ORGANS OF PARIS © 2024 Vincent Hildebrandt HOME ALL ORGANS
This masterpiece of early-Gotic architecture was built
between 1163-1345, replacing a Merovingian
Cathedral, St. Stephen. During the reigns of Louis XIV
and Louis XV, the cathedral was much altered, as
Gothic style was considered outdated. During the
revolution, many of the treasures of the cathedral
were destroyed. The cathedral's organ and great bell
Emmanuel (15 th century) managed to avoid being
destructed.
The badly damaged cathedral was restored in 1845-
1870 by Lassus and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. In fact,
quite a few parts of the present cathedral do originate
from the 19th century! From 1991 onwards, a major
program of maintenance and restoration has been
carried out. In the future, new and comprehensive
restoration works have to be carried out. Both its
exterior and its interior are overwhelming - a
maginifcent housing for its organ!
The devastating fire of April 15, 2019 severely
damaged the building. In 2020, it was decided to
rebuild the destroyed or severely damaged parts
identically. Notre-Dame is scheduled to reopen to the
public on December 8, 2024.
The first instrument is mentioned as early as 1357. In
1403, a new organ is built. Till 1730, there is a history of
many transformations and extensions.
1730-1733
The present organ originates from a new organ
constructed by François Thierry in 1730-33. This
instrument was renovated and extended in 1783-88 by
François-Henri Clicquot.
1864-68
The positive was taken away by Violet le Duc (it is still
stored somewhere in the cathedral) and the Clicquot
organ was transformed into a symphonic organ by
Cavaillé-Coll. He introduced a novelty here by extending
the harmonics using a 7th and its octaves.
1959 - 1968
The instrument was electrified , extended and
reharmonized par Jean Hermann and Robert Boisseau
under the direction of Pierre Cochereau and lost its
symphonic character.
1990-92
A large-scale restoration was carried out by Boisseau &
Cattiaux, Emeriau, Giroud, returning the organ to its
symphonic character of the 19th century, while
maintaining the classical 32' grand choeur as
reconstructed in the past century.
Video: Point 'd Orgue
2012-2014
The organ was restorated again and enlarged by Bertrand
Cattiaux and Pascal Quoirin. They installed a new
computer traction, repaired the sunken pipes, cleaned the
organ and modified the "small pedal" into a ‘resonnance’
board. A register system motorized by high-pressure
pneumatic actuators was supplied to replace Cavaille-
Coll's action stop ties and the pneumatic stop tie
machines were completely restored.
Video Montage and rénovation
April 15, 2019
A very, very dark day in the history of Paris, France and
the world: Notre-Dame-de-Paris is seriously damaged by a
great fire. Thanks to the watertight and fireproof stone
vault, the great organ did not suffer! The pipes were only
filled with lead dust.
2019-2024
The windchests were cleaned at the Quirin workshop in
Saint-Didier and restored by the Manufacture
Languedocienne des Grandes Orgues in Lodève (Hérault).
Spared by the fire but covered with soot and lead dust,
the pipes have been completely renovated in the Cattiaux-
Chevron workshop in Liourdres in Corrèze.
After the completion of the restoration of the organ at the
end of 2022, the reassembly of the instrument in the west
gallery of the cathedral began in early 2023 and starting at
the beginning of 2024, each of the 8,000 pipes (completely
renovated by Cattiaux-Chevron) was harmonized and
tuned separately.
33 stops are from before the revolution, around 50 are from
Cavaillé-Coll.
Maurice Duruflé:
... placed an a dais situated in the middle of a spacious
organ loft with thé immense nave of the cathedral in het
organist's view. Like a ship's captain on the bridge, he
takes in the great open sea. It is an absolutely
intoxicating experience.
(L'Orgue, no 162, april-june 1977)
Louis Vierne:
At Notre Dame, with the console about seven feet out
from the case, the player hears the sound directly and in
all its power. It is a joy seldom experienced elsewhere.
1402 : Frederic Schambantz
1415 : Jean Chahancel
1458: Jean Bourdon
1476 Jean Robelin
1540: Pasquier Bauldry
1564 : Nicolas Dabenei
1609 et 1620 : Valeran de Hewn
1636 et 1646: Pierre Thierry
1672 : Jacques Carouge
1691: Alexandre Thierry, Hippolyie Ducastel
1699 : Jean Bessart
1733 : Francois Thierry1783: Francois-Henri Clicquot
1812 : Pierre-Francois Dallery
1838 : Louis-Paul Dallery
1868 et 1894 : Aristide Cavaille-Coll1904 : Charles Mutin
1932 : Societe Cavaille-Coll, Joseph Beuchet
1963 : Jean Hermann
1966: Robert Boisseau
1975 : Jean-Loup Boisseau
1992 : Boisseau, Cattiaux, Emeriau, Giroud,
Societe Synaptel
2014 : Bertrand Cattiaux, Pascal Quoirin
2024 : Cattiaux-Chevron, Quoirin, Sarelot
V/113 - transmission électrique/numériques -
composition
La console
Organistes titulaires
Organistes titulaires :
Olivier Latry, Vincent Dubois et Thierry Escaich
Organiste titulaire adjoint :
Thibault Fajoles
Organiste titulaire of the choir organ:
Yves Castagnet
Organistes titulaires émérites:
Jean-Pierre Leguay et Philippe Lefebvre
Famous organists in the past: Louis-Claude Daquin,
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre, Nicolas Séjan, Jean-Jacques
Beauvarlet Charpentier, Louis Vierne, Léonce de Saint-
Martin, Pierre Cochereau.
