Manton Memorial Organ Making Its First Sounds

The first French-built organ ever installed in New York City’s Church of Ascension.
Manton Memorial Organ Making Its First Sounds
BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE: The Manton Memorial Organ, its modern side on the left and its Baroque side pictured on the right. (Tom Ligamari)
5/31/2011
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/manton+organ.jpg" alt="BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE: The Manton Memorial Organ, its modern side on the left and its Baroque side pictured on the right. (Tom Ligamari)" title="BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE: The Manton Memorial Organ, its modern side on the left and its Baroque side pictured on the right. (Tom Ligamari)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1803374"/></a>
BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE: The Manton Memorial Organ, its modern side on the left and its Baroque side pictured on the right. (Tom Ligamari)
NEW YORK—The first French-built organ ever installed in New York City which also happens to be the largest new French organ built in almost a half century is making its first sounds at the city’s Church of Ascension.

On Thursday, May 26, the Manton Memorial Organ’s 6,183 pipes, 95 stops, 111 ranks, 2 consoles, and 7 keyboards were demonstrated in the Manton Memorial Organ’s second inaugural recital—it featured French, Spanish, and German Baroque music, and primarily revealed one stylistic side of the instrument.

For centuries the art of improvisation on the organ has been stronger in France than in any other country and a French master, Mr. Francis Chapelet, making his debut performance in New York City, demonstrated this art form using different timbres from all divisions of the organ.

He began the program with an improvisation using the large electric action console and after this piece he moved to the mechanical action console for the rest of the concert. In other words, his first piece featured one side of the organ, its modern part, and the second through fifth pieces were played on old music or the Baroque side of the instrument.

After the first piece, Mr. Chapelet performed the Livre d’Orgue by Pierre DuMage (1674-1751) in the alternatum style. After each verse of the Gregorian chant “Magnificat” sung by the choir on the First Tone, he played a movement of the DuMage. [The first reciting tone is associated with the first musical mode or scale used in the Gregorian chant. The reciting tone is a repeated musical pitch around which the other pitches of the chant revolve.]

After that we took a musical detour to Spain with “Tiento por Almare“ by Juan Cabanilles (1644-1712) which gave us an insight into an extremely rich heritage of organ compositions during the Baroque period in Spain.

Our final destination was Germany. J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E minor was performed, and as one of his late compositions, it shows the composer’s mature musical side. It was followed by a simple chorale prelude “Come Holy Spirit” by Buxtehude, which was played as an encore using completely different timbres.

The official program was concluded with the Prelude and Triple Fugue in E-flat major by J.S. Bach.

Origins of the Manton Memorial Organ

The Manton Memorial Organ at the Church of Ascension was made possible by a grant from the Manton Foundation to honor the memory of Sir Edwin and Lady Manton who were active members of the church for over 50 years.

The parish wanted an eclectic organ to support its rich musical program, and a worldwide search finally led to Pascal Quoirin of Saint Didier, France.

Mr. Quoirin has spent half of his career building new instruments and the other half restoring many of the great historical instruments of France.

The Ascension organ covers the widest range of musical styles from Baroque to modern classical music. The central console is a three-manual and pedal type, modeled after Dom Bedos, one of the greatest organ builders of the French Baroque, according to the “Manton Memorial Organ” commemorative book.

Four elaborate cases have mosaic peacocks on the reredos and mosaic friezes on the high altar leading to the beautiful carved peacocks and birds of paradise and to the swirled bands of polychrome and gold leaf on the organ façades. Babou Vauquois-Quoirin created the sculptures and polychrome work and Master Joiner Alain Poupinet created the cases and all the veneer work using French walnut and ash woods.

Building of the organ began May 2008 at the Quoirin Atelier in Saint Didier, France. It was shipped to Ascension and reassembled in the Fall of 2010, and then tuned and voiced through February 2011. The instrument was dedicated on May 1, 2011.

For more information about the organ and other events at the Church of Ascension please visit www.ascensionnyc.org.

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