Presentation

TREASURIES FOR A KING :

King of the instruments by its aesthetics so as by its sonorities, the organ deserved to be celebrated in a high cultural and architectural place!  If you go to Roche, between Montreux and Saint Maurice, you will discover treasuries gathered in a barn post, former stop on the oldest roman road of Switzerland leading to the Grand-Saint-Bernard.

AN ASTONISHING COLLECTION DEDICATED TO THE ORGAN

23 centuries of music, history and technique gathered!

From the prototype of an organ executed on 246 before J.-C in Alexandria (reconstructed in its original size) to the Tschanun’s with  2’700 tubes (1934) passing by:

·  Several instruments from many different periods, of which a 6 meters high case, built in 1778 by S. Scherrer,

·  Several equipments allowing some acoustic vulgarization experiences

· And many other objects in order to interest the outsiders so as the specialists. During the visits leaded by the curator, he proceeds to many demonstrations and auditions.

 The animation and the promotion of this unique place are supported by the Friends’ Association of the Swiss Museum of the Organ, which gathers over 750 members.

Extract from the Concert Bolero
by Louis-James-Alfred Lefébure-Wely (1817-1869)
performed by Pierre-Alain Clerc at the
 Alexandre harmonium 

The history of the Swiss Museum of the Organ is the result of in the double safekeeping of important goods of the musical and architectural patrimony of the nation: a wonderful collection of antique organs showed in a barn post which is nine centuries old. As soon as you enter the museum, you will run your eyes over the hydraulic organ (about 246 before J.-C.), passing by instruments such as the Elysée organ, the one of the Emmental, the one in cardboard, the barrel organs, the flute clocks, the open organ,  the harmoniums, until the great organ of Radio Lausanne. But… follow the guide!

The Swiss Museum of the Organ presents its first CD, including a 24 pages booklet, lavishly illustrated with photos and perfected with comments – in French, German and English – relating to the main instruments showed at the museum.

You can order this CD on line