Monday, October 15, 2007

Saxon music

I'm reading a history of the Pilgrims' School by our local archaeologist, Dr John Crook. He discusses the musical history of Winchester Cathedral and says that there's been an organ there for over 1000 years. In 990 the Poem of the Cantor Wulfstan says that when the organ in the Saxon Minster played, people in the streets of Winchester used to stop in amazement as "like thunder the iron voice assaults the ear, driving out every other sound." According to Wulfstan, this musical monster had 400 pipes and 26 bellows operated by 70 strong men, working like galley-slaves. It was played by two monks, each at his own keyboard.

1 Comments:

Blogger Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Those were the days, WW!

1:40 pm  

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