Monaco: Salle Garnier

Monaco issued a set of stamps celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the Salle Garnier, the opera house in that principality in 1979. The set of 6 stamps (Scott 1167-1172) include 5 that show scenes from operas produced in the theater. The sixth stamp shows a famous painting which is above the stage showing various instruments and players. Included is an organ/organist. Mark Jameson gave me these postcards with first day of issue markings on the stamps. the card vignette is a replication of the musical painting. I'll have to try to track down similar FDCs of the other stamps to get a complete set!

South Molton, Exeter, UK

South Molton is located in the southwest of England, about an hour from Exeter. This postcard shows a straight-ahead view of the sanctuary of St Mary Magdalene in South Molton, including the chancel, with the organ facade visible to the left of the image.

NPOR states the instrument is by WG Vowles, but no year of installation is given. the only other detail besides the stoplist is the fact that the blower was electrified in 1934. No other restoration or rebuild information is provided. As described, the instrument seems a perfectly serviceable one, with plenty of foundation tone, and minimal upper work. The color picture of the church reveals stenciling on the facade pipes. My postcard is unused, black and white.

Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, VA, USA

 

Williamsburg, VA may be thought of as two distinct entities. There is the self-contained historic area well worth visiting at any time, and the sprawling town which has grown up around the enclave. Bruton Parish is located in the historic area and is part of all of the activity which take place there. It is also a lively Episcopal congregation with a vigorous music program. This postcard shows a (probably staged) worship service with preacher and congregants. It includes an organ in the front gallery.

What is visible is a case and dummy pipes from a 1785 organ by Samuel Green. The keydesk and pipework are apparently in storage. As the parish grew in the last century, it was able to purchase a large Aeolian-Skinner instrument installed above the ceiling and in other areas of the church. The installation while note-worthy was never musically satisfying. Plans are underway to raise funds for a completely new instrument by the Dobson firm.

St John's, Church Hill, Richmond, VA USA

St John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA is famous for being the site of Patrick Henry's "give me liberty or give me death" speech. The parish capitalizes on this with regulated entrance to the facility, tours, and re-enactments of the speech inside the building. The church is also an active congregation with its own website. My postcard is one of several from the same era created by the church as part of the marketing of the Patrick Henry tie-in. They are all fairly common.

This color postcard at the top is used, with a note on the front with the date January 10, 1907. The church website states "the Adam Stein organ was installed in 1905 and restored in 1983." That would make the card contemporaneous with the new instrument. John DeMayo's more accurate site detailing Episcopal Churches in the region gives the years 1903 and 1985, with the latter work being done by the Virginia firm, Lewis and Hitchcock. His page also gives the specification. The card just above is not dated so I will not hazard a guess as to its time frame. Subtle differences between the wo cards (light fixture, stone tablet, transept door) distinguish the two and suggest different time frames. This second card is unused.