Articles - Gothic/Mediæval
... The fascinating world of 10th to 15th century organs ...
... a personal perspective as an observer, owner and player ...
2014
Project van Eyck
(left):14th-15th century constant-scaled pipes accompanying a
contemporary viola d'arco
Some details of Project van Eyck, a performance-based-on-research
program.
It was manifested at a concert in Muri (AG) on June 9th 2014, as part of a
symposium "Die Orgel im Herbst des Mittelalters".
Project van Eyck links the Rumsey-van der Putten "gothic" organ with the
famous 15th century Ghent altarpiece's portrayal of the music-making of that
era.
Details and
links
2013
Some additional notes for attendees at the Melbourne Masterclass held on 6th
August 2013
Click here
Additional document for attendees at the recent Amsterdam symposium held around the Reil
"van Straten" organ, emulating Gerritsz 1479.
Click here
Feature article published by the US organists' journal, The Diapason,
May
2013 issue.
"In Search of the Secrets of Medieval Organs"
The European Summer of 2012
A report and some reflections by David Rumsey.
Click here for a copy (.pdf) (with kind
permission of "The Diapason")
2012
Notes from the Medieval Organ
Workshop
9th June 2012 Peterskirche,
Basel
Program overview (pdf)
Pipe making technologies - historical
survey (htm)
Bibliography, archaeology, select
sources and references (htm)
Considerations surrounding the
iconography (pdf)
Historical survey of organ pipe scaling
(pdf)
The transition from Pythagorean to early
mean-tone tempering (pdf)
Organ pedals - historical survey
(pdf)
See also the Mediæval page on this
web-site
Images courtesy of Gabriela
Lewon, Lukas Howald, David Rumsey
Details of the Rumsey "Gothic/Mediæval" organ
(.pdf) An updated description (9th October 2012).
Inaugurated by Kimberly Marshall and David Rumsey in 2010 it made its first international
visit to France in early 2011. It was heard in a concert at Sint-Pieterskerk, Leuven (B) on
Sunday 30th October 2011 with Cappella Pratensis, played by Wim Diepenhorst, then
presented on 13th November at a workshop demonstration/concert at Finsterwolde (NL) (.pdf - in Nederlands). Here it featured the new
constant-scaled rank. From December 2011 it was again used for services in Laufen (CH) and
on Sunday 18th March 2012 was featured in a concert at Weil-am-Rhein (D) - for some
recorded excerpts see below. In June 2012 it made its first appearances in Basel (CH) at a
concert on Friday 8th followed by an afternoon workshop Saturday 9th. Performers -
organists, singers, mediæval instrumentalists - and speakers at these events included
Brett Leighton, Winold van der Putten, Crawford Young, Jankees Braaksma, Eva Kopli,
Nicolas Savoy, Elizabeth Rumsey, Tobie Miller, Mathias Spoerry and David Rumsey. Some
notes and summaries of that event can be found on this site (click here -
.pdf file). On Sunday 10th it was used in the morning church service at Peterskirche,
Basel played by Babette Mondry. In early September 2012 it went to Friesland for a
week-long festival of gothic music and instruments of its kind, travelling from Laufen (CH)
to Rhede (D), Huizinge (NL), Rysum (D), Rhede (D), Groningen (NL), Finsterwolde (NL)
and back to Laufen in the course of some 12 days. Young Australian organists on a study-tour
to Europe played it, observed demonstrations with ensembles including hurdy-gurdy and
fidel
and had masterclasses on it in late September 2012. It goes to Sissach (CH) for a concert on
13th January 2013, then to the Amsterdam Orgelpark for a symposium 6-8th June. In
2014 it is booked for an all-day "gothic" presentation in Muri (AG-CH).
The Rumsey Gothic organ -
concert in Weil-am-Rhein (D)
Sunday 18th March 2012
Ensemble Musica Practica, Basel
Cristina Rosário - Mezzosoprano
Tomoko Mukoyama - Renaissance-Traversflöte
Elizabeth Rumsey - Vihuela d'arco
Orí Harmelin - Renaissance-Laute
David Rumsey - Gothic Organ
Recorded excerpts
Organ solo pieces
Tres IV glosado of Alberto
Paseabase el rey moro by
Palero
O Rosa Bella from
Buxheimer Orgelbuch
all above with the two 8' registers together
Excerpts from the Mass setting on Nunca fué pena mayor
by Francisco de Peñalosa (ca. 1470-1528).
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus and
Benedictus
Agnus Dei
The mastery and mystery of Tomás Luis de Victoria
(ca. 1548-1611)
Vere languores of
Victoria
8' only - Arnaut de Zwolle scaling and tempering
Two critiques of the concert
Critique, Badische Zeitung 20th March 2012
Critique, Weiler Zeitung 21st March 2012
2011
A report by Kimberly Marshall on the new Rumsey "Gothic" Organ was published in
"The American Organist", January 2011 issue
Click here to see a copy
(PDF)
Laat middeleeuws
orgel a description of the Rumsey mediæval organ (in Nederlands). [click first
on "orgels", then on Middeleeuwse orgels, then, at bottom right of the page, click on
the image].
On YouTube played
by Jankees Braaksma, with calcant Winold van der Putten
Also on
YouTube Binchois played by Tomas Flegr, with calcant Winold van der Putten
Article about Winold van der Putten PDF (in Nederlands)
2010
Orgelmakerij Winold van der Putten and David Rumsey exchanged contracts in January 2010
for a new Mediæval/Gothic-replica organ - a positive - suitable for playing both solo
and ensemble 14th-15th century repertoire. This instrument was delivered to Laufen in April
2010. For sketches, photos, specification summary and more details click on "Installed in
Laufen" or "Construction details".
Installed in Laufen (PDF)
Construction details (PDF)
For sound and image samples of the new instrument click on "Buxheim" or "redeuntes".
Tomas Flegr plays "Aliud Esclaphe" - Buxheimer Orgelbuch nr. 102 ("Esclave puist yl..." by
Gilles Binchois) on the new organ. Recorded live by Ingrid Noack at the presentation of the
instrument in the church of Beerta, Groningen province (NL) on 31st March 2010. Jankees
Braaksma improvises a "redeuntes" using 8', then 8'+6'. (Calcant for both: Winold van
der Putten.) For Ileborgh's Praeludium played by David Rumsey (8', electric blower, no
calcant) click on "Ileborgh". Recorded after delivery to Laufen.
Buxheim (WMV)
redeuntes (Mp3)
Ileborgh (WMV)
The medieval organ - a reference centre for initiates
Mini-Mediæval glossary for reference
(PDF)
Mediæval and Gothic organ types - a summary explanation of the basics.
Mediæval organ types (PDF)
Delving back into Mediæval and Gothic organ culture - a summary history to the 15th
century.
Mediæval organ culture (PDF)
© David Rumsey 2009, 2010 and ongoing
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