Sam Sleath – Notre Dame de Vimoutiers Cavaillé-Coll (HAUPTWERK)

Publisher: Sam Sleath
Website: samsleath.com/instruments
Format: HAUPTWERK
Quality: 24 bit 96 kHz stereo
Size: 22.45 GB

Sample library for the Hauptwerk organ emulator.

The Cavaillé-Coll organ in the Church of Notre-Dame in Vimoutiers, Normandy, France, was built in 1899. It is, along with the organ of the Moscow Conservatory, the last organ built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll during his lifetime. It was inaugurated by Alexandre Guilmant and has also been played by other famous organists, notably Louis Vierne and Pierre Cochereau.

The city was bombed during World War II. Fortunately, the organ survived, but the stained glass windows had to be replaced. The organ has undergone several modifications over the years, including the addition of stops to manuals 2 and 3, but in 2019 it was painstakingly restored to its original condition by organ builders Pesce and Robert.
The instrument has a not very large, but powerful disposition of 30 registers.

The organ has a split case through which the rose window can be seen. Manuals 1 and 2 are on the left when looking at the instrument from the church hall, and manuals 3 and most of the pedal pipes are on the right.
The main manual is equipped with a Barker lever, which makes it easier to play on a heavy tractor.

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