over 12 years he organs in St. Pierre d’Albigny, Manigod, organists also helped in this year’s plan- ingly successful and stands today in the owned a retail music store specializing Thônes, Grand Bornand, and Annecy. ning and gave classes at the beautiful, Royal Versailles Chapel as a proud trib- in choral, handbell, and keyboard music. Each organ had a particular charm, and unaltered Merklin organ at the church ute to Clicquot’s genius. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in more information is available about each of St. Laurent. As a protégé of Marie-Claire Alain, organ from Henderson State University of them on the FOMS website (www. Daniel Roth entertained and enlight- Jean-Baptiste Robin gave an intense in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and a Master bfoms.com). ened us at St-Sulpice with historical class on Jehan Alain. Robin told us that of Music degree in choral conducting anecdotes about the organ and stories of after the trauma of World War I, artists from Texas A&M University-Commerce.. August 2: Dole and Dijon Franck, Widor, and Dupré that organists turned to the past, and Alain was the On Thursday, after a 2½-hour never tire of hearing. Cavaillé-Coll kept first to go to early music, layering it with Helen VanAbbema Rodgers has served bus ride, we arrived in Dijon. While more than 40% of the 1781 Clicquot orientalism and with jazz that had been as director of music at St. James Episco- there we played the much-restored organ pipework, never intending to brought by Americans during the war. pal Church in Fairhope, Alabama, where Daublaine-Callinet organ at the Cathè- make an exclusive change to a romantic Alain was fascinated by the cornet, a she directs the choirs, plays a large drale St. Bénigne in Dole and the organ. In fact, Widor’s colleague Albert sonority he explored extensively. Tutti, or Schlicker pipe organ, a 14-rank 1896 particular highlight: the untouched, Schweitzer said the organ was great for massive sound, is seldom found in Alain’s Hook & Hastings, and adminsters the St. undusted, very much in tune 1754 Karl baroque music. Roth clarified that the music. Our day ended with palace organ- James Concert Series. A regular BFOMS Riepp organ at the Collégiale Notre transition from Baroque to Romantic ist Robin demonstrating French Classi- participant, her organ and choral reper- Dame de Dole. With a Louis XV oak was abrupt in Germany, whereas in cal music on the beautiful chapel organ toire has been greatly inspired by organ case, this was the largest organ in pro- France, it was gradual. To see more of of the palace. Participants were actually playing trips to England, France, Ger- vincial France, with 45 stops over four Roth’s mesmerizing history of French able to play the chapel organ! Robin is many, and Spain. manuals and pedal and a 32′ Montre organ music and organs, you can find in the Grand-Orgue. In 1860 the 32′ numerous DVDs of Roth’s St-Sulpice Montre was moved to the pedal and in a lectures and performances on YouTube, 20th-century renovation it made its way all produced by Christina Harmon. Bet- back to the Grand-Orgue, the organ ter still, break down and buy the DVDs now being five manuals with 73 stops. from the Organ Historical Society! One room on the way to the organ gal- It still takes my breath away to sit in lery housed a museum that traced its the loft with Olivier Latry at Notre fascinating history. Dame during Mass. His playing for four Sunday services allowed all 29 organists August 3: Reims and students a chance to be at the organ, By Saturday, August 3, we were in complete with a console containing the Reims, where we played the Cathédral latest organ technology and design. Notre-Dame de Reims organ. Unfor- Classes and playing time were offered tunately, on our way that morning we by Thomas LaCôte at La Trinité (the received a call from Benjamin Steens, organ of Messiaen), at Sainte-Clotilde our excellent host in Reims, who told with Nicolas Pichon, La Madeleine, us a fire had broken out in the organ with Andy Dewar at the American of St-Remi (Cattiaux, 2000), where we Cathedral, and at Notre Dame d’Auteil were to spend the afternoon. A visit to with Frédéric Blanc (living conduit the famous champagne caves helped us to the music of Duruflé). LaCôte told to cope with our disappointment at not us Messiaen liked the sound of ice and being able to play at the basilica. crystal, 16′ & 2′ (Messe de la Pentecôte).

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