Notre Dame

de Paris

6 Parvis Notre-Dame , 75004 Paris

Orgue de choeur OdT>

The choir organ was an instrument of Robert Boisseau in the old buffet. Several instruments have followed one another in the choir of the cathedral. A Daublaine-Callinet of ten stops in 1839 not powerful enough and sold in 1841 to St Michel at Cordes-sur-Ciel not far from Albi where it remains today and with the addition of a pedal stop. Then a second organ of the same organ maker in 1841 installed on the right side. But its aesthetics and its installation did not suit Viollet-le-Duc, it was thus sold to the Saint-Etienne church in Roanne (Loire). Viollet-le-Duc choose a 17 stops Merklin organ with a Gothic case designed by Viollet-le-Duc himself, installed on the left side of the choir. The restoration by Joseph Merklin in 1890 opens the transformation of the transmission into electro- pneumatic and the addition of combinations, but as this modernization is not reliable, the house Mutin (successor of Cavaillé-Coll) is asked to deal with the restoration. Other interventions followed (Beuchet in 1938, Hermann in 1953) without allowing the instrument to function properly. The organ builder Robert Boisseau who modernized the great organ of Notre-Dame under the leadership of Pierre Cochereau was asked to build a new organ in the case of 1863. The instrument was delivered in 1969: it included 28 stops on two keyboards (56 notes) and pedal board (30 notes). A 16 ’flute was added to the pedal in 1970 outside the buffet. A 4 ’ clairon and electronic combiner are installed further on. (Source: facebook @Aristide Cavaillé-Coll)\ In 2005, the organ was cleaned by Philippe Guyonnet and tuned by Bertrand Cattiaux. In 2010, further works were carried out by Bertrand Cattiaux and a new console was installed. This organ was built in a French- classical style. 2019-2026 The organ was very badly damaged in the cathedral fire on the evening of April 15, 2019. The instrument was spared from the flames. The pipes did not melt but the organ was completely taken on water. A few minutes before the fire, it was still accompanying vespers and evening mass. Only the case (designed by Viollet-le-Duc) will be restored and preserved. The instrumental part will have to be rebuilt. The diocese hopes that this will be "an opportunity to significantly improve the instrument in order to increase the repertoire it can play and to better diffuse its sound in the nave." To achieve this, "given the small size of the organ case", it was decided to create one or more extensions, installed in the choir gallery. The solution was chosen to build this extension in height, with vertical organ pipes, which would be visible (modest, sober and discreet) and thus hide part of the architectural perspective on the galleries. The organ is expected to be inaugurated in 2025-2026. In the meantime, an electronic substitute will be installed.

Organiste titulaire Yves Castagnet Organiste titulaire adjoint : Thibault Fajoles Famous organists in the past: Léon Souberbielle (1920-1992), Jacques Marichal (1934-1987), Michel Chapuis (1930-2017). Masses with choir organ at St-Germain l'Auxerrois (until 1 december 2024) : Monday to Friday 6:15 pm (vespers at 5:45 pm) Saturday 6:30 pm, Sunday 10:00, 11:30 am, 6:30 pm Videos Johan Vexo (Bach) Johann Vexo (Couperin)

One of the more moderate visuals presented in the specifications, which however do not show the glass sideboards containing the pipes.

1869 - Merklin (buffet) 1968 - Boisseau 1970/1978/1989 - Jean-Loup Boisseau 2005 - Philippe Guyonnet & Bertrand Cattiaux 2025 - ??? Composition 2019