1988 Casavant organ - Central Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO

[@PointyTailofSatan]

Casavant is primarily a builder focused on North German voicing. But if required of course, they can easily provide a blended Baroque/romantic or even almost fully romantic/orchestral style. But their fame is North German. I regularly played a small 25 stop North German form Casavant, the "sister" organ to the one used by Glenn Gould to record the Art of Fugue. No swell box. No pistons. Not even a 32'. Yet SO good for Bach, a number of famous organists, such as Peter Hurford, have come to record on it. Casavants are amazing.

[@Gg-jq7ht]

You might want to look into their early years. In NewEngland, I was bred on some large French Romantic instruments they produced in 1917-1960. Their Phelps period was unfortunate and culty, and begat at least two generations of misinformed and irritating performers.

[@randymayfield]

Very nice. A lot of comments coming from folks listening through 1" speakers on a laptop. I assure you, live it has much more life! :)

[@Pfeifender]

i have a 100+ € Headset, so nothing to complain me using laptop Speakers 😉

[@willg1604]

I would say it is eclectic in style. Reminds me of the concert organ in the Jack Singer Concert Hall in Calgary, AB, Canada, but on a smaller scale.

[@arspredicandi]

What a lovely program and beautiful organ! I especially enjoyed the tour of the organ chambers, and look forward to similar videos in the future. I had the privilege of visiting this lovely church when I was a college freshman, ca. 1985. They still had the Kilgen then. The Kilgen had a beautiful sound, too; was heavy on fundamental tones as would be expected. This instrument is spectacular! Question: It appears that the chancel is very shallow. When I attended way back when, I recall the chancel as very deep, with the communion table against the west wall. At that time, the choir was split on both sides of the chancel, Anglican style. Did they have to rework the chancel to accommodate this much larger organ? Lovely, elegant, friendly congregation back then, too. I remember many of the ladies wore fashionable hats at that time, and the men were formally attired, and this was just for a regular Sunday service! Tom Donner was the organist then. Thank you again! Great job! Thanks for sharing with us! :)

[@PatroniFan]

Tom Donner was a member of the church. He sang in the choir and occasionally served as substitute organist but he was never principal organist. Phil Rowland was organist/music director at that time. I joined the choir in '85 and I miss the anglican style seating. The chancel is actually deeper now because it was brought forward a few feet. It now accommodates a larger choir. The current organ can be moved around but the Kilgen was fixed in place. We may have met back in those days.

[@The_Mental_Christian]

Thanks for reposting this. The echo of the old video was kind of annoying

[@thebog11]

I was under the impression that American and Canadian organbuilding had started to shift to a neo-Romantic style by 1988, but to my ears this still sounds neo-Baroque. Principals are thin, full organ is a bit screamy. The reeds do sound good, not thin and buzzy like neo-Baroque reeds. The acoustic isn't totally dry, but it's not great.

[@saxachewon8062]

You are correct. I’ve played a 1986 Casavant (the console is almost identical to this one) and it couldn’t be more different. It has a full battery of French reeds, big cornets and broad flutes. I think the music director at the time must have wanted this organ to sound this way.

[@jrorganbuilding]

Once again, thanks for the video. Nice demo. Not in total love with flutes on this instrument and the tour proved my assumption - all metal flutes. Give me a good wood Melodia and Doppel Flute! I would have kept some of the Kilgen.

[@arspredicandi]

I remember the Kilgen (see my comment above). You're right about the wooden Kilgen flutes. It had a very warm sound and was quite impressive. I'll see if I can dig up a bulletin from when I attended there back then to recall what Tom Donner (organist back then) played. Seem to recall he played Mendelssohn for a postlude.

[@jrorganbuilding]

@@arspredicandi so many instruments have been totally destroyed unnecessarily. I’m sure that the Kilgen lacked brightness and upper work but one would assume that it also contained many ranks worthy of being incorporated into a new instrument.

[@fluteceleste]

@@arspredicandi it had a lot of warm stops...pipeorgandatabase.org/organ/8635

[@mkshffr4936]

I like it. Listening on over the ear headphones I felt that it sounded kind of reserved for a French organ but still capable of getting in your face when needed. Would have been nice to have the Positive under expression.

