Église Saint-Louis des Invalides - l'orgue

Saint-Louis des Invalides

The design of this elaborate, ornate organcase is attributed to Jalues Hardouin-Mansart.  It is the only representative of the Louis-XIV era among the organs of Paris.

The instrument was built by Alexandre Thierry (1687).  Major revisions were carried out in the mid 1800s and more recently in 1957.  The organ is not the most ornate aspect of this mostly white and gilt church.  It is not my favorite but I can appreciate the detail as well as the sounds that are brought forth.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis des Invalides

Les Invalides

75007, Paris

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont - l'orgue

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont

The organ of Saint-Étienne du Mont 

is a marvel of architectural design and carving, 

dating back to the early 17th Century.

 From this angle it appears 

that the angels and cherubs might jump or fly

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Étienne du Mont
1, place Ste-Geneviève

75005, Paris

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs - l'orgue

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

The organ is Cavaillé-Coll from 1877, 

and on this dreary, rainy day Yannick Merlin 

was rehearsing for a concert.

If you want to have a sample of the sounds and a video of the church, 

follow this link. 

bon dimanche

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

92 bis, Boulevard du Montparnasse

75006, Paris

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

This door opens to the circular steps up to the illustrious Cavaillé-Coll organ (1877) of Notre-Dame-des-Champs.  Yannick Merlin is co-titular organist here and is a substitute organist at Église Val-de-Grâce.  Holly and I had the pleasure of listening to a rehearsal but could only see the top of the organist's head high above us in the organ loft.  

As we prepared to exit the empty church this door opened and out walked M. Merlin himself.  I did not lift my camera for a photo, but instead thanked him for the music.

You never know who you will run into in Paris.

bon dimanche

Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs

92 bis, Boulevard du Montparnasse

75006, Paris

Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides

known simply as

Les Invalides

The dome is recognized on the Paris landscape

but interior is stunning

The organ was build between 1679 and 1687 by the royl organ builder, Alexandre Thierry. 

Wear and tear, including war, could have left this organ in a sad state. 

Repairs and rebuilding have brought this magnificent organ to its full potential. 

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides
76007, Paris

Basilique Notre Dame des Victoires - l'orgue

The angels flank the finely crafted organcase, tribune and entrance to the nave in the Basilique Notre Dame des Victoires.  It was created by Louis Régnier in 1739 and remains today.  I have visited this basilica several times, discovering new details on every visit.  As I search for more information, stories always emerge.

The original organ was constructed by François-Henri Lesclop and reconstructed in 1870 by Charles Spackmann Barker, and John Abbey in 1898.  The organ today was placed by Alfred Kern in French-German neo-classical style in 1973, and recently restored in 1995.  I would say that the replacements and restorations are a good fit with the early architecture which has been lovingly maintained.

 

I will be returning...

bon dimanche

Basilique Notre-Dame des Victoires
6, rue Notre Dame des Victoires
75002, Paris

Église Saint-Louis-en-l'Île

The seventeenth century church on the island of Saint Louis was dedicated to Saint-Louis, Louis IX, King of France.  The ornate Baroque style interior is in stark contrast to the somber exterior.

Although one may imagine this organ as a centuries-old masterpiece, it has a more recent history.  It was made by Aubertin in 2004 (51 stops, 69 ranks) and blends seamlessly with the surrounding periods.  As with many Paris churches there are multiple organs, and I will show you the chancel organ on another Sunday post.

So, before you stop in Berthillon for an ice cream, wander east on Rue St. Louis to see this magnificent church.  You will notice the high, large clock which stands out as you look down the street.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Louis-en-l'Île

19 bis, rue St Louis en l'Île

75004 Paris

 

Église Saint Philippe du Roule

This photo is yet another view of Église Saint Philippe du Roule showing more of the detail that graces this church built between 1774 and 1784 on the site of a former hospital and chapel.  You can see the photos and links from my previous posts here, here, and here.

It sits across the street from a Métro stop of the same name and a fabulous pâtisserie. 

I will even tempt you on a Sunday.

bon dimanche

Église Saint Philippe du Roule

154, rue du Faubourg St Honoré

75008, Paris 

Église Saint-Roch - Two organs

The chancel (choir) organ of Église Saint-Roch is the creation of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, widely considered to be the greatest organ builder of the 19th century. His many innovations and inventions produced the "symphonic organ" which permitted an organ to sound like the individual instruments in a symphony or to be played simultaneously.

There are two organs in Saint-Roch. The chancel organ above is dated 1845 and the grand gallery organ (seen below) has an interesting history. One could say that it was created and re-created over a 90 year period beginning in 1751 (Lesclop), 1770 (Clicquot), and Cavaillé-Coll in 1840. It has remained in a constant state of improvements up to the current time.

My blog-friend Evan Kreider has produced a masterful post, full of photos of this magnificent church and once you have seen this you will understand why I will be posting another church next Sunday. (a smile, a wink, and a "great job" to Evan)

The site of many burials, Nathalie of Avignon-in-Photos told me that the beloved French actress Annie Girardot was memorialized at a funeral here at Église Raint-Roch just weeks ago (on March 5th).

Bon dimanche

Église Saint-Roch

Rue St. Roch et Rue St-Honoré