Toulouse is fortunate to have one of the masterpieces produced by the celebrated organ-builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (1811-1899), who was born in the nearby Tarn department.
Cavaillé-Coll was a legend in his own lifetime, indeed he was only 22 years old when he left the family workshop in Toulouse to build the organ for the Basilica of Saint-Denis, near Paris. A long string of triumphs followed, with Cavaillé-Coll building more than 500 instruments all over Europe, for the largest cathedrals and the most exclusive private salons. Unfortunately, after his death most of his great instruments were transformed to suit the neo-classical aesthetic en vogue at the turn of the 20th Century. Luckily for Toulouse, the organ of Saint-Sernin, on which the master organ builder had lavished so much attention, avoided any such mutilation. As a result, we can still listen today to the perfect harmonies intended by its builder, so astonishingly well adapted to the proportions and acoustics of its church. The organ was inaugurated in November 1889 by Alexandre Guilmant. The Committee in charge of its formal acceptance immediately understood that this was no ordinary organ. After examining it for three days the Committee issued a glowing report that established the organ as a chef-d’œuvre from the outset.
The instrumental aspect of the “Grand Orgue” has been listed as a Historic Monument since 19 October 1975.
The great gallery organ in the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, with its 54 stops on three keyboards and a pedal-board, is a perfect example of French symphonic organ-building at the end of the 19th Century. Organists come from all over the world to play pieces by César Franck, Charles-Marie Widor, Louis Vierne or Franz Liszt. Here they find the purity of the original tones and effects that are so closely associated with this type of organ and this style of music.
The Saint-Sernin organ closely reproduces the sound of a symphony orchestra.
Specification
Basilica of Saint Sernin, Toulouse
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, 1888
I. Grand-Orgue
56 notes
Montre 16
Bourdon 16
Montre 8
Bourdon 8
Flûte harmonique 8
Salicional 8
Gambe 8
Prestant 4
Flûte octaviante 4
Quinte 2 2/3
Doublette 2
Fourniture V
Cymbale IV
Cornet V
Bombarde 16
Trompette 8
Clairon 4
Clairon-Doublette 2
Trompette harmonique * 8
Clairon harmonique * 4
* Jeux en chamade
II. Positif de dos
56 notes
Montre 8
Cor de nuit 8
Salicional 8
Unda maris 8 *
Prestant 4
Flûte douce 4
Carillon I-III
Trompette 8
Basson-Hautbois 8 *
Clairon 4
* Jeux XIXe apportés par Boisseau-Cattiaux
III. Récit expressif
56 notes
Quintaton 16
Diapason 8
Flûte harmonique 8
Viole de gambe 8
Voix céleste 8
Flûte octaviante 4
Octavin 2
Cornet V
Bombarde 16
Trompette harmonique 8
Clarinette 8
Basson-Hautbois 8
Voix humaine 8
Clairon harmonique 4
Pedal
30 notes
Principal-basse 32
Contrebasse 16
Soubasse 16
Flûte 8
Violoncelle 8
Octave 4
Bombarde 32
Bombarde 16
Trompette 8
Clairon 4
Accessoires aux pieds
Orage
Octave aiguë Pédale
Tirasse GO
Tirasse Pos
Tirasse Réc
Anches Péd
Anches GO
Anches Pos
Anches Réc
Appel Chamades
Expression Réc
Trémolo Récit
Octaves graves GO
Appel GO
Pos/GO
Réc/GO
Pos/Réc
Octaves graves Réc
Appel Réc
Accessoires aux mains
Annulation Pos en 8
Octaves graves Pos
Traction mécanique des notes avec Barker au GO et au Réc
Console en fenêtre
Michel Bouvard
Félix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Variations sérieuses
21e Festival international Toulouse les Orgues – Extrait du concert "Toulouse les Orgues a 20 ans" du 14 octobre 2016 à la basilique Saint-Sernin de Toulouse
Berry VAN BERKUM / Le PROYECTARIUM - Litanies (Jan Welmers)
Festival international Toulouse les Orgues 2015