Parròquia de Sant Salvador
Catholic church in El Vendrell, Spain
Plaça Vella, s/n, 43700 El Vendrell, Tarragona, Spain
Opens 8:30 AM. Closed 13:00 PM Opens 17:00PM
Phone: +34 977 66 14 19
Province: Tarragona
Communidad: Catalonia
ssalvador.vendrell.arqtgn.cat/
El Organo Ludwig Scherrer - 1776
www.ieorganohistorico.org/el-...
Commissioned to be built by the organ builder Ludwig Scherrer and inaugurated in 1777, this is one of the few remaining Baroque organs in Catalonia. Pablo Casals had a great esteem for this organ since his father had been the organist at Sant Salvador and he had played it on several occasions. In 2009 the Associació d’Amics de l’Orgue launched a campaign for the definitive restoration of the instrument.
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THE ORGAN
In 1775 the rector, Mn. Manuel Aumetell Ferrer, together with the workers of the parish and the town council, seeing that Mr. Lluís Bonifás, sculptor, had gone to work in the choir of the cathedral of Lleida and that they could not retain him because there was no signed contract to finish the altarpiece of the high altar, they decided to make an organ for the church, which had been built a few years before, to be able to celebrate its services with greater solemnity.
On October 28, 1775, the contract was signed between Mn. Manuel Aumetell Ferrer and the organ builder Ludving Scherrer undertook to build an organ of 1583 flutes at the price of 1575 pounds.
On April 25, 1776, the first contract was ratified and it was agreed to add a proportional seat to the organ of 340 flutes, with two towers and the corresponding sculpture, for a final price of 2250 pounds, excluding the wood, and with a total of 1923 flutes.
L. Scherrer came from a lineage of Swiss organists, of which Samson Scherrer stands out. He was called to many places. His best-known works are in France, Catalonia (Lleida, Valls...) and the islands of Menorca and Ibiza.
Before the last payment was made to L. Scherrer, the organ was inspected. The work was entrusted to Joaquim Vicente, organist of the cathedral of Tarragona; Felip Aloy, Riudecols organist; and Josep Prius, tin master from the city of Tarragona. The experts declare: The whole factory and construction of this organ is of such high genius (...) that in a short time, it will be said that the manufacturer or factor of organs, Mr. L. Scherrer, is the non-plus ultra. This is what we certify and sign here on April 20, 1777.
Subsequently, restorations and repairs of the organ have been carried out:
1792- Giusseppe Vandunneghem, an Italian organist, undertook to thoroughly dust the organ and disassemble it, give the corresponding tone to each flute, and tune the instrument.
1860- Some expenses were incurred to restore and tune the organ by Joan Toldrà, the Matines.
1884- Restoration by Joan Florenzano, an Italian organist who was in this area repairing organs.
1929- Pau Casals felt a great affection for the organ since his father had been its organist. On November 8, 1928, Casals and the Organ Factory of Ntra Sra de Montserrat SA signed the contract for the restoration, which will be moved to the center of the church choir.
1963- Rogent's workshop, under the technical direction of Gabriel Blancafort, was responsible for restoring the bench, advancing the major organ, raising its level, and adding a 30-note pedalboard.
1983- Through a popular initiative, funds were secured to fix the organ. The work was entrusted to Gabriel Blancafort. It consisted of cleaning, repairing pipes, restoring keyboards and the bellows, and tuning. The exterior was also restored, moldings replaced, and the organ bench was decorated by Jaume Nin.
Currently, and until October 22, 2010, the meticulous work of deep and comprehensive restoration of the organ is being carried out in the workshops of the German Desmotes, Landete (Conca).
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SPECIFICATION
FIRST MANUAL - Cadireta
Border 8'
Side 4'
Transverse Flute 8'
Nasard 12th 2 2/3'
Nasard 19th 1 1/3'
Bugle IV
Cromorm 8'
Tremol
SECOND MANUAL - Orgue Major
Face 8'
Bordó 8'
Octave 4'
Nasard 12ª 2 2/3'
Nasard 15th 2'
Fortnight 2'
IV Findings
Germany IV
Cymbal III
Cimbalet III (room 3a)
Bugle VII
Royal Trumpet 8'
Veus Humanes 8'
Bell Clarins (4'/8')
Clarins clars 4'
Clarins in 15th 2'
THIRD MANUAL - Echo
Violins 8'
Flute 8'
PEDAL
Contres 16'
Main 8'
Octave 4'
Flute 2'
Plens IV'
Bombard 16'
Trumpet 8'
Contres (CH) 8'
Three 48-note keyboards: C, Dc'''
26 note pedal: C, D- d'
To de l'orgue: A3 = 415 Hz. at 20º
Tuning system: Bach-Jobin
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Pau Casals Route with Organ Music
www.elvendrellturistic.com/en...
El Vendrell, Spain
www.spainisculture.com/en/dest...
BlancaFort
www.orguesblancafort.com/en/r...
Concerts
loretoaramendi.com/2016/03/co...
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Produced & Directed by
Vic Ferrer
The Producer's Loft Studio
San Francisco, CA/Barcelona, España
TheProducersLoft.com/
KZfaq
/ vicferrer