[@glenwissner2814]

I wish you would have tuned the reeds first. 😢 It doesn't show the organ well😢 and I love Casavant organs and their sound😊

[@harmonicoutreach]

That blended Krummhorn sounds warm, never thought of that. Not impressed with the strings on this instrument and am surprised at no Voix Humaine on a french canadian instrument. Great video overall and thanks for your hard work OMF!

[@thebog11]

It's interesting you mention the strings and Voix Humaine in the same sentence, because a Viole de Gambe and celeste (or similar keen strings) is the accepted substitute when you don't have a Voix Humaine.

[@harmonicoutreach]

@@thebog11 I understand that I just don’t personally like that sound, at least on this particular instrument like I stated. I prefer a buzzy reedy traditional french Voix Humaine, the only celestes I tend to care for are flute celestes

[@praestant8]

@@harmonicoutreach You seem to miss the point of a lot of french literature, among other things, if you are only interested in flute celestes and voix humaine.

[@harmonicoutreach]

@@praestant8 I don’t care about literature, just sounds that please my ear. I register what is pleasing to my ear in the comfort of my home, however odd it may be to others, I am simply an amateur playing at home.

[@harmonicoutreach]

@@praestant8 I also highly doubt that Casavant Freres came to a presbyterian church in Missouri in 1988 and voiced an organ to cater to french literature 😂

[@scottrowley79]

Surprised to see so much damage to the green windlines....if the tuner did it, they should fix it. Hopefully curious onlookers aren't crawling around crushing things.

[@christianfeldmann8287]

What is whith the bombarde?

[@Pfeifender]

sadly packed too full and not good for maintenance aspects. I hope the organ sounds richer in the room and that the volume levels are a bit low due to the recording

[@timdaugherty5921]

handsome!

[@markaustin4370]

I was prepared not to like this organ but there’s a lot to like. I will disagree with one of the other commentators… you can certainly hear the French Romantic influence seeping in and the big solo trumpet screams Father Willis…tenor tuba sound…treble Trompette The Swell certainly needs a real 8’ Principal. An 8’ Harmonic Flute mixed with the string would be more convincing. But a real Principal works best. Anyway… certainly not Neo Broken but an organ that is speaking forward.

[@SuperLQQK]

I would love to hear some of that highly ornamentaled French music (I know I am mutilating the French school here, sorry) on this organ. Seems like this instrument would be pretty good at it.

[@SuperLQQK]

I was also struck at how well this organ might be able to play as a reed organ. An organ style I associate with the American westward expansion period. An early prairie sound, perfect for St. Louis.

[@rowanlidbury]

Sounds like it's being played in a padded cell.

[@Durufle68]

The acoustic is dead. Does nothing for the organ at all.

[@jcolbyt82]

Could someone tell me what the name of the piece played at the very end of the episode is? I have heard it several times before but cannot remember what it is called or who composed it. If someone could help me out I would appreciate it!

[@OrganMediaFoundation]

It's the Toccata in G by Théordore Dubois. www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/4286464?aff_id=457717 petrucci.mus.auth.gr/imglnks/usimg/4/4b/IMSLP08974-Dubois_-_Douze_Pieces_pour_Orgue.pdf#page=14

[@jcolbyt82]

Thank you!! I stumbled across your videos several months ago and eagerly await each new episode! I have been fascinated by the pipe organ since I was a child. Videos such as this help me to learn about all of the different types of pipes, voicing, differences between organ builders, the history of each instrument, etc…. Keep up the good work and I can’t wait to see the next video! Take care!

[@kevinklingner3098]

I don't like the tone . The tone is harsh and lacks the melodic notes and sounds you see in in english and good german and scandinavian organs.

[@johnnyjames7139]

I don't listen to church organs much because the music is not entertaining. If there is a tremulant, it is shallow and slow, even on a vox humana.

[@thebog11]

It's ok, I feel the same way about theater organ music. I like jazz, but I generally don't like the stuff that is played on theater organs.