Looking Up at Organs and Ceilings

"A feast for the eyes . . ."
Read reviews here!
​Price: € 18 (64 pages Hardcover)Verl.-Nr. BuB 17 ISBN 978-3-928412-17-9
In large impressive public spaces, whether a great cathedral, an ancient abbey or a secular concert hall, it is often the pipe organ that first commands the visitor's attention. The 'King of Instruments' with its solidly-wrought, ornate casework and glistening façade pipes, is sufficient in its own right to elicit gasps of awe and wonder. 
But the organ case is usually only part of a whole harmonious picture. Its grandeur is complemented and completed by the beauty of the surrounding ceiling whether it be fan, barrel or rib-vaulted, highly ornate stone work, or painted wood. It is the context in which the organ is placed and the harmony of the whole that creates the magical effect.
Jenny Setchell has captured a variety of thrilling organ façades and crowning glory ceilings; some as old as that in Breda Grote Kerk in the Netherlands which dates back to 1534, through the 18th-century joys of the exuberant baroque era in Bavaria, up to modern instruments built only in the last few decades such as in Willibrordi Cathedral, Wesel. Organ builders over the centuries and in different countries have found creative and artistic solutions to the strictures of architectural styles when installing or rebuilding these glorious structures so that they would harmonise with their surroundings, as well as making the music that is their reason for being.
The result is brought together in this fascinating and beautiful book.

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Looking Up at Organs and Ceilings
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St Famille, Boucherville, Quebec
Casavant organ in Ste-Famille, Boucherville
Berliner Dom
Berlin Cathedral organ and ceiling
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Reviews

Latest review (in German)
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"The Ultimate organist's Coffee table book"

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review by John Henderson on the Royal School of Church Music website (and CMQ):

DEM HIMMEL NAHE: LOOKING UP at organs and ceilings
Jenny Setchell 
Dr J. Butz: 64pp. H/B 9783928412170 €18.00
http://butz-verlag.de 
A lack of foreign languages does not hinder enjoyment of this book published in Germany, for the preface is in English, German and French and the remaining 59 pages are full-page photographs. 
New Zealander Jenny Setchell will be known to some CMQ readers for her entertaining book of organists’ anecdotes, Organ-isms (incidentally now in an inexpensive Kindle edition). The worldwide recital tours of her concert-organist husband Martin have enabled Jenny to indulge her passion and expertise in photography documenting stunning organs and ceilings. Each photograph depicts an instrument and the ceiling above it. In most cases it is really the ceilings and architecture that catch the eye, wonderful though the instruments may be. The English title ‘Looking Up at Organs and Ceilings’ seems somewhat pedestrian for such marvellous works of art – the French ‘Tuyaux Sonores: Près du ciel’ is much more evocative. 
The origin of the book does not imply that all the photographs are of German organs, indeed less than half are, and the sharp-eyed will spot Chester Cathedral on the back cover of the book. Ten further British churches and cathedrals are also included. 
A modestly priced book, ideal for a Christmas present.
Check out "Dem Himmel nahe" from Butz's website