Albi, Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile
Christophe Moucherel 1734-36, enlarged by father and son Lépine 1747
State of preservation: Repairs in 1779, 1824/25, 1847; severely modernised while preserving many old stops in 1902-04; restoration by Bartolomeo Formentelli in 1971-81
The organ in Albi cathedral is one the biggest baroque organs in France, the case for sure is the biggest. In a cathedral dedicated to St Cecilia whose attribute is the organ, this monumental façade is not just a decorative element but itself a part of theological proclamation.
The organ itself is no less monumental: The special Bombarde division is a characteristic element of French organs until present, signifying the dynamic climax of French organ sound.
Music sample
Gervais-Francois Couperin (1759-1826) : Offertoire
played by Nicolas Gorenstein
Disposition:
V+P; manuals C, D-d3, pedal A’, C-f1 (A’ on C#-key)
Positif de dos:
Montre 8’
Bourdon 8’
Cornet [8’] 5f.
Prestant 4’
Flûte à cheminée 4’
Nazard 2 2/3’
Doublette 2’
Tierce 1 3/5’
Larigot 1 1/3’
Fourniture 6f.
Trompette 8’
Cormorne 8’
Clairon 4’
Grand Orgue:
Montre 16’
Bourdon 16’
Montre 8’
Bourdon 8’
Cornet [8’] 5f.
Prestant 4’
Flûte 4’
Grosse tierce 3 1/5’
Nazard 2 2/3’
Quarte de Nazard 2’
Doublette 2’
Tierce 1 3/5’
Fourniture 5f.
Cymbale 5f.
Bombarde 16’
1ère Trompette 8’
2ème Trompette 8’
Clairon 4’
Bombarde:
Bombarde 16’
1ère Trompette 8’
2ème Trompette 8’
Trompette en bataille 8’
Voix humaine 8’
Clairon 4’
Cornet [8’] 5f.
Récit: (from c1)
Flûte 8’
Cornet [8’] 5f.
Trompette 8’
Hautbois 8’
Écho: (from c0)
Bourdon 8’
Prestant 4’
Nazard 2 2/3’
Quart 2’
Tierce 1 3/5’
Fourniture 3f.
Cromorne 8’
Pédale:
Flûte 16’
1ère Flûte 8’
2è Flûte 8’
Flûte 4’
Bombarde 16’
Trompette 8’
Clairon 4’
Couplers GO/Pos, GO/Bomb, Tremblant doux, Tremblant fort, Rossignol
© Greifenberger Institut für Musikinstrumentenkunde | info@greifenberger-institut.de