Museum of Organs - Gallery 1 (e)

Museum of Organs: Gallery 1

Historical Organ Cases of Europe

France and Spain : 16th-17th Centuries

Click on each thumbnail / link to view a larger image.

Lavaur: Cathédrale (H.-Garonne, France) Map: lv
The organ dates from 1523. The case, which was built by the carver Nicolas Bachlier, is one of the most luxurious examples from 16th century in Southern France. The present instrument was built by A. Cavaillé-Coll in 1876. Specification (Revised 2002-08-23).
-- (jpeg 103k) First uploaded 98-05-10; Revised image 99-08-26

St-Bertrand-de-Comminges: Cathédrale (H.-Garonne, France) Map: C
The case is built in 1536 by Nicolas Bachlier. A rare example of a case being built within a right-angle.
-- (jpeg 81k) First uploaded 97-09-27; Revised image 99-08-26

Saint-Savin en Lavedan (H.-Pyrénées, France) Map: la
The inscription on the case shows it was built in 1557. All the pipes were removed some time after the Revolution. The case became listed in 1904. One manual, 38 keys, short octave. Restoration/reconstruction by A. Sals, 1996. Stoplist and a picture taken during the restoration. (Website of Ministry of Culture, France.) -- (jpeg 101k : Improved image 97-09-06)

Caudebec-en-Caux (Seine-Mar., France) Map: cb
The monumental case dates from 1620. (The Positif is of 1739.)
(Under construction)
-- (jpeg 108k) Uploaded 97-09-07.

Rodez: Cathédrale (Aveyron, France) Map: R
The case by R. Gusmond and G. Cayron dates from 1628-31.
Recordings: Coriolan COR 329 605 (DANDRIEU & FRANCK / Georges LARTIGAU)
-- (jpeg 89k) Uploaded 97-09-11.

Moissac: Abbaye St-Pierre (Tarn-et-Gar., France) Map: ms
The elegant case dates from the first half of the 17th Century except the Positif, which was added in the 18th century. The internal instrument was built by A. Cavaillé-Coll in 1865. Specification.
-- Photo 1 (jpeg 81k) First uploaded 97-09-07, Revised image 99-08-26, Photo 2 (details) New 99-08-26 (jpeg 114k. 99-08-26)

Oloron-Ste-Marie: Cathédrale (Pyrénées-Atl., France) Map: ol
The case with richly gilt ornaments dates from 1650. The internal instrument by A. Cavaillé-Coll, 1872. Specification. A website about this organ.
-- (jpeg 73k) Uploaded 98-08-30, imprv.-09-01.

Saint-Lizier (Ariège, France) Map: sl
The organ dates from 17th century, originally built for the Bishop's palace. Specification after the restoration by A. Sals: II/P=pull-down/9. Recording:
-- (jpeg 49k) Uploaded 98-05-10.

Carcassonne: Basilique St-Nazaire (Aude, France) Map: cs
The basilique stands in the fortified medieval town. Crespin Verniole built the original organ in 1639, which was rebuilt by Jean de Joyeuse in 1684. In 1775, Jean-Pierre Cavaillé enlarged it by adding the side wings to the main case as well as the Positif de dos (thus III/P/37). M. Roger transformed it in 1900. Barthélémy Formentelli carried out a complete restoration/reconstruction in 1982-85, which brought back the essence of classical organs. Specifications. Recordings: Coriolan COR 331 702 (BALBASTRE: Les Noëls / Pascale MELIS [2 CDs]); COR 312 008 (Gilles JULLIEN: 1., 2., 5., 6. et 7. ton / Pierre PERDIGON)
-- (jpeg 66k) Uploaded 98-08-01.

Perpignan: Cathédrale (Pyrénées-Or., France) Map: pp
The original organ built in 1504. At that time Perpignan belonged to Spain. The Renaissance shape of the facade is almost original.
In 1584, J. Bordons and S. Estrada reconstructed it. A new organ was built by Jean de Joyeuse (28/III/P) in 1689. A. Cavaillé-Coll reconstructed the entire organ in 1857. M. Puget enlarged it to 75 stops in 1930. Jean Renaud restored the organ in 1993. Specifications of the present and the 1857 organ. Recordings: Coriolan COR 305 003 (César FRANCK : l'oeuvre d'orgue Vol. 2 / Jean COSTA)
-- (jpeg 83k : Improved image 00-07-18)

Jaca: Catedral (Aragon, Spain) Map: J
The location of the organ at the east end of the church across the choir is a rare example in Spain. The main part of the case seems to be of the late 17th Century.
-- (jpeg 72k) Uploaded 97-09-22.

France:16-17th C | France:18-19th C
Germany & North Europe | Danish Modern | Contribution

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This page last modified: 2002-08-23.