Joseph Guy Ropartz | Prélude Funèbre

Описание: • Gert Ronner plays "Prélude Funèbre" composed (ca.1896) by Joseph Guy Ropartz (1864-1955) on the 1906 P.J. Adema & Zn. organ at the Church of Saint Joseph in Haarlem, the Netherlands.

• Joseph Guy Ropartz is not remembered by many today, yet he was a composer of a large amount of orchestral and chamber music pieces, as well as a great amount of vocal and church music, including but not limited to five symphonies and string quartets. He was born in 1864 in Brittany, France, and would often allude to his Breton roots in his compositions. After studying with Dubois and Massenet at the Paris conservatory, he went on to become the founder of conservatories in Nancy and Strasbourg. Not known as an organist, and only holding a short tenure in a Breton church in his youth,
he was a great admirer of César Franck (1811-1890) by whom he took private organ classes. Ropartz composed a modest amount of worthwhile organ music which clearly breaths the spirit of Franck. After a life full of music, Ropartz passed away at the family estate in Lanloup, Brittany, aged 91.

• The 1906 Adema organ at the church of Saint Joseph in Haarlem is a typical example of 19th century organ building. The organ has a homogeneous sound palette, resembling the sounds of a symphonic orchestra, which in turn inspired many composers to compose for this new type of organ from the early 1860's and onwards. The casing of the instrument is half a century older and housed a previous instrument built by Lindsen in 1856. Such famous composers and organists as Hendrik Andriessen, Albert de Klerk and Gemma Coebergh played this organ for many years and it is famous for its poetic sound palette.

• Specification:
Hoofdwerk: Principaal 16', Bourdon 16', Prestant 8', Salicionaal 8', Fluit Harmoniek 8', Holpijp 8', Quint 6', Octaaf 4', Octaaf 2', Cornet V st., Mixtuur II-V st., Trompet 8' | Zwelwerk: Prestant 8', Viola 8', Vox Coelestis 8', Bourdon 8', Quintaton 8', Violone 4', Fluit Harmoniek 4', Piccolo 2', Sesquialter II-III st., Trompet 8', Fagot-Hobo 8', Vox Humana 8', tremulant | Pedaal: Contrebas 16', Subbas 16' (HW), Openbas 8', Gedektbas 8', Openfluit 4', Bazuin 16', Trompet 8' | 4 manual couplers (incl. Sub- and super), pedal coupler, Setzer.