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St-Gervais-St-Protais is one of the oldest places of
worship in Paris (6th century) and among the first
parochial churches of 'la rive droite'. The present church
was built in the 16-17th century, in Flamboyant Gothic
style, with other styles superimposed. Its frontage was
completed in 1620 (first example of the classical style in
Paris). Today St-Gervais-St-Protais is the house of the
Monastic and Lay Communities of Jerusalem.
1601 - Matthijs Langhedul (1)
1628 - Pierre Pescheur (5)
1649 - Pierre Thierry (6)
1659 - Pierre Thierry (2)
1676 - Alexandre Thierry (5)
1714 - François Thierry (5)
1768 - Louis Bessart & François-Henri Clicquot (3a)
1784 - François-Henri Clicquot (6)
1812 - Pierre-François Dallery (5)
1843 - Louis-Paul Dallery (6)
1909 - Joseph Gutschenritter (6)
1922 - Louis Beasse (5)
1949
- Louis-Eugène Rochesson (6)
1973 - Danion - Gonzalez (4)
2000 - Muhleisen (6)
V/41 - traction mécanique
composition
Organiste titulaire
Aude Heurtematte, Nicolas Bucher,
Gaétan Jarry
Grellety Bosviel, Elise Friot (les offices de semaine)
Concerts
First Saturday of the month at 4 PM (september-july)
Masses with organ
Saturday 6:h30 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM
Video
Frédéric Muñoz
photo GO: Jeroen de Haan
Other photos : Victor Weller
This instrument was the organ of 7 members of the
Couperin family, in 4 generations:
•
Louis and his brother Charles from 1653 to 1679
•
François "le Grand", interim of Delalande and his
cousin Nicolas from 1665 to 1748
•
Armand-Louis, son of Nicolas from 1748 to 1789,
assisted by his younger brother Pierre.
•
his son Gervais-François until 1866.
A4
The organ of St Gervais is one of the oldest in Paris. It was
built by François-Henri Clicquot between 1766 and 1768,
replacing an instrument whose construction began in 1601
by Languedul and which has been reworked several times
by Thierry. During the construction of the new instrument,
Clicquot used parts of the old organ.
It was fortunate to be preserved from all modifications
during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, thanks to
the exemplarity of the priests and titulars of the time who
were aware of the material and historical value of the organ.
Oberhauld in 1812 and 1843 by Dallery, it was restored in
1920-1924 and 1967-1973.
Most of the 41 stops are old, which is extraordinary for a
Parisian organ. 17 stops are from the 17th century, 15 stops are
from the 18th century and 5 stops were rebuilt in 1974. In
addition, the entire wind tunnel is original.
1601
A new organ was built by Matthijs Langhedul (21/II with first
short octave). As the church was not completed, the
instrument was placed on the tribune of the south transept.
This is the basis of the current instrument. The buffet must
have resembled the one we see today but with three turrets
of equal height.
1628
The church was completed and the transfer of the organ to
the new gallery at the end of the nave was entrusted to
Pierre Pescheur. A Back Positive receives the division of
Positive, the mechanics are redone as well as a new console
in the window. The short octave is extended to 49 notes on
manual keyboards and a coupling of the two keyboards is
added. Some modifications were made to strengthen the
composition of the organ and adapt it to its new location.
1649
Overhaul by Pierre Thierry.
1659
Pierre Thierry added a division of Echo with 7 stops, added a
Nasard and a new Tierce to the Positive. A movable tirasse
of the great organ was added and this was a great novelty.
1676-1685
Restoration by Alexandre Thierry. A Cornet de Récit is added
as well as a 16' Bourdon on the Great Organ. The tuning is
raised by a semitone. The range of manual keyboards is
increased to 51 notes for the Great Organ and the Positive.
1714
François Thierry adds an 8' Trumpet to the Récit on a upper
board left free on the Grand-orgue by the suppression of
the 4' flute. The low octave of the Echo is removed to
facilitate the maintenance of the mechanics and improve
the touch.
1758-1768
A major restoration of the organ was undertaken, first by
Louis Bessart, then by François-Henri Clicquot on the death
of Bessart in 1764. The case was restored and enhanced to
the state in which it is seen today. The general layout of the
organ was revised but the reuse of a significant part of the
old sound material marked a "soft" transition of the
instrument. Maintenance was provided by Clicquot until his
death in 1790 and then by his associate Pierre Dallery. The
organ narrowly escaped disappearance during the closure
of the church during the Revolution.
1812-1813
Overhaul by Pierre-François Dallery. The mixtures of the
Great Organ and the Positive were removed, a 2nd 8'
Trumpet placed on the Great Organ, a 2nd 8' Flute, an 8'
Clarinet and an 8' Bassoon added to the Positive.
1842
Pierre-François Dallery restored the Plein-jeux removed in
1813 and replaced the Montre of the Grand-orgue.
1909
Overhaul by Joseph Gutschenritter without any changes.
1920-1924
The organ, which had suffered damage during the bombing
of the church in 1918, was repaired by Louis Beasse. The
wind tunnel was rebuilt next to the old one preserved and
the French pedals replaced by a new German one.
1949
Overhaul by Louis-Eugène Rochesson.
1973
Restoration by Danion-Gonzalez. The objective was to
restore the 1768 status. At the Grand-Orgue the Plein-Jeu IX
has been rebuilt to nine according to the indications found
on the original wind chest fortunately preserved. At the
Positif, the Plein-jeu of Dallery is maintained, a Bourdon 8' is
placed and the Bassoon-Clarinet 8' is replaced by a new
Larigot 1'. The range of Pedalboard is increased to 27 notes.
