Saint-Gervais

13, rue des barres, 75004 Paris

Gallery organ Choir organ >

A4 The organ at St. Gervais is one of the oldest in Paris. It was built by François-Henri Clicquot between 1766 and 1768, replacing an earlier instrument whose construction began in 1600 by Languedul and was reworked several times by Thierry. During the new build, Clicquot reused parts from the old organ. It was lucky to be preserved without changes through the 19th and 20th centuries, thanks to forward-thinking priests and organists who recognized its material and historical value. It was surveyed in 1812 and 1843 by Dallery, then restored in 1920–1924 and 1967–1973. Most of its 41 stops are original, which is remarkable for a Parisian organ: 17 from the 17th century, 15 from the 18th, and 5 rebuilt in 1974. Plus, the entire wind supply is authentic. 1600–1603 A new organ was made by Matthijs Langhedul (21 stops, 2 manuals with short octaves). With the church unfinished, it went in the south transept gallery. It had about 20 stops across two 45-note manuals (short octaves) and a 9-note pedalboard—this forms the basis of today's instrument. The case likely looked like today's but with three equal-height towers. 1628 The church was finished, so Pierre Pescheur moved the organ to the new west gallery. The Positif division went on a Rückpositiv, with a new keydesk in the window and remade action. Short octaves were extended to 49 notes, a manual coupler was added, and tweaks strengthened the organ for its new spot: a Récit division playing the Grand Cornet, extending the 16' Principal to low C, revoicing mixtures, replacing tin-lead reeds with tin pipes, and reharming. 1649–1659 Pierre Thierry added an Echo division with 7 stops, a new Nasard and Tierce on Positif, and pedal stops. Several stops were scaled larger. He added C# to Positif, Grand Orgue, and Pedal for A=440 tuning, plus a mobile Grand-Orgue pedal coupler—a real innovation. Now 35 stops across 4 manuals and pedal. 1676–1685 Restoration by Alexandre Thierry: added a Récit Cornet, 16' Bourdon and 2' Quarte de Nazard on Grand-Orgue, 1 1/3' Larigot on Positif. Pitch raised a half-step (B♭). Manuals extended to 51 notes on Grand-Orgue and Positif. 1714 François Thierry added an 8' Trumpet to Récit on a vacant Grand-Orgue slide (replacing 4' Flute); Echo's bass octave removed for easier maintenance and better touch. Main case shutters taken off. 1758–1768 Major restoration first by Louis Bessart, then François-Henri Clicquot after Bessart's 1764 death. The case was restored and raised to its current form. Layout was revised, but heavy reuse of old parts (pallets, pipes) made for a smooth transition. In 1769, Clicquot replaced Positif Cromorne 8'; in 1778, Positif 4' Flute with Clairon 4'. Clicquot maintained it until his 1790 death, then partner Pierre Dallery. It narrowly escaped destruction during the Revolution church closure. 1811 Overhaul by Pierre-François Dallery: removed Grand-Orgue and Positif mixtures, Positif 1 1/3' Larigot. Added a second 8' Trumpet (Grosse Trompette) to Grand-Orgue; Positif got a recycled Bassoon-Clarinet 8' (Clicquot pipes?), with Larigot pipes partly making a 8' Flute Treble. 1843/54 Louis-Paul Dallery restored Grand-Orgue Plein Jeu VI and Positif Plein Jeu V; changed first 15 pipes of 16' Principal. In 1854, replaced a damaged façade Principal pipe from a near-fire. 1909 Joseph Gutschenritter serviced it: action regulation, full pipe cleaning. Removed second Grand-Orgue 8' Trumpet; its pipes reused for worn ones on first Grand-Orgue Trumpet and Pedal Trumpet. Bourdon chimney tops cut for adjustable caps. 1921–1923 Repairs by Louis Beasse after storm flooding and 1918 bombing damage: • Replaced six wedge bellows with modern reservoir system. • Raised keydesk. • Added German pedalboard (French one kept). • Reworked pedal action. • Some pipe ranks still silent; reed pipe swaps continued. 1949–1967 Overhaul by Louis-Eugène Rochesson: reed reclassification, reopened Grand-Orgue Plein-Jeu stopped pipes, added recycled 2 2/3' Nasard on vacant Grand-Orgue slide. 1968–1974 Restoration by Danion-Gonzalez to recreate 1768 layout: • Grand-Orgue: new Plein-Jeu IX per original pallet chart; kept Dallery's second 8' Trumpet; new slide for 8' Voix Humaine. • Positif: kept Dallery Plein-Jeu, added chimney 8' Bourdon Treble, replaced Bassoon-Clarinet with new 1' Larigot. • New action. • Pedal extended to 27 notes. • Case stripping. All removed stops stored inside case. 2000 Mulheisen cleaned flue pipes, partial reed cleaning, mechanical repairs and tweaks, full tuning and temperament adjustment.

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Titular organist Aude Heurtematte, Nicolas Bucher, Gaétan Jarry Grellety Bosviel, Elise Friot (les offices de semaine) Concerts Parish website Video Frédéric Muñoz Photos GO : Jeroen de Haan Autres photos : Victor Weller