St Peter's Basilica, Rome

[ardcarp]

I've not been able to find out much about the instrument. I remember owning (aged approx 14) an EP of Fernando Germani playing Widor's Toccata on it.

It's not a world class instrument, and not really worthy of 'Christ's Capital City' (!) but I understand Aristide Cavaille Coll proposed to build an organ worthy of the building...but his offer never came to fruition.

It is thought that the Pope might want something better. But I really know little about it and would be interested to hear from anyone better informed than I.

[subcontrabass]

Description, specification and photographs here: http://danwebs.com/chorg/vatorg.html

[ardcarp]

Thanks for that! Time for a new instrument, methinks.

Nearer home, Buckfast Abbey has disposed of its old Ralph Downes designed Walker and is installing two new Italian organs by Ruffati.

https://www.buckfast.org.uk/ruffattiorgan

There must be some cash in fortified wine!

[Alain Maréchal]

I remember owning (aged approx 14) an EP of Fernando Germani playing Widor's Toccata on it.
.

Are you sure about your memory? Discogs only finds recordings of it at Selby Abbey and Westminster Cathedral, but it is not infallible, so a recording in Rome would be interesting (and logical, since he was a Roman).

[ardcarp]

I am less sure of my memory day by day! I had a grovel through boxes of old EPs, tapes, etc, but amongst all the Swingle Singers, Bach Goes to Town (George Malcolm), The Highway Code (to psalm chant) and other things that took my teenage fancy, no Widor. It was definitely Fernando Germani, but he could have been playing it elsewhere. I will Google some old EP sleeves and see if any ring a bell.

Edit. Done it already. It was this one...a little pink EP.

https://www.discogs.com/Widor-J-S-Bach-Fernando-Germani-Toccata-Prelude-And-Fugue-In-G-The-Great-BWV-541/release/3751415

...and yes it was Selby Abbey........which I'm sure gave Widor a better run for his money than St Peter's Rome!

[Alain Maréchal]

Don't be too thorough, ardcarp, it is not essential (except to my filing cabinet mind - a legacy of my profession) and once you commence rummaging (I like that word) in the past you will discover memories that should be not found.

[ardcarp]

you will discover memories that should be not found.

It seems everything in our grenier evokes only happy memories! I guess anything that might not was jettisoned prior to storage.