As the horrifying images of Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral on fire spread throughout the world, there was an overwhelming anxiety in the organ world, “What is happening to the organ?” I was especially alarmed when I saw this drone photo of the nave on fire. Surely, the organ was lost!
It is the largest organ in France. It has five manuals, 109 stops and approximately 8,000 pipes. It dates back to the 18th century when François Thierry reconstructed the massive instrument in the 1730s. At least 12 pipes dated from the 14th century. The great French organ builder, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll doubled the number of pipes in 1868. The organ underwent a restoration in the 90s and a new console was built.
I was last there in July of 2016 when I heard organist Olivier Latry improvise a postlude. (See my post, “All the Paris highlights…in one day“) to view the video.
Word now has been received that the Notre Dame organ has been saved!
From Vincent Dubois:
“Contrary to rumors that have circulated all morning, the Grand Organ is, at the moment, saved. There are some puddles left and right, but nothing dramatic. The façade was spared, and the pipes … it’s miraculous. We were in contact all night with my colleagues Olivier Latry and Philippe Lefebvre and we had lost hope. It was the slab of stone that connects the two towers that saved the instrument: there is no frame at this point on the roof: the water from the firefighters flowed down both sides and did not fall on the organ case. However, if the vaults of the nave, which are now very fragile, are not quickly reinforced, it is likely that the organ will be dismantled and a workshop large enough to shelter it will be found. None exists in the region of Paris. The challenge is to determine, very quickly, if the keystones will withstand the weight of water and molten lead that has spilled. The choir organ did not burn either, but it was, however, completely drowned in water. It will be necessary to see what remains of it … It will be necessary to wait years before being able to replay this instrument, but the essential thing was that it did not end up in ashes. [italics mine] We will be patient and will take action toward rehabilitation once it has been examined closely.”
And from Philippe Lefebvre:
“After the stupor and the dread, the unbearable sadness, and the devastating images of this tragedy: the Great Lady has valiantly withstood the worst — Notre Dame is still standing. Thank you for your well wishes, your testimonies of friendship, and solidarity.
“It is confirmed that, for the moment, the Grand Organ has escaped disaster. No melted pipes, but a lot of dust, particles, soot, etc. Water, of course, but no flooding.
“It will require more in-depth expertise to measure the extent of the damage. The Choir Organ has been doused in water and it is undoubtedly more damaged than the Grand Organ.
“Everyone’s fears are now focused on the structure, and the medium-term consequences: will there be more falling debris, will the vault collapse? And when everything dries, will other elements disintegrate, causing other damage, etc.?
“The organists hope to be authorized to go up to the loft in the coming days. It is hoped that as soon as the building is secure and builders are allowed to work there, we can proceed to safeguard the remaining parts of the two organs that can be saved, and evacuate and protect what remains.”
Of course, even after the organ is removed and brought back, it will not be complete until the building has been restored, which may or may not be in my lifetime. The latest news is that France’s wealthiest families have pledged $700 million to rebuild the Cathedral.
There is reason for hope . . . it is a miracle that the organ is still somewhat intact.
