The Cathedral Organ
The Cathedral is home to a magnificant pipe organ which fills the building with its clear tones and deep basses for worship services and at regular concert events. The original organ pipes date from 1912, after the great fire which destroyed much of the Choir area.
The organ is played from this massive console located in the Choir. Identified as Opus 2399, the console was constructed in 1957 by Casavant Frères Ltée, of St-Hyacinthe, Québec. The company ranks as Canada's best known organ builders, and is responsible for many of the large organs in eastern Canada and the United States early in this century. Today, Casavant does business around the world.
Renovations in 1981 were completed by J.-Jean Girouard.
Organ Works
The north transept is almost completely filled with the organ works, although other parts of the organ are found in the South Transept (The Chapel).
Organ pipes in the North Transept |
A narrow ladder through the ceiling of the North Transept leads to the incredible sight of over 2500 organ pipes squeezed into this tiny chamber. Made of wood and metal, and ranging from a few centimeters to over five meters tall, these pipes give the Cathedral organ its voice, and its beauty. The pipes in the photo show evidence of being hand tuned. Note the metal flaps which can be bent to adjust the sound of the larger pipes. The smaller pipes have an adjustable collar near the top end. Each row of pipes corresponds to a 'stop' on the organ console. Every organ is unique in this respect, and its design and construction must match the architecture where it is to be installed.
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