DREAM ORGANS
JULIAN RHODES' IMAGINARY ORGANS

 

The genesis of the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Westminster was long and troublesome. In 1867 Henry Clutton was commissioned to design a suitable building; the result was a recreation of French 13th-century gothic. With its 2 towers and 25 side-chapels it would have been as long as Westminster Abbey, but both taller and broader. However, public interest in the project waned, and it was not until 1903 that the present building was dedicated.

Clutton's plan suggested to me a Francophile instrument, drawing on both 19th and 20th-century traditions. There are features reminiscent of Mutin and Gonzalez as well as Cavaillé-Coll. However, for all the Gallic colour, there is a distinct British bias, most noticeable in the Grand-Orgue diapason chorus. The Choeur-en-Bas has a richness and foundational character adapted from the Grand-Choeur divisions of French instruments. It is complemented by the Choeur-en-Haut, a romanticised 20th-century Echo-Positif.

I CHOEUR-EN-BAS
    16       Violoncelle
     8       Diapason en Bois
     8       Flûte Harmonique
     8       Violoncelle
     8       Viole Sourdine
     8       Viole Céleste
     4       Principal en Bois
     4       Flûte d'Orchestre
     4       Viole
    2 2/3    Nazard
    2 2/7    Septième
     2       Quinzième en Bois
     2       Flageolet
    1 3/5    Tierce
    III      Plein Jeu  12.19.22
    III      Petit Jeu  24.26.29
    16       Serpent
     8       Cor de Basset
     8       Voix Humaine
     8       Trompette
     4       Clairon
 
II GRAND-ORGUE
    16       Diapason Grave
    16       Flûte Ouverte
   10 2/3    Quinte Grave
     8       Diapason Ouvert I
     8       Diapason Ouvert II
     8       Diapason Ouvert III
     8       Flûte Majeure
     8       Bourdon
     8       Gambe
   5 1/3     Quinte
     4       Principal I
     4       Principal II
     4       Flûte Ouverte
   3 1/5     Dixième
     2       Quinzième
    II       Doublette  12.15
    IV       Harmoniques  17.19.21.22
     V       Fourniture  15.19.22.26.29
    16       Trombone
     8       Trombone Harnmonique
     8       Trompette
     4       Clairon 
 
III RÉCIT-EXPRESSIF
    16       Dulciane Grave
    16       Bourdon
     8       Diapason Harmonique
     8       Diapason Conique
     8       Flûte Ouverte
     8       Flûte à Cheminée
     8       Dulciane
     8       Dulciane Céleste
     8       Salicional  2rks
     4       Principal Harmonique
     4       Flûte Conique
     4       Dulciane
     2       Octavin
     1       Piccolo
    IV       Grand Jeu  15.17.19.22
    IV       Cymbale  24.26.29.33
    16       Basson
     8       Hautbois d'Amour
     8       Clarinette
     4       Musette
    16       Basse de Bombarde
     8       Trompette Harmonique
     8       Bombarde
    5 1/3    Cinq
     4       Clairon Harmonique
 
IV CHOEUR-EN-HAUT
    16       Quintatön
     8       Diapason Doux
     8       Flûte Conique
     8       Petit Bourdon
     8       Eolienne
     8       Voix Ethérique
     4       Chamois                   conical
     4       Flûte Courte
     2       Fifre
    1 1/3    Larigot
    III      Petit Fourniture  15.19.22
    16       Cor Anglais
     8       Petite Trompette
     8       Hautbois d'Orchestre
     4       Régale
 
V BOMBARDE
     8       Diapason Majeure
     V       Grand Choeur  8.12.15.19.22
     8       Buccine
     4       Buccine
    16       Trompette à Pavillon
     8       Trompette à Pavillon
     4       Trompette à Pavillon
 
PÉDALE
    64       Fauxbourdon
    32       Diapason Grave
    32       Violon
    16       Diapason en Bois
    16       Diapason en Métal
    16       Flûte Ouverte
    16       Flûte Couverte
    16       Basse de Viole
    16       Dulciane
   10 2/3    Quinte
     8       Principal
     8       Cor de Nuit
     8       Pardessus de Viol
    5 1/3    Douzième
     4       Quinzième
     4       Flute à Voix
    II       Harmoniques  10.14
    III      Fourniture  17.19.22
     V       Plein Jeu  15.19.22.26.29
    32       Contrebombarde
    32       Contredouçaine
    16       Ophicléide
    16       Bombarde
    16       Douçaine
     8       Trompette
     8       Douçaine
     4       Clairon
 
(1991)

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