ORGANS OF PARIS © 2023 Vincent Hildebrandt HOME ALL ORGANS
D5
The organcase of Saint Etienne du Mont dates from 1633 and
was built by Jean Buron. It is a real masterpiece and perhaps
the most beautiful organ case in Paris and the oldest case
which is preserved completely. It originally housed an
instrument of about thirty stops and 4 keyboards of 48 notes
and pedal of 32 notes (!) built by Pierre Pescheur. Some of the
16th century piping has been reused.
In 1656, work was carried out by Jean De Heman and Pierre
Desenclos.
In 1717, Julien Tribuot restored the five wedge-shaped
bellows and added Flute stops to the Pedal.
In 1760, the organ was damaged by a fire. In 1766, Somer
began the restoration. After his death in 1771, it was
François-Henri Cliquot who took over the work, which was
not completed until 1777. The range of the keyboards was
increased from 48 to 50 notes, the windchest of the Positif as
well as the wind tunnel and mechanics were rebuilt. The
reeds were rebuilt, a new oboe placed in the Positive, the
Trumpet of the Swell replaced by an oboe and a Bombarde
16' added to the pedal.
In 1863-1873, the organ was rebuilt by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.
The number of keyboards was reduced to three, including a
completely new Récit of 42 notes. A 16' Bombarde was added
to the Great Organ. The organ then included 39 stops.
In 1911, Théodore Puget performed an overhaul, enlarged
the Récit to 50 notes and added 5 combination pedals and in
1922, he electrified the wind tunnel.
In 1956, Beuchet-Debierre rebuilt and radically enlarged the
instrument in a neo-classical style, under the supervision of
its titulaire Maurice Duruflé. The organ was increased to 87
stops on four keyboards and pedalboard. About thirty stops
including those of the Pedal are located outside the buffet.
The transmission of keyboards and stops was electrified and
a new detached console was placed on the north side gallery.
In 1975, Gonzalez reharmonized the organ (by Jacques
Bertrand) and added two stops.
In 1991, the organ was restored by Bernard Dargassies with
some alterations of harmony, in consultation with Marie
Madeleine Duruflé.
In 2012 Dargassies carried out an overhaul.
The Great Organ of the church of St-Etienne-du-Mont now
has 89 stops (83 real) and it is controlled from an electric
console of 4 keyboards, installed on a side stand by Victor
Gonzalez, the old console between the buffet of the Great
and the back positive having been removed.
39 stops date from before the revolution, but they are
severely modified (only 7 stops are still located on their
original place); 6 stops date from Cavaillé-Coll.
Eugène Atget, 1912
Photo of the church: Charles Aknin
St-Etienne-du-Mont was built between 1492 and 1626
as the chapel of an abbey dedicated to the patroness
of Paris, St. Geneviève. A chapel contains a reliquary,
though her bones were burned during the revolution.
The site itself is much older, dating back to the 6th
century , when Clovis (466-511) founded the abbey.
Remains of the ancient abbey, situated south of the
church, comprise the Tour de Clovis (Tower of Clovis,
lower part 11th century), the cloister (15th century)
and the reflectory (1220), which are now part of the
Lycée Henri IV.
The church displays a mixture of Renaissance and
Gothic styles. The vaults of the apse were built in 1491,
the chancel in 1537, the gallery in 1545 and the vaults
of the nave and the transept were finished in 1580.
The portal was built in 1610 and the bell tower in 1624.
In particular the rood screen (jubé, probably by Pierre
Beaucorps in 1530) crossing the nave like a bridge with
spiral staircases on either side is an unique feature of
the church, being the only rood screen which survived
in Paris. The wood pulpit (1651) is supported by
Samson with a jawbone in hand and slain lion at his
feet. The fourth chapel on the right from the entrance
contains 16th-century stained glass. Mid-19th century,
the chapelle des cathéchismes was added.
Photo : Thibault Hoch (facebook)
Photos : Ralph Gho (facebook)
1636 - Pescheur (1)
1656 - Jean de Héman/Pierre Désenclos (6)
1679 - J. Carouge (6)
1717 - J. Tribuot (6)
1766-77 - Somer/Clicquot (5)
1863-73 - Cavaillé-Coll (3a)
1911 - Puget (5)
1928 - Koenig (6)
1956 - Beuchet-Debierre (3a)
1975 - Gonzalez (3a)
1992 - Dargassies (5)
2012 - Dargassies (6)
IV/89 (83) - traction électrique
composition
Organiste titulaire
Thierry Escaisch & Vincent Warnier
Famous organists in the past: Guillaume Lasceux (1774-
1819), Maurice Duruflé (1929-1986), Marie-Madeleine
Duruflé-Chevalier ( 1947-1996).
