DALLAM IN BRITTANY

In August 1992 I managed to get to see, play and hear one or two Dallam organs which are now restored; some of this information may be of interest.

GUIMILIAU
The most substantial restoration. For reference, see Michel Cocheril's article, BIOS JOURNAL 6, p.66, with Stubington's photograph taken c. 1937. As can be guessed from the photograph, the gallery and positif case are surprisingly low off the floor. Of the original organ (1675-80) there survive; the case, 30-40% of the pipes, Grand and positif windchests, the Great roller-board, and some of the drawstop mechanism. New work (copies) includes; 60-65% of the pipes, the Echo windchest, most of the mechanism, the keys, the cuneiform bellows, and the French pedals. All woodwork is in oak. The pitch is 3/4 of a tone 'low'. Of the Dallam pipework, the Montres are 57% tin; Reeds 48% tin; Pleins Jeux 11% tin; Flutes and Mutations c.5% tin.

The pipework is not hammered. Tuning includes six 'pure' thirds, C-E; D-F#;F-A;G-B;A-C#

Compass:

Grand and Positif:    C-C''', 48 notes, no bottom C#
Echo:       C'-C''', 25 notes
Pédale:      C-f, no bass C#, 17 notes

Grand
Montre   8
Bourdon   8
Prestant   4
Flutte   4
Nazard   22/3
Doublette   2
Larigot   11/3
Flageolet   1
Fourniture   IV
Cymbale   III
Trompene   8
Voix Humaine   8
Clairon   4
Tremblant fort; Tremblant doux; Rossignol   

Positif
Bourdon   8
Montre   8
Flutte   4
Nazard   22/3
Doublette   2
Tierce   13/5
Fourniture   III
Cromorne   8

Echo
Flutte d'echo   8
Cornet   IV
Voix humaine 8

Pédale
Bourdon   8(Grand)
Flutte   4(Grand)
Trompette   8(Grand)
Clairon   4(Grand)
Bourdon   16 (original, and rare?)

The instrument, virtually silent since 1909, was restored between 1986 and 1989 by Guillemin of Malancée, from whom most of this information is derived.

PLEYBEN (JBIOS 6, p.69)
Thomas Dallam, 1688-92; Heyer organ, 1877, in old case. As with many unrestored organs, the Positif case is empty. At present, the eastern half of the church is being totally re-roofed; the organ is in situ but under polyethylene sheeting.

ERGUÉ-GABÉRIC
THomas Dallam, 1680, restored by Renaud of Nantes in 1980, and tonally re-regulated since, I gather. This was most difficult of access, as neither Presbytery nor the Mairie could locate any keys for the organ-gallery.

LANVELLEC
Robert Dallam, 1653; ex-Plestin-les-Grèves. This was restored by Formentelli in 1986. A CD was made by Kenneth Gilbert in 1989, number Adda 581178. There seems to be disagreement about the outcome of the tonal work here. Some organists organ experts think some of the general sound 'wrong'; the organ builder maintains that the restoration is 'authentic'. Unfortunately, the church is only open for two hours on tuesdays and Fridays, and no keys seemed to be available, so we were unable to get into the church. Visitors, be warned.

PLOUJEAN
Thomas Dallam, 1677-80. M. Cocheril indicated that the restoration here was nearly complete. We went and were fortunate to meet there Mr Barthélémy Formentelli, with his assistant son, and his daughter, who was holding the keys. The youngsters spoke English and understood technical terms, which was really helpful. The keyboard is at the rear with a 'l'oeil de boeuf' worked into the casefront for visibility. There is a new 'Pédalier Français'. On an hour and half's visit one's impression (confirmed by others0 was that the tone is quite strong.

TRÉGUIER
Repairs only here by Dallam to the organ of 1647-49. This organ was restored in the 1980s by Jean Dunand of Lyon.

LAMPAUL-GUIMILIAU
There is a picture in the Images book (see below). This is worth seeing, with its 1660 case (the date on the side). Its two single-pipe towers are reminiscent of Thomas Harris; compare Roscoff, which has three single-pipe towers (see JBIOS 6, p.64).

JOSSELIN
Between Nantes and Vannes. A picture of the empty 1674-77 case appears in Images. The case is by Le Helloco. The Positif is under the Grand case, the case is on the edge of the gallery, and as often happens in such cases, there is a 'l'oeil de boeuf' in the casework,at the front, for the organists, the keys inevitably being at the rear of the organ.

The restoration, by Formentelli, was completed in June 1990. The organ has fourteen stops on the Grand and six on the Positif.

DINAN
(Due east of St Brieuc). A surprise awaits the visitor. The organ sitting on the South Transept gallery is by Oldknow, built in 1889. It has characteristic highly-coloured front pipes in British style (no case), contains three manuals and twenty-four stops, and was restored by Renaud in 1984.

It appears that all dallam and Harris organs which can be restored have been; many cases have worthwhile nineteenth-century organs which are invariably retained.

Much information in these notes comes from Michel Cocheril's two publications:

1. Les Orgues en Bretagne, 1981, in the series Ouest France.

2. Images du Patrimonie les Orgues en Bretagne, 1987.

They are both out of print, unfortunately, though odd copies of Images are still to be found, if you are lucky. M. Cocheril has recently achieved a Doctorate in Musical History for his thesis on the Organ in Brittany.

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