Voyage [SACD]

A True Organ-Lovers Recording!

Hybrid SACD compatible with all CD players plus 32 page booklet in colour. Embark on a captivating musical adventure with "Voyage," an album that explores the rich world of organ music at Saint Ouen, Rouen on one of the greatest organs in the world. Featuring the talents of Jean-Baptiste Monnot, a protege of renowned organists Jean Guillou and Olivier Latry from Notre Dame Cathedral, this album offers a unique blend of traditional and innovative sounds and featuring in the mix, the ultrasonic contributions of the bats who flew during the recording. At the heart of the album is the Grand organ, the 1890 ‘michaelangelo’ masterpiece crafted by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, known for its thunderous 32ft Contra Bombarde stop. This organ, often regarded as one of the world's most thrilling and frequently recorded instruments, captivates listeners with its powerful and unique sound complimented by the 130 metre by 35 metre high Abbey’s superb acoustics. The second part of the album introduces L’orgue du Voyage, a portable organ built by Jean-Baptiste Monnot, featuring a Bach programme. Recorded in immersive 5.1 surround sound, the emphasis is on enveloping the listener in the organ's rich sonority. Produced by Jake Purches for Base2 Music, the album was recorded with a 100 kHz bandwidth, utilising Sennheiser MKH8020 omni-directional microphones and recorded in 32-bit linear at 352.8 kHz PCM (DXD), the recordings capture every detail of the music with exceptional resolution. This level of resolution allows listeners to experience the full spectrum of sound up to 50kHz, from the powerful bass notes of the organ to the delicate harmonies of the bat song interwoven throughout the album. In addition to the musical performances, the recordings reveal the presence of bats fluttering amidst the organ's melodies. The bats sing at 47 to 80 kHz, and a coda was made at the end of the album with a tenfold reduction to bring the bat song into our own audio range, adding an unusual touch to the album's atmosphere In addition to the musical performances, the recordings reveal the presence of bats fluttering amidst the organ's melodies, adding a unique touch to the album's atmosphere. The album features classic pieces such as Widor's 6th Allegro, showcasing the Grand organ's commanding and powerful presence, More gentle Bach, Brahms and César Franck’s Pièce héroique as well as a brand new composition by producer Jacob Purches who under the touch of Jean-Baptiste Monnot, explores the organ's subtleties and sonic depths in his Passacaglia and Lament.

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Jean-Baptiste Monnot, Organist