Aug 19 2008
Cebu Cathedral should use the pipe organ
It’s a waste that the pipe organ assembled by the Diego Cera Organ Builders in 1995-1996 is just lying idle at the choir loft while accumulating dust as the years go by. According to someone, the pipe organ is only played during “special” ceremonies celebrated by the archbishop.
There’s an electric organ - a Yamaha - that is being used on ordinary days including Sundays and it’s located near the altar. It’s also at this place where the choir converges thus taking up space that would have been suitable for additional pews for the churchgoers.
Ideally, the pipe organ should be used because leaving it idle will only damage it. The problem, however, is that nobody knows how to play it. I’ve heard that only Msgr. Rudy Villanueva can play it. I guess this is a challenge for the cathedral to train someone who will play the pipe organ. By doing so, they will be evoking interest among local talents in this kind of musical instrument.
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August 28th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Hi, Arnold!
I agree with your point that someone need to know how to play pipe organ for taking over instead of only one.
It’s important for someone to inherit playing it!!
I hope someone will know how to do it well soon!
Cebu Travel
セブ留学
September 7th, 2008 at 12:51 am
^^
Indeed, otherwise this instrument will just be another spectacle for display. Thanks Nobu for dropping by.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
AS the trend in other churches as one priest told me the choir moves downstairs to be seen (a vanity thing). In the case of Cebu not enough young people were inspired to learn to play on this instrument which requires some special skills than the electone. Also if the clergy are not interested in promoting the use of the organ it will gather dust.
Our own Peter Stapleton played the organ while on vacation and was invited to do a concert on it. So the interest is there.
We are trying to instill an interest at the Seminary level to historic restorations and the use of organs for traditional liturgy. Maybe a more enlightened generation of clergy will come forth who will appreciate the rich musical heritage of this Country along with the historic buildings. Also to appreciate the craftsmanship of the only organbuilder in South East ASia who I have the pleasure of being associated with.
The Cebu Cathedral organ is purely mechanical in the tradition of instruments installed during the 19th Century and before. So to be able to control this instrument from down front in electone territory would be difficult but not impossible as we have discovered with other instruments we are building. So all we need is to educate those ibn power at the church level and those with the resources to adapt this organ for this location.
Harvey
Diego Cera Organbuilders Diegocera.com
September 9th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Addtional thought
The organ constructed during that time period probably used many of the components of the 1960s organ which proved to be unreliable in all the installations including Manila Cathedral. Ironically, if the configuration had been retained the organ would have been easy to control downstairs thanks to modern technology. But the change was made as European woods and leathers proved to be totally unsuited for the tropical climate and pests. Our more up to date restorations of these organs have overcome all these obstacles but it is too late for a good deal of these installations that have been electoned and maybe the original pipe facade remains minus the internal components where the priests and parishioners can proudly proclaim they have a pipe organ. ( and the electone blaring through the inferior church microphone system)
Harv
September 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Byline: Jaime Picornell
THE PEACE Philharmonic of the Philippines (PPP) opened its 2005 Chamber Classics season, dubbed “Soul Moments,” with a concert at the Cebu cathedral.
Maestro Eugene Castillo conducted, while Benedictine monk Fr. Manuel Maramba, OSB, played the cathedral’s excellent pipe organ. Fr. Maramba played a solo, “Toccata in G Major” by Theodore Dubois, and two numbers with the PPP Chamber Players: the Vivaldi Concerto for Violin and Organ Obbligato, with Brian Cimafranca as violin soloist; and Immaculate Mother Variations arranged by Antonio Gabriel Arambulo who was guest artist with the first violins.
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I’m a violinist/violist from the Peace Philharmonic Philippines here in Cebu and also played in that concert. I never thought that Cebu Cathedral had a Pipe Organ and i was amazed to hear it played by Fr. Manuel Maramba..
they should hire or train someone to play the pipe organ.. i bet some people here in cebu didnt know that we have a pipe organ in the cathedral.. or it will just go to waste