Gouda

A wonderful evening of music, beauty and friendship.

An organ recital in a marvellous church. the St. Jan (St. John) in Gouda. Most non-Dutch people will associate Gouda with cheese, and perhaps candles and "stroopwafels", syrup cookies, but the best things about Gouda is the big church. It is world famous for its stained glass windows, which tell a wonderful story. They are best seen on a summer's day when the sun is shining through the windows, showing the glass in all its glory. Sometimes, early in the summer, during organ recitals, the sun may set during the concert, setting the windows on fire. The website gives a lot of information about the church, and shows all the windows. Unfortunately the English version of the site is far from ready, but it is a work in progress. With a length of 123 meters, the church is also the longest church in the Netherlands. Goudse Glazen in Beeld gives you all the windows in detail.

Then there are the church organs, the impressive pipe organ covering the complete height of the west wall, as well as a small but beautiful choir organ.

The console of the organ in Gouda

Detail of the organ console

An unusual view of the organ

The first part of the programme was played on the choir organ. The programme was opened with a Voluntary by Henry Purcell. Here is the music, played on a very big organ, and rather slow and loud, I think. The choir organ in Gouda has just two manuals, but the sound is very clear and bright, without being sharp.

The programme guided us on a musical tour through Europe, Austria of course represented by Mozart, Seixas representing Portugal.

The tour continued on the big Moreau organ, so we all moved from the choir to the nave of the church, facing the organ. Prelude and Fugue in c-moll BWV 549 by J.S. Bach (Germany), was followed by Concerto in F by Albinoni (Italy). 

Two composers represented France, Guilmant and Widor.

Personally I really loved the subtlety of the Cantilène Pastorale, by Alexandre Guilmant, which sounded amazingly good on an organ which was not really built with French romantic music in mind, but Baroque music.  Widor is always impressive and so versatile. Perhaps I am biased. But does that matter?

Usually I meet lots of friends during those concerts, and we tend to go for a drink with the organist afterwards to discuss the music, and the sound in that particular church. A composition varies a lot depending on the possibilities of the instrument it is played on, the variety of stops on an organ, the period the organ was built in and the country of origin of the organ builder. And not to forget the acoustics of each individual church. And last but not least the interpretation of the organist and his choice of stops. As it was pouring with rain, we huddled up in a warm and cosy cafe in the market square which we did not leave till it was almost midnight .

When I woke up this morning still thinking of the concert and still a bit sleepy after a late night, I went downstairs to the kitchen and to my utter surprise saw a big fox elegantly walking through my tiny patio garden! I thought I must still be dreaming, but I wasn't. I am in an urban area, and apart from goldfish in my pond, a treat for the herons, there is nothing to eat. Unfortunately my small camera was upstairs, so I could only watch, truly amazed, and not send you any proof.