Jean-Baptiste (1789) - Isnard Cavaillé-Coll (1890) - Robert Boisseau (1962)
Restauration: Atelier Bertrand Cattiaux 2005-2008
| II Grand-Orgue | 56n. | I Positif | 56n. | III Récit expressif | 56n. |
| Montre | 16' * | Montre | 8' * | Viole de Gambe | 8' * |
| Bourdon | 16' * | Bourdon | 8' * | Flûte traversière | 8' * |
| Montre | 8' * | Prestant | 4' * | Cor de nuit | 8' * |
| Bourdon | 8' * | Nazard | 2 2/3' * | Voix Céleste | 8' * |
| Flûte harmonique | 8' * | Doublette | 2' * | Prestant | 4' * |
| Prestant | 4' * | Tierce | 1 3/5' * | Flageolet | 2' * |
| Flûte à cheminée | 4' * | Larigot | 1 1/3' * | Cymbale | IV r. * |
| Grosse tierce | 3 1/5' * | Plein-jeu | V r. * | Basson-Hautbios | 8' * |
| Nazard | 2 2/3' * | Trompette | 8' * | Trompette | 8' * |
| Doublette | 2' ** | Cromorne | 8' * | Clairon | 4' * |
| Quarte | 2' * | Clairon | 4' * | Voix Humaine | 8' * |
| Tierce | 1 3/5' * | Cornet | V r.* | ||
| Fourniture | IV r. * | Trémolo | |||
| Cymbale | V r. * | Pédale | 30n. | ||
| Cornet | V r. * | ||||
| Bombarde | 16' ** | Soubasse acoust. | 32' * | ||
| Trompette | 8' ** | Flûte | 16' * | ||
| Clairon | 4' * | Bourdon | 16' * | ||
| Flûte | 8' * | ||||
| Bourdon | 8' * | ||||
| Flûte | 4' * | *Isnard | |||
| Bombarde | 16' ** | *Cavaillé-Coll | |||
| Trompette | 8' * | *R.Boisseau | |||
| Clairon | 4' * | *J.L.Boisseau |
Appel reeds + mixtures: Pos, GO, Rec , Ped
Appel Barker GO
Couplers: Pos/GO , Rec/GO , Rec16/GO , GO16/GO
Pedal couplers: Pos, GO, Rec
Build by J.B.Isnard in 1784 as an 8' organ it was upgraded to 16' (IV/41) in 1786 by the same organbuilder. The instrument kept untouched until the visit of Felix Reinbourg (voicer) in 1889 who worked for Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. The organ was reconstructed and brought to 3 manuals and 45 stops using parts of the old organ like the windchests and a major part of the pipes due to financial reasons.
The inaugural concert was given by Alexandre Guilmant in june 23rd 1890.
In 1961 Robert Boisseau discovered the organ with his major part of 18th century pipes and was asked to revoice the old pipes in the 18th century style but also to maintain the benefits brought by Cavaillé-Coll. At this time the choice of the young R. Boisseau to work on this instrument earned a lot of critics from the organ comission. Boisseau increased the manuals from 54 to56 notes and the pedal to 30 notes.
The thirds and fifths reappeared, the french classic mixtures were recreated and the combinations of the positif and the récit were build with pneumatic action. The pedal was increased with 3 stops
(resultant 32',16',8') using the unit system with stopped pipes. This synthesis of styles is called neoclassic style. The inaugural concert was given by Maurice and Marie-Madeleine Duruflé in april 1962.
In 1980 Jean-Loup Boisseau, Robert's son, added a 4' flute on the great.
This restauration included a complete cleaning of the instrument, the resrtauration of the Great and Recit windchests as well as the rollerboards and all the mecanical parts. The original Cavaillé-Coll leathers of the 10 bellows were cleaned, softened and protected. The dark brown colour of the organcase was removed to get back the 18th century colour.
Restauration: Laurent Anen and Thibaut Lenfant
Voicing: Jean-Lou Boisseau and Laurent Anen
The blessing was given september 21st 2008 by Father Jean-Luc Poulain and Orleans' bishop during a great celebration. Then followed two concerts the same day given by François-Henri Houbart and the actual organist Damien Colcomb.
A very interesting exibition about our work was made by the photographer Dominique Tuilard. Have a look!
Further information can be found here.