Marilyn Mason led a group of organists on the University of Michigan's Historic Organ Tour XXXVII in Spain, February 28-March 8. The group gave organ concerts in the Cathedrals of Málaga, Córdoba and Segovia. Performers included Karen Phipps, Edmund Price, Dale Shoemaker, Carol Clausen, Ronald Larson, Hugh Young, Lawrence Smith, and Dr. Mason, playing works of Torrelhas, Cabanilles, Correa de Arauxo, and Soler.
The classic Spanish organs feature stops, such as trompeta and clarin, which create sounds seldom heard outside Spain. When music written for these stops is played on such organs, it creates a musical affect which cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Classic Spanish organ music which may sound dull or lifeless when played on northern European organs becomes rich and vibrant when played on the classic Spanish organs. Likewise, most of the northern European organ literature cannot be played on classic Spanish organs, because they lack sufficient pedals. The tour group thus programmed classic Spanish repertoire for its concerts.
Málaga
Málaga is a port city located on the Mediterranean coast about 100 miles east of the Straits of Gibraltar. According to the guide accompanying the tour, Málaga was established by the Phoenicians in the 12th century BC and later was conquered by the Romans, Visigoths and Moors. After the city was taken from the Moors by the Christians in 1487, the Moorish mosque was destroyed and replaced by the present cathedral.
In the Cathedral of Málaga, there are two organs, gospel and epistle, built on opposite sides of a choir centrally located in the nave. The consoles and lowest windchests are located about 20 feet above the floor of the Cathedral and are connected by a U-shaped balcony which extends around the choir. Only one of the organs is in playable condition. Each of the organs has three chests arranged vertically one above the other. In addition, each organ includes two positives, a first facing the choir and a second facing an aisle adjoining the nave. Horizontal trompeta pipes on each organ face both the choir and an aisle. The playable organ has about 50 ranks, three manuals and three divisions: 1. an Organo de Espalda (back) which has at least six reeds, but no principals and no other stops; 2. an Organo Principal; and 3. an Organo Caderita. The playable organ also has 12 pedal "mushrooms" which control pull-downs from the great manual. The nonplayable organ also has about 50 ranks, but no winding.
According to The Cathedral Of Málaga by Perez and Romero (p. 29), the two organs were built from 1778-1782 by Julián de la Orden, organ maker of the Cuenca Cathedral. The cases are painted in green with gilded trim and carvings rendered by Spanish artists. The current organist at the Cathedral of Málaga is Father Victoriano Planas Lopez, Canonigo Organista Titular, Granada, 32-7, 29015 Málaga, Spain.
Córdoba
Córdoba is located in south central Spain and was a Muslim center of learning and culture for several centuries. It is said that Córdoba was the largest city in Europe about 900 A.D. The city was recaptured by the Christians from the Arabs in about 1236. The Cathedral of Córdoba is built in the center of a great mosque.
In the Cathedral of Córdoba, Marilyn Mason's group gave the first recital on the epistle organ newly restored by Federico Acitores. The builder was present for the occasion. Mr. Acitores has been building and restoring organs for 18 years. He studied organ building with Gabriel Blankeford and has completed about 50 new organs and about 25 restorations. He has a team of 12 workers who build or restore every part of the instrument, including pipes, keyboards and cases. Mr. Acitores provided information about the organs in the Cathedral of Córdoba.
The earliest organs in the old major chapel were built in 1493 by Vicenzo de Venecia, and were moved to the new chapel when it was put to use. The first epistle organ was small and built by Venecia for the old chapel. The second was built by Martin Alonso de Aranda in 1628, and lasted until 1702 when it was replaced by a new baroque organ built by José Martinez Colmenero. The current organ is the fourth that has existed there, and was built by Patricio Furriel from 1808-1929. It was rebuilt into a romantic organ in 1892 by Achiles Ghys. After numerous attempts to repair it, the organ had remained silent for 35 years. It was restored in 1997-98 to the model of Furriel, reversing the alterations from 1892. It comprises two manuals and eight pedals, mechanical action, with 54 stops and 1,900 pipes.
The first of the gospel organs was the larger of the two organs built by Venecia for the old chapel. It was restored in 1609 by Juan Oliver and again in 1646 by Pedro de Alcalá. A new organ was built in 1666 by two Valencian organ builders, the brothers Miguel and Bernabé Llop. This organ underwent major repairs in 1798 and 1808 by Patricio Furriel, and by Achiles Ghys in 1892, and was replaced by an organ of romantic design and pneumatic action built by Amezúa and Cie of San Sebastián in 1922. The latter was restored and electrified by Organeria Española in 1960. There are two manuals and pedal with 20 stops, a total of 1,150 pipes, controlled by electro-pneumatic action. The planned restoration of the organ calls for retaining the design and materials original to the 17th century, while integrating the materials contributed in 1922. It will have three manuals and pedal, with a double action: tracker action from above and electric action from below, 40 stops, and 2,430 pipes.
Segovia
The Cathedral of Segovia also has two organs on opposite sides of the choir. Both organs are playable. One has three manuals and about 30 ranks. The other has a single manual and about 25 ranks. The three-manual organ has horizontal trompeta pipes facing the choir and an adjoining aisle.
Other organs played on the tour
The group also played organs in the Cathedrals of Seville and Toledo. The Cathedral of Seville has two Romantic organs dating from 1901 to 1903 which replaced earlier organs. The organs were electrified in 1973 and can be played simultaneously from a single console having four manuals and an AGO pedalboard. The Cathedral of Toledo has three organs in the main sanctuary, two arranged on opposite sides of the choir and an Emperor's organ located high on an outside wall of the cathedral between the choir and the main altar. Climbing the many stairs to the Emperor's organ is not for the faint of heart.
Thanks to Marilyn Mason and the University for a wonderful tour.
