1926 Casavant Fréres Organ - St. John Cantius Church - Chicago, Illinois

[@Durufle68]

The instrument is full, dark, broody, melancholic - I LOVE it.

[@mattm9042]

Corrado is an incredible musician, and a great teacher. I had the pleasure of playing that organ last August. It is a beautiful instrument

[@thomaswalters4365]

If there isn't one already, a CD should be done of this Casavant.

[@bobbyhendley3084]

I’m so glad that this unique and historic Casavant has been handled by Casavant in its move, reinstallation, and expansion. The character could not be more beautiful. Thanks to both of you for sharing it with us.

[@BruceLudwick]

The Casavants of this inter-war era are so beautiful and complete: great demonstration, guys!

[@Peter-x2exz]

Amazing instrument. So glad they didn't change it. I wish they had better choirs.

[@johnmangels5572]

There choirs are magnificent and getting better as they rebuild after covid. The style is a very continental style not the hooty English style so favoured these days.

[@louisglen1653]

A nice organ built at a time when one of the original brothers was still voicing the organs.

[@d.singler-kron9034]

Thank you. Well done. Wonderful organ. Excellent organist.

[@erickkroll8320]

This is the most beautiful church I have seen on Organ Media. I have never seen tabs directly above the stop knobs before. A very unique organ console design indeed.

[@Ippatron]

Casavant has some really great diapasons! The reeds are quite unique too. This is the firts Italian organist I've seen on this channel since I subscribed and I have to admit he made feel home because I'm Italian too!

[@pierrelauwers8719]

It is a pleasure to realize how Mr Cavalli demonstrates such a deep understanding of this wonderful organ, despite the long period of despising this style knew. This one, for sure, is between good hands.

[@thewilliamtan]

Beautiful organ. Great tour, and fascinating organist as per usual from OMF! That Aeolina is tiny!!

[@marcolimone]

Wonderful instrument played by an excellent musician!

[@peterfennema3112]

Beautiful presentation. Lovely organ!

[@rjspantikow]

I really need to get over there and play that instrument! That's definitely a grand organ.

[@danielmkubacki]

Wow a great organ!

[@Pymmusic]

Wonderful instrument! Thank you for this video!

[@Tracygriffith-dz2ys]

Very nice organ and sound

[@Quince828]

Classic Casavant sound. Not quite french, not english, but uniquely Casavant. This instrument shares so much of the tonality of the one I learned on.

[@davidhammond7875]

I hope to someday get there.

[@dougbackman7788]

Did you not tour the Solo division?

[@stepheneggert9474]

Someone told me there's a theater organ in the basement hall.in this church. Dose that hold any truth?

[@supermercado18]

Yes, Wurlitzer Opus 1818 from 1927

[@stepheneggert9474]

I hope Brent does a video on this theater organ as well...I thought there was one in the church hall

[@wmalden]

Is there really such a delay between key activation and sound or is this an issue with the sound syncing with the video?

[@mic1240]

Do know the church itself is massive/large, it may just be delay from where recording back to audio equipment.

[@jefferyrowley8873]

I would assume that Brent and Mr. Cavalli probably sync'd all video/audio by having a common sound such as a hand clap, so there probably is a delay. This is not uncommon, but happens in English and American Churches - especially those that have a large volume of space to fill and when the console is not with the pipes and there is some type of electric action from the console to the organ pipes (and St. John Cantius - Chicago has a remote Echo Division that is all the way across the room). I have played at several churches in the USA where there is a significant delay between the notes pressed on the keyboard to the pipes sounding. You just have to sally-forth and ignore the pipes just keep the tempo going, do not listen to the pipes because you will become slower and slower. Also you have to figure in a large congregation singing and you certainly cannot listen to them or you will lag behind. The Echo Division is there to help support the entire congregation and keep the tempo going.

[@paulh5293]

@@jefferyrowley8873 I can vouch for this. I was lucky enough to have two large organs available to me here in the UK when I was a student, too many years ago. One had the console just to the west of the organ chamber; the Great was therefore about 20ft above me and to my right when playing, so there was negligible delay. The Swell and Solo however were way up in the triforium about 150ft diagonally up and right of my ears and the delay there was over 1/10" which doesn't sound much until you try to play fast! The other organ was split on either side of the chancel, the console being on the south side fairly close to the Swell, Choir and (some) Pedal but the Great was high up in the north case well over 100ft away. That coupled with a very sluggish 1930's electropneumatic action - worse on British cold damp evenings - and a confusingly long reverb time made playing very, very challenging indeed.

[@TruckguyTruckguy]

Cssavant has some good years and some odd years. The older styles have much more soul.

[@dragonpullman23]

Why did they install the console where they did, and at such an odd angle too?

[@Zardman7]

It’s movable

[@johnmangels5572]

This is where the choir and orchestra are. The organ takes up the entire upper loft.

[@freemandryden2275]

Casavant, for decades, built «Catholic» and «Protestant» organs of very different character whether very small 2-manual or huge 4 (and even 5) -manual instruments. . THIS organ having been built for a «Protestant» church has a preponderance of 8-foot flue tone which sets it apart from the much brighter tone and more reeds which Casavant usually put in «Catholic» churches.

[@bertspeggly4428]

The case is rather disappointing for such a fine organ in such a beautiful building.

[@Feldi09867]

More bigger organs!

[@USFmarine]

Beautiful organ, too bad it's tucked away above and behind the congregation as many catholic churches do.

[@johnmangels5572]

In a Catholic Church, particularly a traditional Catholic Church like this one is, the choir and organ are placed in rear lofts. It is not "all about the music and 'performance'" but rather about the Liturgy and the worship of God. The beautiful thing is that the organ speaks directly down the very long nave thus providing unimpeded sound and magnificent it is!

[@USFmarine]

@@johnmangels5572 yes, that's the party line from catholics, but in my experience churches designed with the organs and choirs in front of the congregation do not prioritize the "performance" over worship. I don't find that concern persuasive and it's too bad beautiful organs are tucked away out of sight.