Notre Dame

de Paris

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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 Thierry 1783: Francois-Henri Clicquot 1812 : Pierre-Francois Dallery 1838 : Louis-Paul Dallery 1868 et 1894 : Aristide Cavaille-Coll 1904 : 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 : …

V/113 - electrical/digital traction - stoplist

Description of console

Video of the organ loft and console

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 During the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV, the cathedral was much altered, as Gothic style was considered outdated.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! Unfortunately, the devastating fire of April, 15, 2019 did damage the home of this organ very badly. It will be closed at least until April, 2024.

Photo: Jeroen de Haan 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. 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. In 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. In the years 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. In 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 In 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 33 stops are from before the revolution, around 50 are from Cavaillé-Coll. This organ is superb! Together with the great acoustiscs of this cathedral, the organ sounds incredibly beautiful and its power goes beyond all imagination. April, 15, 2019 A very, very black day in the history of Paris, France and the world: Notre-Dame-de-Paris is severly damaged by a great fire. Thanks to the waterproof stone vault and firewall, the great organ did not suffer! The pipes could have melted in the fire, they are only filled with lead dust. It will take four years to disassemble, clean and reassemble.

The old console of Cavaillé-Coll (stored in the south tower)

Organiste titulaire Vincent Dubois, Olivier Latry, Philippe Lefebvre Organiste titulaire émérite: Jean-Pierre Leguay 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. Videos Olivier Latry Vincent Dubois Johan Vexo Philippe Lefebvre Jean-Pierre Leguay Pierre Moreau Audio Léonce de Saint-Martin Interview 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.

Pierre COCHEREAU at the beginning of his career at NDP (since 1955)

Inauguration of the restored Great Organ, 1868

Drawing by Viollet-le-Duc

The old case of the positif, removed by Violet-le-Duc

Organs of Paris

Notre Dame

de Paris

6 Parvis Notre-Dame , 75004 Paris

Orgue de tribune OdC >

V/113 - electrical/digital traction - stoplist

Description of console

Video of the organ loft and console

Photo: Jeroen de Haan 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. 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. In 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. In the years 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. In 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 In 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 33 stops are from before the revolution, around 50 are from Cavaillé-Coll. This organ is superb! Together with the great acoustiscs of this cathedral, the organ sounds incredibly beautiful and its power goes beyond all imagination. April, 15, 2019 A very, very black day in the history of Paris, France and the world: Notre-Dame-de-Paris is severly damaged by a great fire. Thanks to the waterproof stone vault and firewall, the great organ did not suffer! The pipes could have melted in the fire, they are only filled with lead dust. It will take four years to disassemble, clean and reassemble.