Pulling out all the stops in Paris

FORGET lazing on a Caribbean beach or skiing in Klosters — a group of organ enthusiasts pulled out all the stops for a dream musical holiday.

Members of Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association spent five days in Paris playing some of the city’s finest instruments as well as seeing the sights.

Highlights included sitting in the organ loft at Notre Dame Cathedral during mass, and playing the enormous organ at the Church of St Sulpice where part of the film “The Da Vinci Code” was filmed.

The visit was part of the group’s centenary celebrations and the 13-strong party included president Chris Lowe, organist at Coldhurst Parish Church, and vice-president Mark Johnson, director of Music at St James’s, Thornham.

Past trips have included Westminster Abbey, Liverpool Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral.

Mark explained: “We tend to visit one of the cathedrals every year but this just had to be something special because it is our centenary in December.

“We went to Paris 19 years ago and it feels just like yesterday. We decided we would like to go again because Paris has got a fantastic history of church and cathedral organs. It’s unique.

“St Sulpice was my highlight and the church is like a cathedral in itself. The organ is a massive five manual made by the famous French organ builder Aristide Cavaille-Coll. It was just a superb place to play in with the acoustics as well.

“Another highlight was the Basilica of St Denis which has the oldest Cavaille-Coll organ almost untouched and in working order.

“St Denis is where many of the French kings are buried as well as Marie Antoinette.

“On the Sunday we visited mass at Notre Dame Cathedral and sat 100ft up in the organ loft while one of the organists played the mighty five manual organ for the service.

“It finished with a voluntary that must have ended on an ear-splitting level”

The group played the organ at three other churches: St Medard, St Louis and St Gervais. They also attended concerts and met three French contacts.

The trip combined Mark’s twin passions of music and history. He is chairman of Chadderton Historical Society and was organist and choirmaster St Luke’s, Chadderton, for 25 years.

He joked: “We are experts now in dusty, spiral staircases. People may not understand why we get a kick out of it, but it’s each to their own.

“The organ is the the king of instruments. They are so powerful and moving. You can play the tiniest, quietest sounds to the mightiest roar.”