Masses with grand-orgue
at St-Germain l'Auxerrois (until 1 december 2024) :
Saturday 6:30 pm, Sunday 10:00, 11:30 am, 6:30 pm
see also: messes with the choir organ
Concerts
Each Sunday, 5 pm (starting 15 december 2024)
Videos
Olivier Latry
Vincent Dubois
Johan Vexo
Philippe Lefebvre
Jean-Pierre Leguay
Pierre Moreau
Video of the tribune and the console
Audio Léonce de Saint-Martin Interview Photo GO: Jeroen de Haan Photos console: Victor Weller
Organs of Paris
ORGANS OF PARIS © 2024 Vincent Hildebrandt ALL ORGANS
Maurice Duruflé:
... placed an a dais situated in the middle of a spacious
organ loft with thé immense nave of the cathedral in het
organist's view. Like a ship's captain on the bridge, he
takes in the great open sea. It is an absolutely
intoxicating experience.
(L'Orgue, no 162, april-june 1977)
Louis Vierne:
At Notre Dame, with the console about seven feet out
from the case, the player hears the sound directly and in
all its power. It is a joy seldom experienced elsewhere.
The first instrument is mentioned as early as 1357. In 1403,
a new organ is built. Till 1730, there is a history of many
transformations and extensions.
1730-1733
The present organ originates from a new organ constructed
by François Thierry in 1730-33. This instrument was
renovated and extended in 1783-88 by François-Henri
Clicquot.
1864-68
The positive was taken away by Violet le Duc (it is still stored
somewhere in the cathedral) and the Clicquot organ was
transformed into a symphonic organ by Cavaillé-Coll. He
introduced a novelty here by extending the harmonics using
a 7th and its octaves.
1959 - 1968
The instrument was electrified , extended and
reharmonized par Jean Hermann and Robert Boisseau
under the direction of Pierre Cochereau and lost its
symphonic character.
1990-92
A large-scale restoration was carried out by Boisseau &
Cattiaux, Emeriau, Giroud, returning the organ to its
symphonic character of the 19th century, while maintaining
the classical 32' grand choeur as reconstructed in the past
century.
Video: Point 'd Orgue
2012-2014
The organ was restorated again and enlarged by Bertrand
Cattiaux and Pascal Quoirin. They installed a new computer
traction, repaired the sunken pipes, cleaned the organ and
modified the "small pedal" into a ‘resonnance’ board. A
register system motorized by high-pressure pneumatic
actuators was supplied to replace Cavaille-Coll's action stop
ties and the pneumatic stop tie machines were completely
restored.
Video Montage and rénovation
April 15, 2019
A very, very dark day in the history of Paris, France and the
world: Notre-Dame-de-Paris is seriously damaged by a great
fire. Thanks to the watertight and fireproof stone vault, the
great organ did not suffer! The pipes were only filled with
lead dust.
2019-2024
The windchests were cleaned at the Quirin workshop in
Saint-Didier and restored by the Manufacture
Languedocienne des Grandes Orgues in Lodève (Hérault).
Spared by the fire but covered with soot and lead dust, the
pipes have been completely renovated in the Cattiaux-
Chevron workshop in Liourdres in Corrèze.
After the completion of the restoration of the organ at the
end of 2022, the reassembly of the instrument in the west
gallery of the cathedral began in early 2023 and starting at
the beginning of 2024, each of the 8,000 pipes (completely
renovated by Cattiaux-Chevron) was harmonized and tuned
separately.
33 stops are from before the revolution, around 50 are from
Cavaillé-Coll.
1402 : Frederic Schambantz
1415 : Jean Chahancel
1458: Jean Bourdon
1476 Jean Robelin
1540: Pasquier Bauldry
1564 : Nicolas Dabenei
1609 et 1620 : Valeran de Hewn
1636 et 1646: Pierre Thierry
1672 : Jacques Carouge
1691: Alexandre Thierry, Hippolyie Ducastel
1699 : Jean Bessart
1733 : Francois Thierry1783: Francois-Henri Clicquot
1812 : Pierre-Francois Dallery
1838 : Louis-Paul Dallery
1868 et 1894 : Aristide Cavaille-Coll1904 : Charles Mutin
1932 : Societe Cavaille-Coll, Joseph Beuchet
1963 : Jean Hermann
1966: Robert Boisseau
1975 : Jean-Loup Boisseau
1992 : Boisseau, Cattiaux, Emeriau, Giroud,
Societe Synaptel
2014 : Bertrand Cattiaux, Pascal Quoirin
2024 : Cattiaux-Chevron, Quoirin, Sarelot
V/113 - transmission électrique/numériques -
composition
La console
Organistes titulaires
Organistes titulaires :
Olivier Latry, Vincent Dubois et Thierry Escaich
Organiste titulaire adjoint :
Thibault Fajoles
Organiste titulaire of the choir organ:
Yves Castagnet
Organistes titulaires émérites:
Jean-Pierre Leguay et Philippe Lefebvre
Famous organists in the past: Louis-Claude Daquin, Claude-
Bénigne Balbastre, Nicolas Séjan, Jean-Jacques Beauvarlet
Charpentier, Louis Vierne, Léonce de Saint-Martin, Pierre
Cochereau.
Masses with grand-orgue
at St-Germain l'Auxerrois (until 1 december 2024) :
Saturday 6:30 pm, Sunday 10:00, 11:30 am, 6:30 pm
see also: messes with the choir organ
Concerts
Each Sunday, 5 pm (starting 15 december 2024)
Videos
Olivier Latry
Vincent Dubois
Johan Vexo
Philippe Lefebvre
Jean-Pierre Leguay
Pierre Moreau