The organs of Paris
ORGANS OF PARIS © 2024 Vincent Hildebrandt HOME ALL ORGANS

Saint Leu Saint Gilles

92 bis, rue Saint-Denis, 75001 Paris

Orgue de tribune OdC >

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.
A1 The organ of Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles was built in 1788 by François-Henri Clicquot. It reused part of the old organ built by Guy Jolly in 1658-1659, which was an extension of an organ built before 1603 and modified by builders Mathieu Langhedul (1603) and Pierre Pescheur (1619). The central part of the large case still remains of this instrument. It was Jolly who added the Positive. At that time, the instrument spoke on 3 manuals and pedalboard and 25 stops. In 1671, a new reconstruction of the instrument took place by Enocq, who added a fourth manual, enlarged the range of the pedalboard and changed 10 stops, but did not profoundly modify the sound characteristics. The instrument had 4 manuals and 28 stops. 1788 François-Henri Clicquot had a profound impact on the organ of St-Leu-St-Gilles. He added the concave wings to the case of the great organ. Apart from a part of the case that he took over, it is very likely that he renewed all the piping and mechanics. 1867 In 1867, Suret modified the organ: •Added an expressive keyboard with 6 stops but speaking only on part of the keyboard. •Removed both the Récit and Echo keyboards accordingly. •Changed the composition of some keyboards: for example, Suret removed 3 to 4 stops from the positive to install two eight-foot stops and move the oboe to the new expressive Swell. • Changed the keyboards on the console, to make it easier for the organist to play. Nevertheless, Suret retained most of Clicquots mechanics (including windchests) and much of the sound material. 1911-1912 Mutin intervened in 1911-1912, probably to repair some damage done by the Paris Commune (disappearance of certain stops?) and to make some adaptations: removal of the French-style pedalboard (apparently kept by Suret), revoicing of the Plein Jeu, possible addition of harmonic reed stops, etc. 1920 In the early 1920s, the organ builder Béasse also made some adaptations. Throughout the twentieth century, the organ underwent no intervention and its condition slowly deteriorated. Running out of steam in 1967, the organ suffered major damage in a fire in 1974. And what wasn't destroyed by fire and heat was likely to be damaged by the water used to extinguish the fire. Since then, the organ has been completely unplayable. An association was founded in 2012 to raise funds for a restoration, which is now scheduled for 2025-2027 (set aside that still 650.000 euros have to be found to finance this project). The organ has 14 stops that predate the Revolution (11 complete, 3 partial), 9-10 Suret stops and 2 Mutin's stops. Video of the organ in its present state. Site of the organ Brochure All Parisian organs built before the revolution
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
1788 - Clicquot (3) 1855 - Suret (5) 1912 - Mutin (5) 1920 - Béasse (5)

III/24 - traction mécanique

composition

Silent since 1974

Organiste conservateur François Périllon Concerts - Masses with organ - Vidéos - All organs built before the revolution
The organs of Paris

Saint Leu Saint

Gilles

92 bis, rue Saint-Denis, 75001 Paris

Orgue de tribune OdC >

ORGANS OF PARIS © 2024 Vincent Hildebrandt ALL ORGANS
1788 - Clicquot (3) 1855 - Suret (5) 1912 - Mutin (5) 1920 - Béasse (5)

III/24 - traction mécanique

composition

Silent since 1974

A1 The organ of Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles was built in 1788 by François-Henri Clicquot. It reused part of the old organ built by Guy Jolly in 1658-1659, which was an extension of an organ built before 1603 and modified by builders Mathieu Langhedul (1603) and Pierre Pescheur (1619). The central part of the large case still remains of this instrument. It was Jolly who added the Positive. At that time, the instrument spoke on 3 manuals and pedalboard and 25 stops. In 1671, a new reconstruction of the instrument took place by Enocq, who added a fourth manual, enlarged the range of the pedalboard and changed 10 stops, but did not profoundly modify the sound characteristics. The instrument had 4 manuals and 28 stops. 1788 François-Henri Clicquot had a profound impact on the organ of St-Leu-St-Gilles. He added the concave wings to the case of the great organ. Apart from a part of the case that he took over, it is very likely that he renewed all the piping and mechanics. 1867 In 1867, Suret modified the organ: •Added an expressive keyboard with 6 stops but speaking only on part of the keyboard. •Removed both the Récit and Echo keyboards accordingly. •Changed the composition of some keyboards: for example, Suret removed 3 to 4 stops from the positive to install two eight-foot stops and move the oboe to the new expressive Swell. • Changed the keyboards on the console, to make it easier for the organist to play. Nevertheless, Suret retained most of Clicquots mechanics (including windchests) and much of the sound material. 1911-1912 Mutin intervened in 1911-1912, probably to repair some damage done by the Paris Commune (disappearance of certain stops?) and to make some adaptations: removal of the French-style pedalboard (apparently kept by Suret), revoicing of the Plein Jeu, possible addition of harmonic reed stops, etc. 1920 In the early 1920s, the organ builder Béasse also made some adaptations. Throughout the twentieth century, the organ underwent no intervention and its condition slowly deteriorated. Running out of steam in 1967, the organ suffered major damage in a fire in 1974. And what wasn't destroyed by fire and heat was likely to be damaged by the water used to extinguish the fire. Since then, the organ has been completely unplayable. An association was founded in 2012 to raise funds for a restoration, which is now scheduled for 2025-2027 (set aside that still 650.000 euros have to be found to finance this project). The organ has 14 stops that predate the Revolution (11 complete, 3 partial), 9-10 Suret stops and 2 Mutin's stops. Video of the organ in its present state. Site of the organ Brochure All Parisian organs built before the revolution