London, UK, Wesley Chapel, City Road

Wesley Chapel in City Road, London is a vital congregation of the British Methodist Church. It was founded by John Wesley and now includes a museum and the John Wesley house next door. The foundation for the chapel was laid in 1777. The post card (mint/black-white) shows the nave, chancel and pulpit and includes portions of the surrounding gallery. One can see part of the organ on both sides of the gallery. Interestingly, it seems the organ was re-positioned to the rear of the gallery at some point in time. It is obviously no longer where it appears in the postcard, according to contemporary pictures. I was able to find a close-up shot of a small organ that was used at the first Wesley Chapel (also called Foundery). However I can find no information on the organ as it appears in the postcard.

Paris, FR, Ste Etienne

The burial site of Ste Genevieve is noted in the 6th century in the 5th arrondissement in Paris. It was quickly realized that the space would not accommodate all who wished to visit. Permission was granted in the 13th century to build a church at the site, incorporating the previous site and facilities and dedicated to St Stephen. A complete reconstruction was again required because of space issues in the 15th century. This is the basis of the present facility.

Two organs grace the church, a rear gallery instrument by Cavaille-Coll from the late 19th century and a smaller orgue du choeur from the earliest years of the 20th century. It is this latter instrument which can be seen in my (unused, black-white) postcard. The wiki site seems to give the tidiest summary of the building and instrument, including a specification. The organ is located just beyond the famous marble rood screen, in the choir stalls. It was built by Puget and has 14 ranks.

 

Glasgow, Scotland, UK: Cathedral

The first elements of the Glasgow Cathedral were laid in 1136, the present building being consecrated in 1197. The organ was built by Willis in 1879, with work undertaken at regular intervals over the years. The most recent work was completed by Harrison and Harrison in 1996. My black and white card is unused. It is not dated, though it indicates UK postage of 1/2p is required, which narrows the viable time frame somewhat. My card is oriented from the east end choir area to the screen with the organ cases on the north and south walls with the console situated on the screen. The cathedral's site gives plenty of information including a specification.

Perugia, IT: Church of Saint Peter

The Chiesa di San Pietro is part of a monastery complex in Perugia, Italy. A religious building was on the site as early as 102 CE. The church was burnt in 1398, suppressed in 1799, and resident part of a revolt against the pope in 1859. A colorful history to be sure. It would seem that at some point in the 14th century the original east end apse was razed and a new larger structure constructed. Within the new apse was located the choir and space for an organ. My black and white post card is unused. It shows the "new" apse area with famous wooden choir stalls. In a recessed area in the upper middle section pies of the organ can be seen. I have not been able to find any information about the instrument. I was able to find a few pictures of the choir area, but none of them showed any more of the organ than appears in the card.

 

London, UK: St Paul's Cathedral

The massive St Paul cathedral in London, built in the late 17th century was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It has a long and colorful history before that era, as well as after.

There was an organ by Bernard Smith from 1694. But in the 1870's an essentially new Willis organ was installed. It is that instrument that is part of the postcard image.The most recent work on the instrument took place in the early 2000's by the Mander firm.

My black and white card is unused; there are no dates to tell when it might have been produced. It shows the entire east end of the cathedral from the crossing area.

Bologna, Pinacoteca: St Cecilia

This postcard reproduces the painting Estasi di Santa Cecilia by Raffaello Sanzio. Dating from 1514 the painting now hangs in the Pinacoteca Museum in Bologna, Italy. The painting shows the saint in center surrounded by St Paul, St John the evangelist, St Augustine and Mary Magdelene. Cecilia is holding (barely) a portativ organ. It is upside down, and a couple of pipes are missing. At her feet are other musical instruments. Overheard is a chorus of angelic figures. I cannot determine exactly how the painting was executed. Mention is made in the sources of a "board," "canvas," and "altarpiece." During the Napoleonic Wars the piece was removed to Paris, but ultimately returned.

The museum website includes this information.


