File:The organ in France - a study of its mechanical construction, tonal characteristics, and literature, with suggestions for the registration of French organ music upon American instruments (1917) (14591345298).jpg

Identifier: organinfrancestu00good (find matches)
Title: The organ in France : a study of its mechanical construction, tonal characteristics, and literature, with suggestions for the registration of French organ music upon American instruments
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Goodrich, Wallace, 1871-1952
Subjects: Organ (Musical instrument) Organists
Publisher: Boston : The Boston music company
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
urch edifice at one time.2 1 The relatively small number of church edifices in French citiesas compared to that in our own has a distinct bearing upon the impor-tance of the organ positions in the former, as well as upon the numberof musicians whose services are likely to be utilized in the capacity ofchurch organists. In this connection the following comparative tableis interesting; the figures are in a few cases approximate, but un-doubtedly fairly accurate. Population Churches Seating Capacity Total RomanCatholic Protestant RomanCatholic Protes-tant RomanCatholic Protes-tant Paris New YorkChicago 2,888,110*4,766,883f2,185,2831 2,800,000 1,642,140 308,000 60,000296,898§210,965§ 78290108 6011,104 742 239,79271,708 567,720339,693 * Census of 1910 t Census of 1911§ Communicants only t Estimated 2 It should be remembered that among Catholic congregations itis customary to hold many services on Sunday in the same edifice,at which different portions of the congregation attend. Although
Text Appearing After Image:
SAIXT-SULPICE, PARIS THE NAVE THE USE OF THE ORGAN IN FRANCE 3 Even then, the church must be of considerable size andseating capacity, simple in interior design and furnishings.In French churches the floors are usually of stone; mov-able wooden chairs take the place of pews, and carpetsand hangings are conspicuous by their absence. Thereresults an auditorium of extreme resonance, which exercisesan essential influence upon acoustic properties and theeffect of the organs. Under the Roman system the forms of service haveremained virtually unchanged for many years. Gregorianmusic, or Plainsong, and mediaeval polyphony have beengenerally cultivated in France as nowhere else, unless inItaly, especially in recent years; under the leadership ofthe Schola Cantorum 1 a lively interest has been awakened similar conditions exist to some extent in other denominations, yetin most Protestant churches there are not ordinarily more than twoservices, while many Catholic churches have two or three masse

Note About Images