Pontmain: The large organ of the basilica gets a makeover

an large organ nonagenarian an Pontmain basilica they will no longer resonate in the body of the building by spring.

an January 18, 2022the day after the end of the jubilee 150th anniversary of the apparition of Marian, the organ builders of the Nantes company Robert’s brothers began to disassemble the venerable instrument.

To the utmost satisfaction ofAlain Guerinelorganic of the basilica since 1986, now holder.

“We’ve been talking about it since 2012! “The musician and the music teacher remember. In recent years, the sanctuary has launched a number of appeals for donations to fund this complete renovation.

A project of ” € 240 000, funded entirely by donations ”, states Alain Guérinel. This process is part of the history of the instrument, offered in 1930 by pilgrims.

Its safety

Organically transmitted organ, whose old copper cables now have to be replaced, insulated with a cotton sheath, which is too flammable by today’s standards. “It’s security,” Alain Guérinel sums up.

Activate keyboard keys electromagnets, which activates the pipe valves. This work is also an opportunity to change these electromagnets. “They have not existed since 1930,” emphasizes the organism.

Also on the program was the installation of a new 150 kg Italian engine, powerful enough to blow the necessary air into the tanks. It is raised on the platform using an electric lift.

Fir windbreakers are replaced. Two keyboards are added, bringing their total to four, as well as four new games, ie 392 pipe. “They will enrich the harmonic palette of the tool. »

The sets are lead and tin pipe sets. There are about forty of them at the Pontmain organ.

“Each will respond to a different tone,” explains the organist, who can recognize each stop in his head: “That’s the flute; that, the salicional; this is the bombardment; then, the trumpet… ”which he shows as he walks through the bow of the instrument. Here and there, rows of holes announce the arrival of new pipes.

Inaugural concert on May 28th

Finally, everything will be operated by a brand new console – keyboard support – and a computer it will allow you to calculate the matches. “He will not play in our place, smiling Alain Guérinel, but the most exciting part is not pulling the games by hand. »

Finding an available organ builder was not easy: “There are very few people left and they are overwhelmed. Organs of many cathedrals and basilicas are restored, in Paris, Amiens, Chartes, Nancy… ”

The restored organ is to greet Ascension, before an inaugural concert Thomas’ s Hospitalorgan title of Saint-Eustache church in Paris, Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 8:30 pm

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