Walcker Organ of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel | VDE-GALLO
Brahms: 11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122 - Schumann - Simon Peguiron & Guy Bovet at the Walcker Organ of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel .

 

Extraits / Excerpts

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Brahms – Schumann: Simon Peguiron & Guy Bovet at the Walcker Organ of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel (2 CD)

GALLO CD-1726-1727

Brahms – Schumann: Simon Peguiron & Guy Bovet at the Walcker Organ of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel

CD1:
Johannes BRAHMS: 11 Chorale Preludes, Op. Posth. 122: I. Mein Jesu, der du mich zum Lustspiel – II. Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen – III. O Welt, ich muß dich lassen – IV. Herzlich tut mich erfreuen – V. Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele – VI. O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen – VII. O Gott, du frommer Gott – VIII. Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen – IX. Herzlich tut mich verlangen I – X. Herzlich tut mich verlangen II – XI. O Welt, ich muß dich lassen – Prelude and Fugue, WoO 9: I. Prelude – II. Fugue – Chorale Prelude and Fugue on “O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid”, WoO 7: I. Prelude – II. Fugue – Fugue in A-Flat Minor, WoO 8 – Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, WoO 10: I. Prelude – II. Fugue.

Simon Peguiron at the Walcker Organ of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel.

https://www.collegiale.ch/concerts-simon-peguiron

CD2:
Robert SCHUMANN: 6 Fugues on B.A.C.H., Op. 60: I. Langsam – II. Lebhaft – 4 Skizzen für den Pedalflügel, Op. 58: I. Nicht schnell und sehr markiert (C Minor) – II. Nicht schnell und sehr markiert (C Major) – III. Lebhaft (F Minor) – IV. Allegretto (D-Flat Major) – 6 Fugues on B.A.C.H., Op. 60: III. Mit sanften Stimmen – IV. Mässig doch nicht zu langsam – 6 Studien in kanonischer Form, Op. 56: I. Nicht zu schnell (C Major) – II. Mit innigem Ausdruck (A Minor) – III. Andantino (E Major) – IV. Innig (A-Flat Major) – V. Nicht zu schnell (B Minor) – VI. Adagio (B Major) – 6 Fugues on B.A.C.H., Op. 60: V. Lebhaft – VI. Mässig, nach und nach schneller.

Guy Bovet at the Walcker Organ of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel.

https://guybovet.org

The Instrument

The Walcker organ in the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel was built in 1870, together with the restoration of the building under the supervision of architect Léo Châtelain. The builder was the famous Eberhard Friedrich Walcker (1794-1872), who made 274 organs worldwide, including 17 in Switzerland. The firm still exists and has a catalog of more than 3000 instruments. Nowadays, only eight organs of this German Romantic style remain—six in Germany and two in Switzerland. This highlights the historical and artistic value of the organ recorded in this album.

Respect for old instruments is a relatively recent phenomenon. In 1952, the organist Samuel Ducommun had the Walcker significantly enlarged (from 27 to 45 stops) and its aesthetics modified. Fortunately, due to limited financial resources, a large part of the mechanics and pipework had to be retained.

Numerous mechanical issues eventually made it necessary to build a new instrument. It was designed by Guy Bovet, Ducommun’s successor, and built by the Manufacture de Saint-Martin near Neuchâtel. Completed in 1996, this organ turned out to be a masterpiece. Meanwhile, the Walcker remained silent, as it had been classified as a historic instrument and could not be removed.

A major restoration of the entire building, completed in 2022, revived the question of the historic organ. Several experts evaluated the instrument, and an independent group called La Walckérie worked to raise the necessary funds to restore the Walcker to its original 1870 state. Many private donors contributed, alongside the local lottery (Loterie Romande), the Swiss Confederation, the Canton and the City of Neuchâtel.

The French organ builder Pascal Quoirin, who was later involved in restoring the organ of Notre-Dame de Paris after the great fire, was chosen to rehabilitate the Walcker organ. It was inaugurated in April 2022 by Simon Peguiron, the current organist of the Collegiate Church, and Guy Bovet, former titular organist.

The Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel now houses two major organs of great value, allowing for the authentic performance of the entire organ repertoire.

CD 1626-1627 Booklet.pdf

CHF 28.00
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