Concerts
Occasionnelly
Masses with organ
Saturday 6:45 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM and 6:45 PM
Videos
Thierry Escaich: 4 improvisations
Vincent Warnier: improvisation
Pétur Sakari: improvisation
Pétur Sakari: Louis Vierne (Allegro Symphony 2)
Pétur Sakari: Jehan Alain (Litanies)
Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier à l'Orgue de l'église
Saint-Etienne du Mont à Paris. Enregistré en 1961.
Marie-Madeleine Duruflé Chevalier à l'orgue de l'église
Saint-Etienne du Mont à Paris. enregistré en 1991.
Photo buffet : Jeroen de Haan
Photos : Ralph Gho (facebook)
The organs of Paris
ORGANS OF PARIS © 2023 Vincent Hildebrandt ALL ORGANS
D5
The organcase of Saint Etienne du Mont dates from 1633
and was built by Jean Buron. It is a real masterpiece and
perhaps the most beautiful organ case in Paris and the
oldest case which is preserved completely. It originally
housed an instrument of about thirty stops and 4 keyboards
of 48 notes and pedal of 32 notes (!) built by Pierre
Pescheur. Some of the 16th century piping has been reused.
In 1656, work was carried out by Jean De Heman and Pierre
Desenclos.
In 1717, Julien Tribuot restored the five wedge-shaped
bellows and added Flute stops to the Pedal.
In 1760, the organ was damaged by a fire. In 1766, Somer
began the restoration. After his death in 1771, it was
François-Henri Cliquot who took over the work, which was
not completed until 1777. The range of the keyboards was
increased from 48 to 50 notes, the windchest of the Positif
as well as the wind tunnel and mechanics were rebuilt. The
reeds were rebuilt, a new oboe placed in the Positive, the
Trumpet of the Swell replaced by an oboe and a Bombarde
16' added to the pedal.
In 1863-1873, the organ was rebuilt by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.
The number of keyboards was reduced to three, including a
completely new Récit of 42 notes. A 16' Bombarde was
added to the Great Organ. The organ then included 39
stops.
In 1911, Théodore Puget performed an overhaul, enlarged
the Récit to 50 notes and added 5 combination pedals and
in 1922, he electrified the wind tunnel.
In 1956, Beuchet-Debierre rebuilt and radically enlarged the
instrument in a neo-classical style, under the supervision of
its titulaire Maurice Duruflé. The organ was increased to 87
stops on four keyboards and pedalboard. About thirty stops
including those of the Pedal are located outside the buffet.
The transmission of keyboards and stops was electrified and
a new detached console was placed on the north side
gallery.
In 1975, Gonzalez reharmonized the organ (by Jacques
Bertrand) and added two stops.
In 1991, the organ was restored by Bernard Dargassies with
some alterations of harmony, in consultation with Marie
Madeleine Duruflé.
In 2012 Dargassies carried out an overhaul.
The Great Organ of the church of St-Etienne-du-Mont now
has 89 stops (83 real) and it is controlled from an electric
console of 4 keyboards, installed on a side stand by Victor
Gonzalez, the old console between the buffet of the Great
and the back positive having been removed.
39 stops date from before the revolution, but they are
severely modified (only 7 stops are still located on their
original place); 6 stops date from Cavaillé-Coll.
Organiste titulaire
Thierry Escaich & Vincent Warnier
Famous organists in the past: Guillaume Lasceux (1774-
1819), Maurice Duruflé (1929-1986), Marie-Madeleine
Duruflé-Chevalier ( 1947-1996).
Concerts
Ocasionally
Masses with organ
Saturday 6.45 PM Sunday 11.00 AM, 6.45 PM Videos Thierry Escaich: 4 improvisations Vincent Warnier: improvisation Pétur Sakari: improvisation Pétur Sakari: Louis Vierne (Allegro Symphony 2) Pétur Sakari: Jehan Alain (Litanies)
Photo : Thibault Hoch (facebook)
1636 - Pescheur (1)
1656 - Jean de Héman/Pierre Désenclos (6)
1679 - J. Carouge (6)
1717 - J. Tribuot (6)
1766-77 - Somer/Clicquot (5)
1863-73 - Cavaillé-Coll (3a)
1911 - Puget (5)
1928 - Koenig (6)
1956 - Beuchet-Debierre (3a)
1975 - Gonzalez (3a)
1992 - Dargassies (5)
2012 - Dargassies (6)