COMPOSITION 1933
The second enlargment of the organ
Just after 1945), a part of the roof of the organ case was taken away and
replaced by a sound board placed approx. 1 meter above the case to
improve to sound of the Swell in the church.
Between 1956 and 1962, a drastic renovation of the organ was realized
under the supervision of Jean Langlais, which adapted the organ more
or less to the neo-baroque ideas of that time. These works were
performed again by the Beuchet-Debierre-company.
THE NEW CONSOLE
Photo’s : Jean Mons
THE ORGAN OF JEAN LANGLAIS
The works included:
•
Replacement of the mechanical action of the keyboards and stops by an
electro-pneumatical traction
•
All wind facilities were altered, including the cancellation of the division of
windpressures in the Great and (probably) the Positif.
•
A new console was installed with pistons and a crescendo pedal*
•
Changes in the stoplist:
Grand-Orgue
. the octave 4' was replaced by a Flûte 4' (perhaps this was done in 1933)
. the Cornet was newly made and place on a additionale windchest
. the resultant of 16’ of the Plein-jeu was silenced
Positif
. the Viole de gambe was replaced by a Larigot 1 1/3'
. the Flûte Octaviante 4 was cut 'on tone'.
Récit
. on the windchest of 1933: + Clairon 2’** + Principal italien 4'
. the Flûte Octaviante 4 was cut 'on tone'
. reharmonisation of the Octavin 2’
Pedal
. the additional windchest of 1933 was modified to house three new stops
Prestant 4', Doublette 2' and Bourdon 8' (replacing the Quinte).
•
Reharmonisation of the organ (by Jacques Picaud)***
* the old keyboards were reutilized in the new organ of Saint-Louis-de-Vincennes (Denis Lacorre,
2016). Source: L'orgue Denis Lacorre de l'église Saint-Louis-de-Vincennes. Naga-Infoigrapie, 2017.
** According to Marie-Louise Langlais (video), her husband had heard the Clairon 2 of the organ of
the Tabernacle of Salt Lake City, Utah (USA). He was impressed by it and wanted to have a full
range of reeds (16-8-4-2) on the Swell of the organ of Sainte-Clotilde.
*** Unfortunately, there are no data on the actions of Beuchet-Debierre concerning the
reharmonisation, but there can be no doubt this renovation changed the sound of the organ
severely. The following stops of Cavaillé-Coll were not present anymore or heavily modified:
- Octave 4 (Great); in 1933 replaced by a flûte 4
- Gambe 8 (Pos); removed in 1962
- Flute octaviante 4 (Pos and Swell); shortened in 1933
- Clairon 4 (Pos and Swell); fis2-f3 replaced by labial pipes
Maintenance works in 1983 by Jacques Barberis
Besides the normal maintenance tasks, some modifications were carried out:
•
the Clarinette of the Swell returned to its original place at the Positif and
the Tierce and Piccolo were subsequently placed on a separate electro-
pneumatic windchest.
•
the console was modified too to create a solid-state stop action with
multiple channels of memory and an adjustable crescendo pedal.
Maintenance works in 1995 by Maison Hédelin
Around 1995, la Maison Hédelin installed an electronic Setzer and did some
mainenance works without any modifications.
THE GREAT ORGAN 4/5
the organ of Franck - the organ of Tournemire - the organ of Langlais - the organ of Taddei
RECORDINGS
César Franck
Choral I
Choral II
Choral III
Feike Asma, Sainte Clotilde, 1964
Source
César Franck
Complete recordings
Jean Langlais, Sainte Clotilde, 1963
Next concert
21 • 09 • 2024, 5 PM
Olivier Penin (titulaire)