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The Great Organ in Sens Cathedral was built between 1722 and 1734 by Louis LEBE and Jean-François MANGIN.
The console encloses 32 stops spread over 3 manual keyboards and a 29-key pedal-board.
34 notes were added during the organ refurbishment by Jehan RICHARD in 1774 when some improvements were made.
It was repaired after the Revolution by Jehan LEFEVRE, who replaced the old pump bellows with one from the Vauluisant organ and gave the pedal a new trumpet.
It was also given an Echo keyboard in 1823 by Jean-Baptiste Gavot who installed a new parallel-fold pump bellows.
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Although it was known to be in bad condition in 1848, and despite quotations from MERCKLIN, CHAZELL and CAVAILLE-COL that were not pursued, it was only rebuilt in 1898 by STOLTZ.
He romanticised the instrument, removing all the mixtures, the two tierce stops and some of the reed stops, replacing them by gamba stops and adding an expressive 8-stop swell organ.
The windchest of the Great Organ had been altered. Although it is regrettable that the stops were removed as described above, nevertheless Stoltz clearly saved the instrument from ruin and its harmonisation is among the most successful.
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Taken up Rebuilt in 1937/38 by Gutschenritter, it was enhanced by a harmonic flute on the first keyboard and the operation of the restored mechanism was given a lift fromsupport by a Barker machine.
Finally, in 1967, the cello on the Grand Organ and the salicional on the positive gave way to a flute 4 and a tierce respectively, installed by Mr. MASSET.
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The organ was feeling its age and inevitably required further restoration. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1973,
the Commission Supérieure (Higher Committee) finally opted for reconstruction in late-18th century style,
with nevertheless the installation of a more extensive Echo keyboard to allow the music of J.S. Bach and Nordic music to be played in the best possible conditions.
16 old stops (18th century), very uniform and complete, plus the flute 16 on the pedal have been preserved and restored.
The work was entrusted to BOISSEAU/CATTIAUX, who made no concessions to quality (new 85% tin pipes among other things).
The instrument has 48 real stops spread over 4 manuals and interchangeable German and French pedal-boards. The organ has 2,906 pipes.
The Great Organ is today kept by Michèle Leclerc, the Cathedral's organist.
Based on the study of the Great Organ of Sens Cathedral by Canon Pierre LALLEMAND
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Take a look at the animated slide shows on the Cathedral in the History section.
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