My Unda Maris students visit the Casparini organ

Last Monday our organ studio "Unda Maris" from Vilnius University visited 1776 Adam Gottlob Casparini organ at the Holy Ghost church in Vilnius.

When we went into the church we heard the organ already playing - the organist of this church Romualdas Seniut practiced some pieces of Bach.

We went to the organ through the unrestored 18th century courtyard. Romualdas was really surprised to see us because he didn't hear us coming - he was deep into the music.

Afterwards we chatted friendly with him about this important organ for the entire Europe. I briefly demonstrated the functioning stops and Romualdas kindly let our studio members to play.

Gina practiced some exercises from my Organ Playing Master Course Level 1. Vadim remembered his own organ arrangement from the video game he likes to play, Andrius - improvised some really colorful sounds, and Mindaugas - performed from memory the Communion by Beethoven.

At the end of our visit just before the mass started we took the above picture. From the left - Romualdas Seniut, and members of the studio Gina Jagelaviciute (she is from the administration of the university), Vadim Gerasimov (an engineer and an alumnus of the university), Andrius Macenas (student of Mathematics), and Mindaugas Dulkys (student of Chemistry).

I will remind my readers that in this Casparini organ only 4 stops can be played on the 2nd manual - the unrestored Principal 4', Flauto Major 8', Flauto Minor 4', and reconstructed Vox Humana 8'. Because Vox Humana is rarely used and tuned these days we had to do without it.

But even the remaining 3 stops, authentic smell of the church, and the general feeling transported us into the times when Casparini from Konigsberg in the former East Prussia and his team with some local masters walked in Vilnius and left this priceless cultural monument, the restoration process of which because of various reasons is currently stuck for quite some time now.