Listening 15: The Pipe Organ

Pipe Organs are essentially a group of whistles.  Though they may not know what to call it, many children have heard Pipe Organs, especially in Philadelphia, where I live and teach.

a pipe organ in Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois, Paris

The Wanamaker Pipe Organ in the old Wanamaker building in Center City, Philadelphia is the biggest working pipe organ in the world.  Wanamaker's closed in 1995, but now there is a Macy's in its place that continues to host and maintain the organ.  There is an organist in residence and free concerts all year round.  Every winter since 1956 the department store has put on a light show with the organ accompaniment.  I remember seeing it as a child, and some classes at my daughter's school take a field trip to walk over to see the show.

Peter Richard Conte playing the Wanamaker Organ

Wanamaker light show

The first piece I shared is the Fugue sur le theme du Carillon des Heures de la Cathedrale de Soissons, Op. 12 ("Fugue on the theme of the hourly bell chime at the Soissons Cathedral").  The piece is by the French composer Maurice Durufle (1902-1986).  We talked about different clock chimes, and I sang the common clock bell chime that is heard in the USA (The "Westminster Chimes").  I explained that Durufle had listened to the chime tune from the clock tower at the Cathedral in Soissons (which began being built in 1177) and built his song around it.

Maurice Durufle

Soissons Cathedral

I couldn't introduce the pipe organ without playing a piece by the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).  Besides being instantly recognizable to many as the "stereotypical spooky music", Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 was included in Walt Disney's Fantasia, so some of the children already had a connection to it.

St Thomas Church, Leipzig, Germany
(Bach worked here from 17-23-1750)

Johann Sebastian Bach

We talked about the parts of the organ, the pipes and the keyboards/ manuals, pedals and the stops.  Kids like the idea of a wall of buttons and playing with your feet.  I showed them a picture of someone standing inside an organ to show how large they can be.

Professor Chip Ross of Bates College

Fugue sue le theme du Carillon des Heures de la Cathedrale de Soissons, Maurice Durufle
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, MWV 565, Johann Sebastian Bach

Find the lesson plan here.
Find the slide show here.
Find the drawing pages here.

Enjoy!