Saturday, January 2, 2010

Abbey of Saint-Croix in Bordeaux 1750 Organ Dom Bedos



Abbey of Saint-Croix in Bordeaux 1750 Organ Dom Bedos


François Lamathe Bédos de Celles (1709-1779), described as a "monk of notable erudition," was also a highly trained and supremely talented builder of organs in eighteenth century France. The greatest of his organs was Dom Bedos, built for the abbey of Saint-Croix in Bordeaux -- a glorious instrument with rich blends and subtle colors, with nuanced balances and stark contrasts, with whispering pianissimos and roaring fortissimos.








Improvisation pour l'entrée de l'office du 24 mai 2009 par le titulaire Paul GOUSSOT





Georg Muffat (1653-1704) Toccata Quinta Gustav Leonhard, orgue Dom Bedos de Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux






François "Le Grand" Couperin (1668-1733)

Messe propre pour les convents de religieux et religieuses
Plein Jeu - Premier couplet du Kyrie
Chromhorne sur la Taille - 5ème couplet du Gloria
Offertoire sur les grands jeux

Gustav Leonhardt à l'orgue Dom Bedos de Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux






Dom Bédos de Celles


François Lamathe Bédos de Celles de Salelles, known as Dom Bédos de Celles, (born in Caux, Hérault near Béziers, France 24 January 1709) was a Benedictine monk best known for being a master pipe organ builder. He was elected to the French Academy of Sciences at Bordeaux and correspondent of the Academy at Paris in 1758.

As a recognized organ-builder, he was called upon to carry out repairs and appraise and advise other organ-builders in many locations across France.

In 1760 he published "La Gnomonique pratique ou l’Art de tracer les cadrans solaires" under the patronage of the Jean-Paul Grandjean de Fouchy, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences and an authority in gnomonics and sundials.

In 1776-78 he published his treatise L'art du facteur d'orgues (The Art of the Organ-Builder). This monumental opus contains great historical detail about eighteenth-century organ building, and is still referred to by modern organ-builders.

He died on 25 November 1779 and is buried in the former Abbey (now Basilica) of Saint-Denis.






Gustav Leonhardt joue sur l'orgue Dom Bedos de Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux la Chacconne de Johann Kaspar Ferdinand Fischer (1665-1746)






HISTORY 



The construction of the organ in the Abbey Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux was undertaken between 1744 and 1746 by Dom Bedos, monk of the abbey. It was completed around 1750. (lack of documentation raises doubts.)     




The organ then undergoes an intervention in 1771,escaped the looting of the revolution, and is again restored in 1811.

In 1812, the Archbishop of Bordeaux, supported by various musical authorities of the city decides to make an exchange of instruments between the Holy Cross Abbey and the Cathedral of Saint Andrew. The buffet alone remains in place. The organ of Dom Bedos is therefore in the cathedral, while coming to Holy Cross the organ of the cathedral, which itself came from the church of Saint-Pierre Réole.

During its stay at the cathedral the organ of Dom Bedos underwent several revisions and transformations (1840,1877,1919,1933,1946,1954,1962)

Led by organist Francis Rosary and architect Henry Lequeux, and other musical authorities, the decision was taken in 1970 to build a new organ in the cathedral and rebuild the organ of Dom Bedos in St. Croix as a buffet. All the old material is recovered, graded and stored at Holy Cross.

n 1984, the rebuilding of the organ of Dom Bedos is entrusted to Pascal Quoirin.

Close examination of the buffet, windchests, the study of various inventories, old labels designating the stops and the treaty "The art of organ builder" Written by Dom Bedos himself helped carry out this reconstruction and is arguably one of the highlights of recent decades in the world of the organ.



DISPOSITION



44 jeux réparties sur 5 claviers :

* Positif (I) 51 notes Do 1 à Ré 5 sans Do# 1
* Grand Orgue (II) 51 notes Do 1 à Ré 5 sans Do# 1
* Bombarde (III) 51 notes Do 1 à Ré 5 sans Do# 1
* Récit (IV) 32 notes Sol 2 à Ré 5
* Echo (V) 39 notes Do 2 à Ré 5
* Pédalier à la Française :
- 32 notes pour les jeux de Flûte et la Bombarde ( au Mi 3)
- 36 notes pour les Trompettes et le Clairon (Fa 0 au Mi 3)



Pédalier
Flûte 16''
Flûte (bois) 8'
Flûte (étain) 8'
Flûte 4'
Bombarde 16'
1° Trompette 8'
2° Trompette 8'
Clairon 4'

Positif de dos (I)
Montre 8'

Bourdon 8'
Prestant 4'
Flûte 4'
Nasard 2 2/3
Doublette 2'
Tierce 1 3/5'
Larigot 1 1/3'
Cornet V
Petit Plein Jeu IX
Trompette 8'
Cromorne 8'
Voix Humaine 8'
Clairon 4'

Grand-Orgue (II)
Bourdon 32'
Montre 16'
Bourdon 16'

Montre 8'
Second 8'
Bourdon 8'
Gros Nasard 5 1/3'
Prestant 4'
Grosse Tierce 3 1/5'
Nasard 2 2/3'
Doublette 2'
Tierce 1 3/5'
Grosse Fourniture II
Grand Plein Jeu XIII
Grand Cornet V
1° Trompette 8''
2° Trompette 8'
Clairon 4'


Bombarde (III)
Bombarde 16''
Gros Cromorne 8'


Récit (IV)
Cornet V
Trompette 8'


Echo (V)
Cornet V






Ave Maris Stella by Nicholas de Grigny: I. Plein Jeu, II. Fugue, III. Duo, IV. Dialogue.
Slide Show with music performed by Jennifer Chou











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