The current great organ of the Church of Saint Dominic
of Paris, installed in the church in 1944, replaced an
instrument of Cavaillé-Coll deemed too limited. It was
built in 1904 for the salon of Count Christian de Bertier
de Sauvigny by Merklin, which had been taken over by
Gaston Gutschenritter, foreman and workshop
manager trained by Joseph Merklin upon his retirement.
This first destination gives an explanation to the
sumptuous buffet, the details of which can be admired
tribune. Enhanced by a ledge with balusters, the buffet
offers fluted columns with Corinthian capitals that
frame the façade pipes and on which rest carved
wooden garlands. The central part of the buffet, in the
hemicycle, comes to marry the organist's bench.
It is said that this instrument was frequented by the
biggest names of the French organ in the salons of the
Count of Bertier (see photo): Louis Vierne, Charles-
Marie Widor, André Marchal, André Fleury, Maurice
Duruflé ...
After the death of the Count of Bertier and his wife, the
heirs generously ceded this magnificent instrument to
the parish of Saint Dominic. The organ whose buffet
had been slightly reduced (see photos) was then
installed on the South tribune by Jules Isambart, organ
builder, and Jean Perroux, harmonist, both former
workers of Cavaillé-Coll. The instrument was
inaugurated on October 20, 1945 with the help of
Marcel Dupré.
In 1962, it underwent a major restoration by the Society
of Former Gaston Gutschenritter Establishments.
During this restoration the organ, then pneumatic, was
electrified and enlarged by slightly retouching its
composition. On this occasion, the keyboard block was
replaced as well as the stop draughts by plastic tabs
which are unfortunately not of the best taste given the
quality of the buffet. In 2003, the instrument was
restored again by Marc Hedelin.
The instrument currently has 36 stops (including 32 real
stops) spread over 3 56-note keyboards and a 32-note
pedal. The transmission is electric, it is equipped with
two expressive boxes (Swell and Positive ).
Text : Thierry Correard
Saint Dominique
16, rue de la Tombe-Issoire, 75014 Paris
1905 - Joseph Merklin/Joseph Gutschenritter
1924 - Gaston Gutschenritter
1944 - Jules Isambart & Jean Perroux
1962 - Robert Masset
2003 - Marc Hedelin
2021 - Bernard Dargassies*
Vidéo
The Church of Saint-Dominique is quite recent in
construction since it was completed in 1921. It is the
work of the architect Georges Gaudibert, who was
inspired by the Romano-Byzantine style. One of its
peculiarities is its East eardrum on the outside for which
the sculptor André Bourroux placed in 1946 a high relief
representing Saint-Dominique in the guise of ... actor and
director Louis Jouvet who posed for the artist.
Organiste titulaire
Julien Lucquiaud
Concerts
-
Masses woth organ
Saturday 6:30, Sunday 9, 10:30 AM, 6:30
PM
Videos
-
Restoration works of Dargassies, 2020/2021:
Removal of all the dust, and re-harmonization to
restore its symphonic character while
improving/modifying the additions of the 1960s. The
unusable stops of 1962 will be removed. The console
will be modernized, receive a reliable electronic
transmission system and a combinator. See also:
stoplist.
Source: Julien Lucquiaud, organiste titulaire (on
facebook)