After the French Revolution, nearly half a century of silence followed for French organ art, as countless instruments were destroyed.
Instruments
The Cavaillé-Coll organ in Saint-Étienne Church, Caen, is a late masterpiece by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, combining an 18th-century wooden case with his 1882-1885 instrument.
Instruments
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, a genius organ builder, created the 'symphonic organ' starting with his instrument for Saint-Denis in 1841, ushering in a new era for French music.
Composer Biography
Charles-Marie Widor, known as the father of the organ symphony, served throughout his life at the great Cavaillé-Coll organ of Saint-Sulpice.
Composer Biography
Louis Vierne, who was nearly blind from birth, devoted his life to the organ and served as titular organist at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Composer's Artistic Vision
César Franck, inspired by the orchestral range of Cavaillé-Coll's instruments, established the concept of a 'symphony for the organ' with his Grande Pièce Symphonique, Op. 17.
Composition History
Louis Vierne's Sixth Symphony, composed in 1930, stands as both a culmination of his work and a farewell, as he died seven years later at the console of Notre-Dame.
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