Schola Cantorum

269, rue Saint Jacques, 75005 Paris

The story of the Schola Cantorum is, first and foremost, the story of one man’s determination: Charles Bordes. He began laying the foundations of his vision as early as 1890. In 1894, he gathered a group of friends, benefactors, and shareholders to create a society under the name Schola Cantorum. Among his first collaborators were two great musicians whose reputation lent authority and prestige to his project: Alexandre Guilmant and Vincent d’Indy (1851–1931). The school officially opened its doors on 15 October 1896 on Rue Stanislas in the Montparnasse district. In 1900, it moved permanently to the Latin Quarter, at 269 Rue Saint-Jacques, into the former convent of the English Benedictines, built between 1674 and 1677. A true “free conservatory”—free because personal expression and individual creativity are respected—the Schola Cantorum offers teaching for students from all over the world. Its courses are open to a wide audience of mixed ages and ambitions, accessible to all levels, from beginners to concert performers.

E6 The organ is built by Charles Mutin in 1902 and placed in the old chapel of the convent, which was transformed into a concert-hall (III/30). It then comprised 30 stops (26 actual and 4 borrowed), distributed over three manuals and a pedalboard. The action is mechanical, with a Barker lever for the Grand-Orgue. During 1960-1967, the Beuchet company carried out major works: • the Barker machine was replaced by electrical traction • GO: transformation of the Flûte octaviante 4 into a Flûte douce 4; the Trompette was replaced by a Doublette • Récit: transformation of the Flûte traversière into a Flûte douce 8 and the Flûte octaviante 4 into a Flûte douce 4; the Basson 16 was replaced by a Flageolet • Positif: Salicional 8 replaced by a Principal 4; Clarinette and Cromorne were revoiced • Pedal: Bombarde 16 was replaced by the Trompette 8 from the GO. In 1987, Barbéris added a Plein jeu IV on the GO and the Flûte douce 4 of the Récit was transformed again into a Flûte octaviante. He installed also a new standard pedal. In 1997/2011/2013, works were done by Dargassies. In 2011, the pedal was electrified and in 2013 the primary blowers were replaced.

Organ teachers David Cassan, Jean Galard, Françoise Levéchin- Gangloff, Henri Paget, Marc Sacrispeyre Famous teachers in the past: Alexandre Guilmant, Vincent d'Indy, Maurice and Marie-Madeleine Durufle, Jean- Jacques Grunenwald, Louis Vierne, Jean Langlais. Famous students: Maurice Duruflé, Jean-Jacques Grunenwald, Jean Langlais, Daniel Lesur, Olivier Messiaen, Déodat de Séverac, Louis Vierne… Site Video Jean-Paul Imbert Photos Orgue : Peter Hammer