Incisori bolognesi ed emiliani del sec. XVI, schede di S. Ferrara, revisione di G. Gaeta Bertelà, Bologna, 1975, n. 37; M. Bietti in L'estasi di Santa Cecilia di Raffaello da Urbino nella Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, catalogo della mostra (Bologna 1983), Bologna,1983, p. 350, n. 53; S. Massari, Giulio Bonasone, Roma, 1983, I, p. 34, n. 2a; M. Cirillo Archer, The Illustrated Bartsch, 28 Commentary, New York, 1995, pp. 284-285, n. 074; M. Faietti, Giulio Bonasone disegnatore, in "Grafica d'Arte", 11, 2000, 44, p. 4; E. Rossoni, Stampe di Giulio Bonasoni pittore e intagliatore, in "Aperto. Bollettino del Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe della Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna", n. 1, 2008, www.aperto.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it/

Bolognese engravers and Emilians of the century XVI, cards by S. Ferrara, revision by G. Gaeta Bertelà, Bologna, 1975, n. 37; M. Bietti in The Ecstasy of Santa Cecilia by Raffaello da Urbino in the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, catalog of the exhibition (Bologna 1983), Bologna, 1983, p. 350, n. 53; S. Massari, Giulio Bonasone, Rome, 1983, I, p. 34, n. 2a; M. Cirillo Archer, The Illustrated Bartsch, 28 Commentary, New York, 1995, pp. 284-285, n. 074; M. Faietti, Giulio Bonasone designer, in "Graphic Art", 11, 2000, 44, p. 4; E. Rossoni, Prints by Giulio Bonasoni painter and engraver, in "Open Bulletin of the Cabinet of Drawings and Prints of the National Art Gallery of Bologna", n. 1, 2008, www.aperto.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it/

Elsewhere it includes this explanation.
Eseguita intorno al 1518 per la cappella della beata Elena Duglioli, che aveva costruito la propria immagine di santità richiamandosi alla leggenda di santa Cecilia. La figura della martire viene proposta in una inedita raffigurazione "musicale" carica di significati simbolici, che agli occhi del devoto richiama i temi dell'amore divino e del disprezzo dei beni mondani, simboleggiati dagli strumenti della musica terrena e profana abbandonati a terra. Una delle opere predilette dai Carracci e da Guido Reni, rivestì un ruolo fondamentale nell'ambito della cultura figurativa dell'Ideale Classico seicentesco.

Performed around 1518 for the chapel of Blessed Elena Duglioli, who had built her own image of holiness recalling the legend of St. Cecilia. The figure of the martyr is proposed in an unprecedented "musical" representation charged with symbolic meanings, which in the eyes of the devotee recalls the themes of divine love and the contempt of worldly goods, symbolized by the instruments of earthly and profane music left on the ground. One of the works favored by the Carracci and Guido Reni, played a key role in the figurative culture of the classic seventeenth century. 

My postcard is in black and white, with red lettering on the front. There is no additional identifying information on the reverse. The word(s) "postcard" appear in a remarkable 16 different languages on the reverse! 

Perugia, IT, Cathedral

Perugia's main religious space dates from before 1000 CE. The current building dates from 1345, with worked suspended for some time and resumed in 1437. Major work was done leading up to consecration in 1569.

The organ as it exists now dates from 1967, built by Tamburini. Most recently work was done 2014-2015 with celebratory concerts in November, 2015. This blogger gives helpful information, including a specification.

My unused card is black-and-white, with red lettering on the front. There is no information about when it was produced. The organ facade depicted is different from the current manifestation. Since the Tamburini instrument dates from 1967, we can surmise there was a different instrument in place prior to that time. I have not been able to find information about the previous instrument(s).

Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Mormon Tabernacle

One of the most famous church structures in the US incorporates an equally famous pipe organ. I have several postcards showing the instrument at various stages in its history. Today Temple Mount has several buildings housing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Also there are several organs scattered among those buildings. This remains the most visually recognizable, though it is not the largest.

The card at top shows the tabernacle organ in its most famous configuration. The used, color card is dated 1959. The card just above is dated '06, and was mailed from SLC to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Both cards use common postage stamps for their respective eras.

Marked differences are apparent between the two cards. including the size of the organ. The tabernacle's choir site (the ensemble is world-renown in its own right) includes details about the organ, and its evolution.

Oklahoma City, OK, USA: St Luke's United Methodist

While St Luke's was established in 1889, the strikingly modern current edifice was constructed between 1955 and 1957. The church's history timeline tells us that the organ was an Aeolian-Skinner instrument with about 5500 pipes. The OHS database confirms this information and provides a bit more detail.

My used postcard is in color. It includes a common stamp for the era, 1962. I have not been able to find details about the scrim-looking material hanging in front of the organ.