| In 1669, Augustinians finished
the building of the new monastery in the city of Palma, embelished their new
church with splendid decorations which may still be adored, the most
important of them being the 15th century sculpture of the Virgin Mary,
136 cm tall,
made entirely from alabaster. Now, it was the time to provide a new organ.
The contract between the abbot of the monastery and the organbuilders was
signed on 12th July 1702 and the work was finished one and half years later,
probably on the 13th November 1703.
The swallow's nest type instrument hangs on the right
wall of the church, suspended high in the air. Its facade is composed of
embossed pipes, the sign of an unusually rich disposition. It is composed of
two symmetrical flats with the largest pipes positioned
on the sides. The smaller flat of the positive (Cadireta; Chair organ) is
the miniature of the larger flat which comprises the Great organ (Orgue
Major) and the Echo division (Orgue d'alt; Oberwerk) placed above the Great
organ, actually between the largest pipes of the Great Organ facade. A very
unusal feature of the instrument is to be noticed here, we find
two base Flautats (Principals 8') on the Great
organ, one is positioned on the left, the other on the right side of the
symmetrical flat which produces an unexpected stereo
effect: one Principal 8' is heard coming from the left, the sound of the
second Principal 8' comes from the right!
The Octave is also doubled.
The Principal chorus is then built further up with multi-rank aliquots:
Dozena (2 2/3), Quinzena (2), Alemanya (1 1/3), Simbalet (1/3). The multiple
rank cornets Nasardos, Tolosana, Cornetila are present for solistic purposes
or - in modern usage - to reinforce the horizontal trumpets, which were added a few decades
later, probably in 1755. Jordi Bosch was believed to be the
author of the Trompeteria, but he would have been too young at that
time. Some scholars suggest Gabriel Thomás instead, because
of the similarities with his other works.
The upper division (Orgue d'alt; Oberwerk) is meant to
contrast with the Great organ providing an "echo" effect. But it can be used
as well as a solo division thanks to rich Cromorn and Tolosana (cornet). The
chair organ (Cadireta; Rueckpositiv) is based on the 4' Flautat and
most probably its use is solistic (Nazard) or to dialogue with the other
divisions. The organ was luckily spared from various rebuilds
during the course of its life and we have therefore the chance to admire it
in its very original form. Gerhard Grenzig's restoration in 1969-1970
respected all the original features of the instrument. The instrument is
well maintained and concerts are often given. |
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