Saint Germain

des Prés

1, place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 75006 Paris

Orgue de tribune OdC >

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the oldest church in Paris, dating to the 6th century, when a Benedictine abbey was founded by Childebert, son of Clovis. During the Middle Ages, the abbey was very powerful. The Normans destroyed the abbey several times. Only the marble columns in the triforium remain from the original structure. The abbey was completely destroyed during the Revolution, but the church was spared and rebuilt in the 19th century; only one of the 3 original Romanesque belfries remained. The present building is a fine example of Romanesque architecture, in particular its tower and nave. The choir is Gothic. For a time, the abbey was a pantheon for Merovingian kings. Many of them were buried in the Chapelle de St- Symphorien, which was restored in 1981. The colorful 19th-century frescoes in the nave are by Hippolyte Flandrin, a pupil of the classical master Ingres. Romanesque paintings were discovered on the triumphal arch in the 1981 restorations. The present classicising portal was built in 1606. The choir provides an early example of flying buttresses.

A5 In 1805, the parish of Saint-Germain acquired the organ of the abbey of Saint-Victor. The old organ of Pierre and Alexandre Thierry (1667) had been dismantled in 1798 and transferred to Saint-Eustache where it burned in 1844. The organ of the Abbey of Saint-Victor was built by Alexandre in 1679 (30/IV). It was renovated by Louis-Alexandre Clicquot around 1759 and François-Henri Clicquot in 1772-1779. It was installed in Saint-Germain-des-Prés between 1805 and 1810 by Antoine and Louis Somer. The buffet was rebuilt to fit the St Germain grandstand and the low vault. The instrumental part of Thierry and Clicquot was generally preserved. It was overhauled by Louis Callinet in 1829 (with the addition of some stops). It was completely rebuilt by Jean-Baptiste Stoltz in 1862 in the large buffet, without the Positive. The tribune was rebuilt by the architect Baltard. The symphonic style organ was distributed over three keyboards and pedalboard (47 stops). The Positive was placed at the back of the New Expressive Swell , making it itself expressive. In 1922-27, the organ was again completely rebuilt by Joseph Gutschenritter, under the direction of André Marchal who modified the composition towards a neo-classical aesthetic. In 1970-1973 Haerpfer-Erman built a new instrument in a French neo-classical style, incorporating 10 old stops and restoring the Back Positive. In 1991 an overhaul and in 004-2005 a restoration by Yves Fossaert. The buffet of the GO dates from 1810, that of the positive from 1973. The statues that surmount the case are the only remains of the organ of St Victor Abbey. 4 stops come from the old organ of St Victor Abbey, 17 stops come from the Somer organ, 19 stops are new. This organ is unique in Paris in the sense that it is built in a neo- classical style privileging not German music, but the music of the French classical organ, while allowing the performance of symphonic music on the great expressive Swell. The church has excellent acoustics.

Organiste titulaire Anne-Marie Blondel, Jean-Paul Serra Famous organists in the past: Antoine Calvière, J.M. Beauvarlet-Charpentier, Augustin Barié, André Marchal, André Isoir. Concerts Each 4th Sunday of the month, 3.30 PM Masses with organ Saturday 7.00 PM Sunday 11.00 AM Video Jean Luc Ho Photo: Jeroen de Haan

1679 - Alexandre Thierry (1) 1759 - Louis-Alexandre Clicquot (6) 1772 - François-Henri Clicquot (5) 1810 - Antoine et Louis Somer (5) 1829 - Louis Callinet (5) 1864 - Stolz (3a) 1927 - Gutenschenritter (3a) 1973 - Haerpfer-Ermann (3a) 1991 - Yves Fossaert (6) 2005 - Yves Fossaert (5)

IV/56 - traction mécanique

composition

The rgan of the Abbey of St Victor (Positif) Source

The old organ of Saint-Germain-des-Prés after his transfer to Saint-Eustache (parismusescollctions.paris.fr)

The organs of Paris

Saint Germain

des Prés

1, place Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 75006 Paris

Orgue de tribune OdC >

A5 In 1805, the parish of Saint-Germain acquired the organ of the abbey of Saint-Victor. The old organ of Pierre and Alexandre Thierry (1667) had been dismantled in 1798 and transferred to Saint-Eustache where it burned in 1844. The organ of the Abbey of Saint-Victor was built by Alexandre in 1679 (30/IV). It was renovated by Louis- Alexandre Clicquot around 1759 and François-Henri Clicquot in 1772-1779. It was installed in Saint-Germain-des- Prés between 1805 and 1810 by Antoine and Louis Somer. The buffet was rebuilt to fit the St Germain grandstand and the low vault. The instrumental part of Thierry and Clicquot was generally preserved. It was overhauled by Louis Callinet in 1829 (with the addition of some stops). It was completely rebuilt by Jean-Baptiste Stoltz in 1862 in the large buffet, without the Positive. The tribune was rebuilt by the architect Baltard. The symphonic style organ was distributed over three keyboards and pedalboard (47 stops). The Positive was placed at the back of the New Expressive Swell , making it itself expressive. In 1922-27, the organ was again completely rebuilt by Joseph Gutschenritter, under the direction of André Marchal who modified the composition towards a neo-classical aesthetic. In 1970-1973 Haerpfer-Erman built a new instrument in a French neo-classical style, incorporating 10 old stops and restoring the Back Positive. In 1991 an overhaul and in 004-2005 a restoration by Yves Fossaert. The buffet of the GO dates from 1810, that of the positive from 1973. The statues that surmount the case are the only remains of the organ of St Victor Abbey. 4 stops come from the old organ of St Victor Abbey, 17 stops come from the Somer organ, 19 stops are new. This organ is unique in Paris in the sense that it is built in a neo- classical style privileging not German music, but the music of the French classical organ, while allowing the performance of symphonic music on the great expressive Swell. The church has excellent acoustics.