A careful look
at picture 1 shows pipes beyond the skill of any confectioner
— so it's an organ. This example of high baroque at Wieskirche,
Pfaffenwinkel in Bavaria, shows many characteristics of the most
exuberant of all styles.
Look again,
more closely this time, at the spaces between the feet of the pipes
in the outer towers. These are screened by triangles of metal, gilded
and waved to resemble flames — which is, indeed, what they
are called. This feature may be found only in a minority of baroque
cases — another example appears in one of the screen-savers
available on this site. The fire-like effect is occasionally heightened
with touches of red and orange paint.
The
Wieskirche case contrasts markedly with its contemporary (both are
from the later years of the 18th century) - at St Stephen, Wallbrook,
pictured on an earlier page - Cases For
Places 2. Baroque goes its own way, as rich as wedding cake
and similarly best-savoured in moderate quantity.
Picture
2 shows the organ at Exeter Cathedral, England. This case, by
John Loosemore and dating from 1665, is thus a century or so older
than those of Wieskirche and St Stephen's. The carved decoration
projecting above the two flats ~ "cresting" ~ was usual
from the Middle Ages onwards, until classical severity took over
in the eighteenth century. Similar adornment can be seen round the
feet of the pipes in the towers; this is rare and can hardly be
called cresting - "bootlacing", perhaps?
The circular
compartments, surrounded by garlands, are early examples of elegant
features ~ sometimes oval instead of round ~ that appear in many
eighteenth century cases, including St Stephen's, Wallbrook. (Question:
Did these originate in Italy?). Styles of past and future do not
always marry as happily as they have at Exeter.
Musical instruments,
either carved or painted, are often used to ornament organ cases.
If a league table of numbers of appearances were to be compiled,
the trumpet would, surely, win followed, perhaps, by the hautbois.
Stringed instruments
seem to be less commonly represented, except in the Netherlands.
Picture 3 shows a fiddle within a garland (one of a pair)
on the organ gallery at Noordwolde, Groningen. The carving of the
flowers and fruit motifs typical of the date (c.1650) is worth detailed
study.
Finally, a
challenge for travelling photographers. The organ case at Chateau
Salins, Moselle, in Eastern France exhibits interesting examples
of the "trophy". This occasional form of decoration consists
of a lower layer of weapons of war ~ muskets shields, swords etc.
~ with a selection of musical instruments superimposed ~ trumpets,
drums, gambas and so on.
The overall
effect is that a passing symphony orchestra has jettisoned surplus
assets on an arms dump. Topped with palms of victory, as at Chateau
Salins, the trophy makes a fitting adornment to a case in the heroic
French style.
The finely-carved
trophies are placed on the towers. Their resultant height and the
fact that a window is behind them means that they are almost impossible
to see with any clarity. Probably only the bats and an occasional
organ-tuner ever do so. Obtaining a clear photograph seems an impossibility
and thus they are not illustrated here, as they ought to be.
You will probably
fail to get a good picture but should find comfort in the wines
for which the region is famous.
Picture
credits: 1. Jenny Setchell; 2. C.R.A. Davies, Durham, UK DH1 5LS; 3. (detail) - John Brennan, The Positif Press,
130, Southfield Road, Oxford, OX4 1PA
