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Saint Leu
Saint Gilles 1 - 2
92 bis, rue Saint-Denis, 75001 Paris Orgue de tribune<1600 - ??
1603 - Matthijs Langhedul
1619 - Pierre Pescheur
1659 - Guy Jolly
1671 - Enocq
1788 - Clicquot
1855 - Suret
1912 - Mutin
III/24 - mechanical traction - stoplist
Silent since 1974
Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles, located in the heart of Paris,
dates back to the 13th Century (1230). It is one of the
few religious monuments left from that period, standing
along the old Roman road (Rue Saint Denis) leading to
Saint-Denis, Pontoise and Rouen, which later became
the triumphal road for royal entries into the capital.
When Saint-Gilles chapel became too small in the 14th
Century, the current Saint-Leu church was built (1310),
which explains the two saints in its name. It was
reconstructed several times in the following centuries.
Due to the break-through of the Boulevard Sébastopol,
the choir was shortened with 5 meters and three
chapels were demolished mid 19th century. Victor
Baltard restorated the church, adding lateral chapels.
Also, a tower and clock were added (1858).
The nave is built in gothic style, whereas the choir is
built in renaissance-style.
The church is the home of an ancient religious alliance,
les Chevaliers du Saint Sépulcre de Jérusalem.
The organ of Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles was built in 1788 by
François-Henri Clicquot in the case of the former organ
built by Guy Jolly in 1658-1659, which was an extension of
an organ built before 1580 and modified by Mathieu
Langhedul (1603) and Pierre Pescheur (1619). The frame-
work of the organ still dates to this ancient organ (before
1600). Jolly added the positif and Clicquot the lateral
extension of the case of the GO. In addition, Clicquot
entirely renewed the instrument itself. Restorations were
carried out by Suret (1855) and Mutin (1912).
The organ has 14 stops from before the revolution (11
completely, 3 partial) and 9-10 stops of Suret and 2 stops
of Mutin.
In 1974 the organ was damaged by a fire and since then
the organ has been silent. It awaits an comprehensive
restoration. An association was founded in 2012 to raise
funds for such a restoration.
Video of the organ in its present state.
Site of the organ
Brochure
In the plan to maintain the cultural heritage of the City of
Paris, this organ is among the four prestigious and
emblematic instruments, classified as Historic Monuments,
requiring a fundamental restoration.
Restoration issues
The first known interventions of organ builders in Saint-
Leu-Saint-Gilles date back to 1619: the organ builder
Pescheur then modified and enlarged the original organ
but retained its buffet: the instrument was still modest in
size with a keyboard and a pedal ‘en tirasse’. In the mid-
17th century, it is certain that the instrument was no
longer sufficient for the new musical repertoire of the
time and the needs of the liturgy. As early as 1637, the
organ builder Jolly carried the instrument almost to the
dimensions that we know it today by adding a Positive.
In 1659, the organ consisted of 27 stops. In 1671, Enocq
added a fourth keyboard, expanded the scope of the
pedal and changed ten stops, but did not fundamentally
alter the sound characteristics. François-Henri Clicquot's
intervention deeply marks the instrument since most of
the mechanics, more than 60% of the piping and an
important part of the buffet can be attributed to him.
Suret modified the Clicquot organ without distorting it in
1855, among others: the addition of an expressive
keyboard, the consequent removal of the Récit and Echo
keyboards, the modification of the composition of
certain keyboards and the change of the keyboards of
the console...
Mutin intervened in 1911-1912, probably to repair some
damage that occurred during the Paris Commune and
modernize the organ "to the taste of the day", among
others: removal of the French pedal, reharmonization of
the Plein Jeu, addition of harmonic reed stops.
Unfortunately, in 1974, a fire caused extensive damage.
Since then, it has been totally unplayable.
The current condition of the instrument requires a major
restoration: cleaning of the mechanics and piping,
reconstruction of the missing pipes, complete
restoration of the wind chests, repair of the console,
resumption of power and treatment of the buffet. The
preliminary study is to be carried out by a state
consultant technician.
Call to Patronage: 2,280,000 euros, exclusive the costs
associated with the project management are added to this
amount and will be borne by the City of Paris.
Source
The organs of Paris
Saint Leu
Saint Gilles 1 - 2
92 bis, rue Saint-Denis, 75001 Paris Orgue de tribune<1600 - ??
1603 - Matthijs Langhedul
1619 - Pierre Pescheur
1659 - Guy Jolly
1671 - Enocq
1788 - Clicquot
1855 - Suret
1912 - Mutin
III/24 - mechanical traction - stoplist
Silent since 1974
Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles, located in the heart of Paris, dates
back to the 13th Century (1230). It is one of the few religious
monuments left from that period, standing along the old
Roman road (Rue Saint Denis) leading to Saint-Denis,
Pontoise and Rouen, which later became the triumphal road
for royal entries into the capital. When Saint-Gilles chapel
became too small in the 14th Century, the current Saint-Leu
church was built (1310), which explains the two saints in its
name. It was reconstructed several times in the following
centuries.
Due to the break-through of the Boulevard Sébastopol, the
choir was shortened with 5 meters and three chapels were
demolished mid 19th century. Victor Baltard restorated the
church, adding lateral chapels. Also, a tower and clock were
added (1858).
The nave is built in gothic style, whereas the choir is built in
renaissance-style.
The church is the home of an ancient religious alliance, les
Chevaliers du Saint Sépulcre de Jérusalem.
The organ of Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles was built in 1788 by
François-Henri Clicquot in the case of the former organ built
by Guy Jolly in 1658-1659, which was an extension of an
organ built before 1580 and moderated by Mathieu
Langhedul (1603) and Pierre Pescheur (1619). The frame-
work of the organ still dates to this ancient organ (before
1580). The lateral extension of the case of the GO and case
of the positif is done by Clicquot, as is the instrument itself.
Restorations were carried out by Suret (1855) and Mutin
(1912).
In 1974 the organ was damaged by a fire and since then, the
organ is not playable anymore. It awaits an comprehensive
restoration. An association was founded in 2012 to raise
funds for such a restoration.
The organ has 14 stops from before the revolution (11
completely, 3 partial) and 9-10 stops of Suret and 2 stops of
Mutin. So, a considerable part of the instrument of Clicquot
is preserved, an exciting notion, which raises the question
which principles should be the guidance for a future
restoration of this unique instrument.
Video of the organ in its present state.
Site of the organ
Brochure
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