Full Version: Franck's Choral In A Minor
I understand that registration depends a lot on the instrument and the acoustics. Because of that, it is sometimes necessary to modify the registrations given by the composer.
I was wondering if anyone would take the liberty to use the following stops for the opening measures of Franck's Choral in A Minor:
1) 2' flues
2) 4' and 16' reeds in the manuals
3) Mixtures
Let us assume that the acoustics is quite dry and the instrument large but not very French-sounding.
As far as I know, many people include 4' flues at the beginning.
With french organ music of this period it is important to think laterally (build up from 8, then 16/4 etc) rather than looking up (principal chorus) as you would be inclined to do with baroque music.
That, as i understand it, is the basic rule
That, as i understand it, is the basic rule
QUOTE(daveinnorfolk @ Jul 2 2008, 05:27 AM) 
With french organ music of this period it is important to think laterally (build up from 8, then 16/4 etc) rather than looking up (principal chorus) as you would be inclined to do with baroque music.
That, as i understand it, is the basic rule
I know that it is important to think laterally for French romantic repertoire. I meant to ask if anyone would use stops that Franck did not call for, in addition to the ones that are required. Any thoughts from the experienced organists on the forum?
QUOTE(organ_dummy @ Jul 3 2008, 03:32 AM)
QUOTE(daveinnorfolk @ Jul 2 2008, 05:27 AM)
With french organ music of this period it is important to think laterally (build up from 8, then 16/4 etc) rather than looking up (principal chorus) as you would be inclined to do with baroque music.
That, as i understand it, is the basic rule
I know that it is important to think laterally for French romantic repertoire. I meant to ask if anyone would use stops that Franck did not call for, in addition to the ones that are required. Any thoughts from the experienced organists on the forum?
The difficulty with this line of thinking is I suspect your organ is completely different to Franck's CC at St Clotilde. Therefore, is it right to rule in or rule out any stops? I think it is more important to think about articulation, tying notes and the relationship of the tempi than the actual colours that you choose.
This is a very rewarding work and I wish you all the best with it.
If you want to be the most accurate you can be, listen to a recording done on C/F's organ, then try and replicate the registration in England.
Important to bear in mind that (especially Great) reeds are far more high pressured in this country, thus louder and not so inclined to sitting in the chorus. The thought of the average great trumpet / tromba being on for 12/13 minutes doesn't seem nice!
Important to bear in mind that (especially Great) reeds are far more high pressured in this country, thus louder and not so inclined to sitting in the chorus. The thought of the average great trumpet / tromba being on for 12/13 minutes doesn't seem nice!
QUOTE(confutatis @ Jul 3 2008, 04:06 AM)
The difficulty with this line of thinking is I suspect your organ is completely different to Franck's CC at St Clotilde. Therefore, is it right to rule in or rule out any stops? I think it is more important to think about articulation, tying notes and the relationship of the tempi than the actual colours that you choose.
This is a very rewarding work and I wish you all the best with it.
I studied this piece several months ago. Having discovered a recording of this work at the console earlier this week, I decided to revisit the piece. I was thrilled by what I heard and saw -- the stops and couplers moved during playback. I was puzzled by some of the stops, but the sounds worked very nicely in that particular space, even if they were a bit too bright at times.
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Thank you so much for your post, acc. It was very clear, and I learned something!
Here is one question that has been on my mind for a long time: On Franck's organ, is it possible to turn on selected stops on the Anches windchest when using the ventil? Or is it more like all or nothing?
Here is one question that has been on my mind for a long time: On Franck's organ, is it possible to turn on selected stops on the Anches windchest when using the ventil? Or is it more like all or nothing?
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QUOTE(acc @ Nov 28 2008, 06:04 AM)
No problem: each stop, whether on the fonds chest or on the anches chest, has its own drawknob. So if you pull, say, Montre 8', Prestant 4', Trompette 8', and Clairon 4' on the Grand-Orgue, you will hear Montre and Prestant, and when you then engage the "Anches GO" spoon during play, only Trompette and Clairon will be added.
One example is Prière: at the beginning, Franck would have drawn all 8' flue stops and the Hautbois (which, despite being a reed, was actually on the fonds chest), plus the Trompette on Récit. During play, when the score says "Ajoutez la Trompette" (e.g. at the 3-against-2 part in C# Major), he would then simply have engaged the Récit anches spoon.
One example is Prière: at the beginning, Franck would have drawn all 8' flue stops and the Hautbois (which, despite being a reed, was actually on the fonds chest), plus the Trompette on Récit. During play, when the score says "Ajoutez la Trompette" (e.g. at the 3-against-2 part in C# Major), he would then simply have engaged the Récit anches spoon.
Goodness, acc, you must be another migrant from the Mander boards...
! (I've also learned a lot from these posts, as despite being a relative beginner, the question of how to register anches has bothered me.)
QUOTE(acc @ Nov 28 2008, 01:04 AM)
QUOTE(organ_dummy @ Nov 28 2008, 03:55 AM)
Here is one question that has been on my mind for a long time: On Franck's organ, is it possible to turn on selected stops on the Anches windchest when using the ventil? Or is it more like all or nothing?
No problem: each stop, whether on the fonds chest or on the anches chest, has its own drawknob. So if you pull, say, Montre 8', Prestant 4', Trompette 8', and Clairon 4' on the Grand-Orgue, you will hear Montre and Prestant, and when you then engage the "Anches GO" spoon during play, only Trompette and Clairon will be added.
OK, that's what I thought. But now I am confused. So how do we know for sure what Franck wants from the ventil division when he writes "fonds et anches 8"?
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QUOTE(acc @ Nov 30 2008, 10:03 PM)
a) I wasn't born in Mander 
and (b) I have no intention of leaving them. 
and (b) I have no intention of leaving them. ...(a) exactly so, that's why I didn't say "immigrant" and (b) I don't blame you
!
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