Heavenly Sound from Bodø Cathedral

By ThorNews on December 29, 2013 • ( 0 )

In April this year, after 11 years of work, Norway’s newest and most modern church organ was inaugurated. The organ has over 5200 pipes and did cost about 20 million kroner. – Absolutely sumptuous, organ professor Bjørn Andor Drage told Norwegian broadcaster NRK Nordland.

– It is a privilege to play. The organ is in harmony with itself. There are no combinations you cannot use. It is a good sign of quality, Drage told before the inauguration.

A Sound from Bach’s Time Period

The German organ manufacturer Hermann Eule Orgelbau has equipped the instrument with many different features. The organ manufacturer has built organs for 140 years – “long enough to distil time and to see how the present grows out of the past”, as the company writes on its homepage.

– For example, one can select a sound from Bach’s time period, explained Drage who demonstrated the organ.

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Organ Professor Bjørn Andor Drage demonstrates the new organ in Bodø Cathedral.

– The organ also has a very beautiful old German sound that Franz Liszt had on his organs when he presented his premier performances, Drage continued.

The organ professor also demonstrated that by combining a clarinet voice and the old German Aeoline voice, the organ sounds like an accordion.

A Dream for Organists

Gro Bergrabben is organist at Bodø Cathedral. She told that a dream has come true. The new organ can also be remotely controlled from an organ console in front of the altar. This provides new opportunities.

– Sitting in front is giving us a very new opportunity to be present where the action is. For example, when we are playing with a choir or an orchestra. At a normal church service we also get closer to the congregation.

Here you can listen to a short, beautiful improvisation recorded and played by Brian Hepworth, one of the organists of the cathedral: