Mänttä, Finland

Book

In honour of the new Van den Heuvel-organ in the church of Mänttä (Finland), an excellent 120 page thick book is released. Besides a describtion of the former organ much attention is given to the process of getting a new organ: from builder selection to inauguration. This, in Finnish languange, book can be order for EURO 20 at the church office:

Mäntän seurakunta
Kirkkoherranvirasto
Kirkkokatu 6
35800 Mänttä
Finland
phone: +358 3 474 7407
e-mail: mantan.virasto@evl.fi

MANNTA. The possibilities of the Music Festival of Mänttä expanded a lot by the new French-romantic organ, which was inaugurated in May 2003 in the church of Mänttä. The Dutch builder J.L. van den Heuvel has made a fine instrument. A speciality of this organ is that it has no facade: all pipes are placed in two swell boxes in the organ loft with the console placed between them.

After the first impression of this organ it is still easy to say that it is magnificent. The organ features only 30 stops but one experience much more colour than expected. During listing to the concert by Jan Lehtola you found yourself almost in a Paris cathedral! This organ is even better compared to the Akerman & Lund organ (48 stops in French-romantic style) of the church of Kallio, Helsinki. The foundations are singing, the flutes and strings are very characteristic. The reed stops are excellent.

The program of Jan Lehtola was interesting and demanding. He showed the possibilities of the organ in Naji Hakim's Hommage à Igor Stravinsky and Aleksandr Glasunov's Prelude and fuge in d minor. I have the courage to state that after organists hear about this organ they will be crowding the place and line up to record this organ. The new organ is a great bonus to this small town which is a metropole of art.

Veijo Murtomäki, Helsingin Sanomat
translation by Sami Salomaa & MH

The Organ

The Church of Mänttä, Finland has a new symphonic organ by Van den Heuvel. This new organ (30IIIP) replaces an organ constructed in 1928 by Cavaillé-Coll/Convers. The detached console is centrally placed on the organ balcony allowing the organist to have good visual contact with the liturgical center and makes it possible to conduct the choir. There is for performances with an ensemble or small orchestra.

The keyaction of all four divisions is mechanical while the electrical stopaction features a combination action. Inauguration took place on May 18th 2003.
Musical director and organist is Sami Salomaa and organconsultant is Matti Pesonen.

Constructiontime

Construction of organ parts including wind chests and the large wooden pipes started in December 2001. Currently 15 pictures are available.
Of the assembly of the organ in the assembly hall there are now 14 pictures online.
Between March 31 and April 16 the organ was installed in the church: 19 pictures.

Specification

Mänttä, Finland, 30IIIP (2003)

Pédale, C-f¹

Contrebasse 16'
Flûte 8'
Violoncelle 8'
Bombarde 16'

Grand-Orgue (I), C-a³

Bourdon 16'
Montre 8'
Cor de Chamois 8'
Flûte Harmonique 8'
Prestant 4'
Plein-Jeu III-V
Trompette 8'

Positif (II), C-a³

Salicional 8'
Cor de Nuit 8'
Flûte à Fuseau 4'
Nasard 2 2/3'
Flageolet 2'
Tierce 1 3/5'
Clarinette 8'
Trémulo

Récit (III), C-a³

Bourdon 8'
Gambe 8'
Voix Céleste 8'
Flûte Traversière 4'
Viole d'Amour 4'
Octavin 2'
Basson 16'
Trompette Harmonique 8'
Basson-Hautbois 8'
Voix Humaine 8'
Clairon 4'
Celesta
Trémulo

Positif/Grand-Orgue
Récit/Grand-Orgue 8'
Récit/Grand-Orgue 16'
Récit/Positif 8'
Récit/Positif 16'
Récit/Récit 16'
Tirasse Grand-Orgue
Tirasse Positif
Tirasse Récit
Expression G-O & Positif
Expression Récit & Pédale

Mechanical key- and electric stopaction.

Instruments | Specification - Mänttä, Finland