Join Joe Marchio as he pedals his way through the pipe organs of Paris, Chartres, London, and Norwich. At our first stop in Paris, Joe will demonstrate the great organ in the American Cathedral and we will have an up-close look at this magnificent king of instruments.

 

We will take a day trip to Chartres to visit its cathedral,  described by Goethe as "Architecture being frozen music . . . to experience the rhythms of both we need to be present." The Gothic cathedral rises from the plain, saying  “Notice me”, and is known for its height, stained glass windows, and its pipe organ. Its presence is alive.

 

We will attend a vesper organ recital at Notre Dame and also mass at Saint Sulpice, followed by a recital. We have set aside the good part of a day to visit Musee d’Orsay, which recently was dubbed the best museum in the world.  It is such a beautiful building (an old rail station) and is filled with the most wide-ranging works of phenomenal art. It has a pretty good café, too!

 

From Paris, we will take the Chunnel train–a mere two and one-half hour ride–to London, and then another train to the smaller, more navigable town of Norwich in Norfolk, England. The organ master at the Norwich Cathedral is a musician who was at the College of Wooster where Joe received his undergraduate degree. He isn’t giving Joe completely full rein of the organ there, but we will be able to spend a lot of time in that Cathedral, learning the ways of that pipe organ. During the time we’re in Norwich, the Norfolk & Norwich Festival will also be in full swing, presenting all sorts of arts:  music, dance, literature, circus acts and more.

 

Before heading home, we’ll stay one night in London and hopefully catch a concert there.

 

In Paris, we will stay at the Novotel Paris Les Halles, near the right bank, but almost directly opposite the Ile de la Cite, where Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle are located. In Norwich, we will stay at the Assembly House. In London, we’ll stay at the Chesterfield Mayfair.

 

The activity level of this trip is easy to moderate, meaning that you should be able to walk at least 1 hour at a moderate pace.