Cathédrale St-Jean-Baptiste: Cathédrale
671, boul. Louis Fréchette
Nicolet, QC, CA
Images
2017-07-17 - Console (Photograph by Stephen St.Denis/Stephen St.Denis)
2017-07-17 - The 2016 organ case (Photograph by Stephen St.Denis/Stephen St.Denis)
2017-07-17 - Organ case in the apse of the Cathedral (Photograph by Stephen St.Denis/Stephen St.Denis)
2017-07-17 - Stained glass wall at the rear of the Cathedral (Photograph by Stephen St.Denis/Stephen St.Denis)
2017-07-17 - Stained glass window behind Bishop's chair (Photograph by Stephen St.Denis/Stephen St.Denis)
2017-07-17 - Cathedral exterior (Photograph by Stephen St.Denis/Stephen St.Denis)
Notes
2020-05-04 - Updated through online information from Jeff Scoffield. -- Due to suspected ground instability due to a very close near-by landslide, the original building was demolished and the new cathedral completed in 1963; the organ, which had been put into storage, was installed by Odilon Jacques in the new building.
-James R. Stettner
Stoplist
Source: Taken from 2017 photos of the console May 4, 2020
Nicolet, Quebec
Cathédrale St-Jean-Baptiste
CASAVANT-FRÈRES, Nᴼ 381, 1909
Odilon Jacques, 1963 - “Re-Installation and Replacement Console”
Ateliers Bellavance, 2016-16, “New Casework and New Console”
GRAND ORGUE POSITIF (Expressif)
16' Montre 61 8' Principal 61
8' Montre I 61 8' Mèlodie 61
8' Montre II 61 8' Dulciane 61
8' Gambe 61 4' Flûte traversière 61
8' Flûte double 61 2' Piccolo 61
8' Gemshorn 61 8' Clarinette 61
4' Prestant 61
4' Flûte harm. 61 Positif mute
2' Doublette 61 Positif aigu
III Mixture 1⅓' 183
8' Trompette 61
SOLO (Expressif w/Positif)
G. orgue muet 8' Violoncelle 61
G. orgue 4' 8' Flûte ouverte 61
4' Flûte traversière 61
8' Tuba mirabilis 61
RÉCIT (Expressif) 8' Hautbois 61
16' Bourdon 61 Tremolo
8' Principal 61
8' Bourdon 61
8' Flûte harmonique 61 PÉDALE
8' Gambe 61 32' Flûte [resultant] –-
8' Voix cèleste (tc) 49 16' Violon 32 ⌂
4' Flute octaviante 61 16' Flûte 32 ●
4' Violon 61 16' Bourdon 32 ◘
2 Octavin 61 8' Violoncelle 12 ⌂
III Cornet [12-15-17] 183 8' Flûte 12 ●
8' Trompette 61 8' Bourdon 12 ◘
8' Hautbois 61 16' Bombarde 32 ☼
8' Voix humaine 61 8' Trompette 12 ☼
Tremolo
Récit grave
Récit muet
Récit aigu
ACCOUPLEMENT COMBINAISONS (Finger)
Récit a la Pédale 8 Généraux 1 – 8
Récit aigu a la Pédale 4 Récit 1 - 6
Gr. Orgue a la Pédale 8 Réc Péd. (rev)
Gr. Orgue aigu a la Pédale 4 Réc G.O. (rev)
Positif a la Pédale 8 Grand Orgue 1 - 8
Positif aigu a la Pédale 4 G.O. Péd. (rev)
Solo a la Pédale 8 Positif 1 - 4
Solo aigu a la Pédale 4 Pos. Péd. (rev)
Pos. G.O. (rev)
Récit Grave au Gr. orgue 16 Solo 1 - 3
Récit au Gr. orgue 8 Adjuster
Récit aigu au Gr. orgue 4 Cancel
Positif au Gr. Orgue 8
Positif aigu au Gr. Orgue 4
Solo au Gr. Orgue 8 COMBINAISONS (Toe)
Solo aigu au Gr. orgue 4 Pédale 1 - 4
Plein jeu (rev)
Récit au Positif 8 Grand jeu (rev)
Récit aigu au Positif 4
Solo au Positif 8
Solo aigu au Positif 4 PÉDALES de EXPRESSION
Positif/Solo (bal.)
Récit (bal.)
Crescendo (bal.)
ACTION: E-P STOPS: 39 REGISTERS: 43 RANKS: 41 PIPES: 2,543
NOTES
The organ was first installed in the fourth cathedral in 1909. It was housed
in two immense, ornate twin cases in the rear gallery. A 4-manual terraced
drawknob console sat in fixed position, center with the organist facing the
cases.
A 1955 landslide which damaged or destroyed several buildings adjacent to
the Cathedral, caused the ground to be unstable. The organ was dismantled
and stored and the Cathedral demolished.
In 1963 it was re-installed in the new cathedral by organ builder Odilon
Jacques. The instrument was taken out from its organ case and installed
behind a row of display pipes most of which were dummies. However, for an
unknown reason, an American-made electrical three-manual console replaced
the 1909 four-manual console. Also, it was decided to include both the
Positif and Solo divisions on the same manual. the organ was installed in
the right chancel transept. The cathedral sanctuary being surrounded by an
openwork trellis, the console was installed behind it, invisible to the congregation, but in front of the altar. Nevertheless, some years later,
it was moved forward near the stalls. Over time and with use-related wear,
the console became increasingly unreliable, and repairs were requested for
more than a decade.
After 100 years of service, 50 of which in the actual cathedral, the instru-
ment needed a complete renovation. These works included a review of the wind
system by modifications to the 1963 reservoirs, the construction of a new
console, a full re-leathering and a reconditioning of the pipework.
An invitation to bid was extended to Ateliers Bellavance, of St. Hugues,
managed by Jean-Félix Bellavance. The Québec Religious Heritage Council
contributed to the total cost while the difference was assumed by donations
gathered during a fund-raising campaign launched on September 27th, 2014.
A proposal for moving the organ nearer the trellis was submitted. Problems
of sound dispersion in the nave affected the enjoyment of music by the con-
gregation and even the support for congregational singing. Following a con-
sultation with an acoustician, it was decided to build a new organ case for
a better sound dispersion throughout the cathedral.
A new modern organ case, designed by the designer Louis-François Grondin,
was built by Ateliers Bellavance. The new terraced console, executed by
carpenter Christian St-Pierre, is reminiscent of the original console.
Furthermore, it was decided to build a three-manual console but to allow
the Solo division to be played on different manuals via coupling. It re-
mained expressive with the Positif division.
Voicing was executed by Jean-Sébastien Dufour who returned to the original
stops all their finesse and their coherence. Restoration works ended in the
spring of 2016. The instrument was blessed on June 19th by Bishop André
Gazaille, of Nicolet. The inaugural concert took place on June 29th, 2016,
and brought-tigether organists Giles Fortin, Martin Brossard and Marc Senne-
ville as well as soprano France Caya and the St. Frederic Church Choir of
Drummondville, directed by Pierre Bessette and accompanied by Françoise
Gélinas at the organ.
Sources: Musique Orgue Quebec:
(http://musiqueorguequebec.ca/orgues/quebec/nicolet.html);
OHS Database photos taken July 17, 2017 by Stephen StDenis
and posted to the Database May 4, 2020.
Cathédrale St-Jean-Baptiste
671, boul. Louis Fréchette
Nicolet, Quebec
Canada J3T 1L6 Documented: May 4, 2020
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