All withdrawn stops are kept inside the buffet.
2000
Overhaul by Muhleisen and tuning adjustment.
Source
St Gervais sheltered the famous dynasty of the Couperin family, for more than two centuries, beginning in 1653.
On one side of the church, the house of the Couperins still stands;
a plaque commemorates the Couperins' tenure in this place.
The organs of Paris
ORGANS OF PARIS © 2023 Vincent Hildebrandt ALL ORGANS
A4
The organ of St Gervais is one of the oldest in Paris. It was
built by François-Henri Clicquot between 1766 and 1768,
replacing an instrument whose construction began in 1601
by Languedul and which has been reworked several times
by Thierry. During the construction of the new instrument,
Clicquot used parts of the old organ.
It was fortunate to be preserved from all modifications
during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, thanks to
the exemplarity of the priests and titulars of the time who
were aware of the material and historical value of the organ.
Oberhauld in 1812 and 1843 by Dallery, it was restored in
1920-1924 and 1967-1973.
Most of the 41 stops are old, which is extraordinary for a
Parisian organ. 17 stops are from the 17th century, 15 stops are
from the 18th century and 5 stops were rebuilt in 1974. In
addition, the entire wind tunnel is original.
1601
A new organ was built by Matthijs Langhedul (21/II with first
short octave). As the church was not completed, the
instrument was placed on the tribune of the south transept.
This is the basis of the current instrument. The buffet must
have resembled the one we see today but with three turrets
of equal height.
1628
The church was completed and the transfer of the organ to
the new gallery at the end of the nave was entrusted to
Pierre Pescheur. A Back Positive receives the division of
Positive, the mechanics are redone as well as a new console
in the window. The short octave is extended to 49 notes on
manual keyboards and a coupling of the two keyboards is
added. Some modifications were made to strengthen the
composition of the organ and adapt it to its new location.
1649
Overhaul by Pierre Thierry.
1659
Pierre Thierry added a division of Echo with 7 stops, added a
Nasard and a new Tierce to the Positive. A movable tirasse
of the great organ was added and this was a great novelty.
1676-1685
Restoration by Alexandre Thierry. A Cornet de Récit is added
as well as a 16' Bourdon on the Great Organ. The tuning is
raised by a semitone. The range of manual keyboards is
increased to 51 notes for the Great Organ and the Positive.
1714
François Thierry adds an 8' Trumpet to the Récit on a upper
board left free on the Grand-orgue by the suppression of
the 4' flute. The low octave of the Echo is removed to
facilitate the maintenance of the mechanics and improve
the touch.
1758-1768
A major restoration of the organ was undertaken, first by
Louis Bessart, then by François-Henri Clicquot on the death
of Bessart in 1764. The case was restored and enhanced to
the state in which it is seen today. The general layout of the
organ was revised but the reuse of a significant part of the
old sound material marked a "soft" transition of the
instrument. Maintenance was provided by Clicquot until his
death in 1790 and then by his associate Pierre Dallery. The
organ narrowly escaped disappearance during the closure
of the church during the Revolution.
1812-1813
Overhaul by Pierre-François Dallery. The mixtures of the
Great Organ and the Positive were removed, a 2nd 8'
Trumpet placed on the Great Organ, a 2nd 8' Flute, an 8'
Clarinet and an 8' Bassoon added to the Positive.
1842
Pierre-François Dallery restored the Plein-jeux removed in
1813 and replaced the Montre of the Grand-orgue.
1909
Overhaul by Joseph Gutschenritter without any changes.
1920-1924
The organ, which had suffered damage during the bombing
of the church in 1918, was repaired by Louis Beasse. The
wind tunnel was rebuilt next to the old one preserved and
the French pedals replaced by a new German one.
1949
Overhaul by Louis-Eugène Rochesson.
1973
Restoration by Danion-Gonzalez. The objective was to
restore the 1768 status. At the Grand-Orgue the Plein-Jeu IX
has been rebuilt to nine according to the indications found
on the original wind chest fortunately preserved. At the
Positif, the Plein-jeu of Dallery is maintained, a Bourdon 8' is
placed and the Bassoon-Clarinet 8' is replaced by a new
Larigot 1'. The range of Pedalboard is increased to 27 notes.
All withdrawn stops are kept inside the buffet.
2000
Overhaul by Muhleisen and tuning adjustment.
Source
1601 - Matthijs Langhedul (1)
1628 - Pierre Pescheur (5)
1649 - Pierre Thierry (6)
1659 - Pierre Thierry (2)
1676 - Alexandre Thierry (5)
1714 - François Thierry (5)
1768 - Louis Bessart & François-Henri Clicquot (3a)
1784 - François-Henri Clicquot (6)
1812 - Pierre-François Dallery (5)
1843 - Louis-Paul Dallery (6)
1909 - Joseph Gutschenritter (6)
1922 - Louis Beasse (5)
1949
- Louis-Eugène Rochesson (6)
1973 - Danion - Gonzalez (4)
2000 - Muhleisen (6)
V/41 - traction mécanique
composition
Organiste titulaire
Aude Heurtematte, Nicolas Bucher,
Gaétan Jarry
Grellety Bosviel, Elise Friot (les offices de semaine)
Concerts
First Saturday of the month at 4 PM (september-july)
Masses with organ
Saturday 6:h30 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM
Video
Frédéric Muñoz
photo GO: Jeroen de Haan
Other photos : Victor Weller