December 12 | The Sunburners: Island-inspired party band performing holiday favorites

December 19 | Christ Church Cathedral Choir: Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols

Ricky Nye

 

Bring your own lunch or purchase

one at the cathedral.

 

Invite your friends on Facebook!

Saturday, December 16 | 3:00 pm

 

 

Saturday, December 16 | 8:00 pm

Sunday, December 17 | 2:00 pm

 

Walnut Hills High School 

3250 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207

 

Enjoy music of the season sung by the  Cincinnati Men's Chorus, an ensemble-in-residence at Christ Church Cathedral, at the chorus's annual holiday concert. Both performances will take place at Walnut Hills High School. Ticket information.     

 

Some years ago a well-known expert heard three pipe organs. The first he thought to be not very good. The second was better, but clearly mediocre. The third he thought was one of the very best organs he had ever experienced. Yet all three instruments were identical and built by one of the most important organ builders of the second half of the 20th century. The difference in the instruments was the room in which they lived. A great pipe organ will sound inferior in a room that does not complement the organ.

 

	Basilica Santa Barbara (Mantua)

For any organ, room acoustics are of critical importance. For the Chapel organ, C.B. Fisk Op. 148, the room is more important than for most any other organ in North America. With its low wind pressure and gentle voice, the organ benefits from elements such as the gallery and reredos that are designed to provide a supportive acoustic and reduce distortion. Stepping into the Chapel after the removal of furnishings was a jarring experience. The barren room produced a confused sound, an unsatisfactory environment for the spoken word or for music. Not only is the room important, but all elements in the room contribute to its acoustics and are important in achieving an excellent space for worship, the spoken word, and music.*

 

In the unfurnished Chapel the reverberation time ranged from less than one second to about 3.3 seconds, depending on the frequency or pitch. Such a difference is heard by the listener as an unpleasant experience even if he/she cannot understand why. Solving the acoustic problems of a room requires the talent of an acoustician with scientific, musical, and artistic expertise. Such a talent is rare but essential to producing the best possible acoustic environment. The gallery opposite the organ will be a crucial part of the organ sound since it is the first place to which the organ will speak. The reredos will also be an important part of how the organ sounds. These elements, together with other room furnishings, will all contribute to the total experience in the Chapel.

 

The Antegnati Organ at Santa Barbara

Silence, or the absence of noise, is another critical factor for worship, for hearing music, and for discerning the spoken word. Noise can emanate from a host of sources such as the HVAC system, lights, fans, and electrical devices. Noise will overpower the nuances of music and the wonderful qualities of Op. 148 with its gentle voice. Noise can eliminate the possibility for pianissimo, make the spoken word difficult to hear, and detract from the quality of worship and meditation. Attaining a very quiet room is a surprisingly difficult task achieved only by the most skilled expert.

 

With all elements of the Chapel space working together in harmony with the organ, the result can be a sacred space known internationally, a great gift for all.