Re-upload - St. John the Divine Organ - Mathias: Gloria in Excelsis

This is a re-upload of an earlier video I posted with enhanced audio of added bass and treble, as well as re-configured the audio to a more surround sound feel.
This was recorded in May 2013 on the 4-manual Aeolian-Skinner Pipe Organ at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC. Many thanks to Cathedral Associate Organist, Dr. Ray Nagem, who is still serving as Cathedral Organist today.
The first few seconds show off the famed State Trumpet, recorded before they were removed to inspect the West End wall for damage from the 2011 earthquake, they have not been re-installed since then.
The audio was taken from a Tascam DR-40 portable audio recorder, placed at ground level from the Great Choir pointed towards the State Trumpets, hence why their sound was a lot more clear than that of the main organ.

[@rickbronson7622]

I can't believe how realistic this sounds. Good job!

[@bc4614]

The sound is positively awe inspiring! I play here in the South. It's not a pipe, but a very good digital organ. Oh to have trumpets like that! Might be traveling to NYC in the not too distant future. Will have to stop by and check that organ out. I've heard several excellent recordings, but I know experiencing the instrument in person is completely different. As good as recordings are, they are only an approximation of what is actually going on the building. I see this was posted back in 2017. I believe that State Trumpet is back in place, at least that's what I saw in another posting. -Bob

[@SamCherubin]

This was recorded back in 2013, prior to their removal. They were re-installed for a brief period in early 2019 and were taken out shortly after the fire in the cathedral crypt occurred on Palm Sunday 2019. The organ is awaiting restoration due to smoke damage and approx. time back playable is at least a few years.

[@alk9365]

@@SamCherubin What happened to the ophicleide?

[@SamCherubin]

@@alk9365 The bottom 12 notes (32' octave) of the Ophicleide are silenced due to stability issues of the pipes (apparently they can't hold their own weight standing vertical). They haven't speaked since the Quimby rebuild in 2008. The 32' Ophicleide is the original EM Skinner Bombarde from 1906. The 32' Contre Bombarde was installed by Aeolian-Skinner in the 1953 rebuild, and that now is the only speaking 32' reed.

[@alk9365]

@@SamCherubin Thank you for your prompt reply. It's too bad some engineering can't be done to stabilize the pipes. The 32' Contre Bombarde on this recording is a monster!

[@SamCherubin]

@@alk9365 I hope they turn on the 32' Ophicleide, because it would add so much more power to the pedal division, especially in those acoustics. The 32' Bombarde works well now, you can always hear it with full organ.

[@edwardpotasznyk1691]

AMAZING EDIFICE AND SPECTACULAR ORGAN AND ACOUSTICS

[@sonofthunder7069]

AMAZING music.

[@linddaipauls3584]

I have a CD of Joan Lippincott playing Wudor on this organ and and the decay was eleven seconds.

[@vulcanstarlight]

What pedal reeds was he using in the end? They have some formidable depth to them. I was shying away from a bombarde, this has more basson/fagotto elements to it!

[@alk9365]

Bombarde from Opus 150-A. Unfortunately, the Ophicleide was disconnected, shortly after the re-build by Quimby in 2008 and I don't believe it's been hooked-up again. Sam Cherubin writes below, "The 32' Ophicleide is the original EM Skinner Bombarde from 1906. The 32' Contre Bombarde was installed by Aeolian-Skinner in the 1953 rebuild, and that now is the only speaking 32' reed". What a combination the Bombarde and Ophicleide would make!