DELAYED - Discover the craft of organ building in Tours

DUE TO THE CURRENT VIRAL EPISODE, THE EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL THURSDAY JUNE 18.

Philippe Boddaert (1984) and HEI Alumni invite you to discover

the art of organ building in Tours

Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 6:15 p.m.

With David Bradesi, the only organ builder in the Centre region!

A rare profession:

• There are around fifty of them in France, and David BRADESI is the only organ builder in the Centre region.
• There are over 10,000 instruments in France, most of them in the east of the country.
• Comprehensive training: 9 years for David. First, 4 years as a cabinetmaker (for the organ case), then 3 years as an organ builder (for the instrument) and finally 2 years for the pipes (sound).
• The metals used for the pipes are lead and tin. For the pipes visible from the front, a little more tin is used to make them clearer. To get the right sound, you need to be very good at mathematics, as there are a lot of calculations to be made, as well as being musically literate and having a good ear. As you know, only the organ builder can define the sound rendition.
• The restoration of organs cannot be carried out on site, and requires them to be completely dismantled for transport.

Organbuilding: a demanding profession, where versatility is a must. Although David Bradesi now makes a living from his passion, he doesn't seem very optimistic about the future of the profession.

"You can't be an organ builder for the rest of your life, because it's unpredictable. You have to plan ahead, because you never know what might happen. "David Bradesi, organ builder.

On the program:

- 18h15: Welcome of participants

Meet at David Bradesi's - 20, rue du 8 Mai 37360 Rouziers de Touraine

- 6:15 to 8:00 pm: Visit to an organbuilder's workshop and discussions on instrument restoration.

- 8:00 pm to 8:15 pm: transfer by car from Rouziers de Touraine to Tours (13 km 15' via D2)

- 8.15pm to 10.30pm: dinner at the restaurant Plaisirs des Terroirs, 2 bis, Avenue de le République - 37100 Tours

ATTENTION: Places are limited to 24 participants for this meeting on March 19, 2020.

Please register before March 9, 2020.

Other useful information:

- A choice of options, and the possibility of meeting at 8:15pm at the restaurant in Tours, for those who can't make it for the workshop visit at 6:15pm (Rouziers de Touraine).

- Spouses welcome

- maximum participation (Payment on site)

Contributing alumni: €25

Non-contributing alumni: €35

Special rate for contributing students: €5

Special rate for non-contributing students: €8

- Access map