AKARSH SHEKHAR
Sound of
Centuries
Oldest Organ
in the World
The Valère basilica in scenic southern Switzerland
holds a unique record. It's the home to the “the oldest
organ in the world still in continuous use”. it sounds as it did originally but it does give us a
reasonably good idea of what medieval music sounded
like, which is extraordinary”, Voeffray said.
This unique instrument, which has been the focal point of
a Gothic organ festival that has been held each year for 40
years in Sion, capital of the canton Valais, was built in 1430. Contrary to what the uninitiated might think, gothic organ
music can be very cheerful and is reminiscent of folk dances.
Voeffray begins by playing the “Music for Organum Antiquum,
from the Robertsbridge Codex”, compiled between 1330 and
1448 and kept at the British Museum. “This is possibly the
world’s oldest preserved organ music”, Voeffray said. He also
plays Spanish baroque music along with some folk dance
tunes from the 19th century. Despite its small keyboard, the
organ at Sion packs enough punch to surprise listeners.
All visitors to this church are awestruck by the
magical sound of this old organ. After a moment of
uncertainty, they look up from the central nave and
are surprised to discover the source of the magic.
It’s not every day that the ordinary person has the privilege
of listening to a recital from an instrument which is over 550
years old. But this is a treat that can be experienced in the
Valère basilica, a fortified church on a hill overlooking Sion.
The organ is reachable by a flight of steep, narrow,
medieval era stairs. It's very different from the modern
versions of the organ found in churches all over the
world. The organ doesn't have a smorgasbord of buttons
and pedals like most modern versions, it's just a modest,
diminutive keyboard reminiscent of a simple piano.
Valère’s organ might be the oldest usable organ in the
world, but it isn't the sole survivor from the Gothic age.
Other organs from the period are found in other European
countries. Edmond Voeffray, the official organist at Sion
cathedral, said: “In fact, Spain has a number of 14th century
organs but their machinery had fallen into disrepair
and so it has been replaced by modern mechanisms.”
“The organ in Valère is unique because the essential
elements of its parts and mechanism were actually built in
the Middle Ages. There are whole pipes that are original,
which in itself is unique in the world,” Voeffray added.
“By 1700, this organ had been modified to play baroque
music. Because of this, it’s not possible to say that
Now, if you were wondering about the evidence of
the organ being built in 1430, Patrick Elsig of the
Valais Museum of History has the answer:
“From the murals in the church”, We know that they
were commissioned in 1435 and the same person
painted the decorations on this instrument. This
fact, which is well documented, allowed us to date
the organ accurately The wooden hull which looks
like the prow of a ship was added in 1630.”
Elsig went on to add that “it should be emphasised
that at that time an organ was an almost inconceivable
luxury. This instrument would have been brought
to Valère at the expense of Guillaume de Rarogne, a
powerful figure who ended up as the bishop of Sion.”
Organist Edmond Voeffray added some clarity to the
organ's financial significance. He said “The financial
investment required to install an organ like this one
was not inconsiderable. We mustn't forget that the
organ was the most complex machine created by human
beings until the advent of the Industrial Revolution.”
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
31