TopThe Chamadron
Who is Cees Roubos?
Cornelis Roubos was born in Leiden on december 2nd 1955. He received his qualification as organist at the Royal conservatory of Music in The Hague and his qualification as pianist after passing the examinations from the State of the Netherlands. He is active as church-organist in Zweeloo and accompanist for several choirs in South-East Drenthe. Cees also gives piano and organ lessons at the 'Musikschule Niedergrafschaft' in Uelsen (BRD).
As a young boy he dreamed of the Mediaeval 'Turm-musik', fanfare music that was played from the top of towers and sounding far over the fields. Since the eighties he has endeavored to realize his dream. He has invented a musical instrument and has called it the 'Chamadron'. It has been built, at considerable cost to Cees, who has spent since 1988 more then a year's salary, by De Wit's organ builders in Nieuw Vennep.
How the Chamadron works
The Chamadron is an organ-like instrument with 50 copper pipes. In 1988 it was installed in the tower of the church in Havelte (Drenthe). In 1996 the instrument was completely revised. The technical concept was perfected.
The pipes vary in length from 10 to 230 cm (25.4 in - 57 ft) The pipes with the wind-chest are constructed on rails. In that way the pipes can be rolled through the louver-holes of the church tower so that they are able to sound far over the landscape. The pitch is a' = 440 Hz and well-tempered, but one can quickly realise an other (older) pitch. The organ has a manual and a pedal. The manual's range is from C to g'''. The pedal has 31 keys: from B' to f'. This is exceptional. A traditional organ pedal begins, as the manual does, at C.
The name 'Chamadron' comes from the word 'chamade', which originally was a stop on Spanish-Portuguese organs.
Mediaeval fanfare music is supurbly suitable for the instrument. The search for suitable repertory for the Chamadron is continuing. Cees has uncovered music from later centuries and has (personally) financed the composure of music specially written for the instrument by Johann Th. Lemckert. Cees Roubos achieved an unique position in the history of music in constructing a new instrument that is perfectly in tune with old traditions. In the landscape of sounds (quoting his brochure) he "carries us back to the times when trumpets were sounding and hunters were blowing their horns in stead of cars honking and hooligans howling. The Chamadron deafens wailing whining whistles and shrill sirens with fuge-fantasies and sparkling sonatas."
Back to the silence of the past
Since 1988 Cees has been playing his Chamadron every Saturday afternoon from 4 to 5, beginning the season on the Saturday before Whit Sunday, through the summer months, and ending on the last Saturday in September.
The 'Chamadron' surprises the tourist with it's music pouring forth from the old church-tower. The sight of the 50 copper trumpet-pipes protruding from the louver holes, sending their sonorous sound over the fields, is in harmony with the surroundings. The sound of the instrument, which in the lower region reminds one of the sound of the Krummhorn, recalls the atmosphere of ancient times.
Annual program
The annual program will soon be shown on this website.
Guestchamadronists
The list with guestchamadronists will soon be shown on this website.
Media
Contact
Francis Vos
- Benterdijk 3
- 7751 RV Dalen
- The Netherlands
- Tel.: 0524-514107
Route
The Chamadron can be found between Havelte and Uffelte in the N.H. Kerk. In Havelte you can follow the signs to the Chamadron.
Stichting Vrienden van het Chamadron
- Postbus 43
- 7760 AA Schoonebeek
- The Netherlands
- Tel. 00 49 59 43 73 54