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Complete description of the selected organ
Photo: Leo Maaskant. Date: 1 May 2012.

Photo: Leo Maaskant

Gent, België (Oost-Vlaanderen) - Sint Niklaaskerk
Municipal: Gent
Region:Vlaanderen
Address: Cataloniestraat 1, 9000, Gent

Description nr.: 2012510.

Built by: Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (1856) - opus 68


  • Aristide Cavaillé-Coll was commissioned in 1853 to build a three manual organ for the Sint Niklaaskerk in Ghent. It was the first work of this builder in Belgium. Inauguration took place on 11 March 1856 with a play by Louis-James-Alfred Lefébure-Wely, alternated with choral and solo singing. On March 12, 1856, Alphonse Mailly gave a concert, followed by another concert by Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wely on March 13.
  • The church was split into two parts, where the eastern part stayed as a parish church for services, and the western part, containing the organ, was sold to the municipality of Gent. This part was out of use for a very long time and closed for public.
  • Since 1964, the organ had been hidden from view by a wooden partition, with the aim of protecting it from dust during the restoration of the hall. At the moment the western part of the church has been restored by the city of Ghent, with the purpose to use it for official occasions, concerts, etc. The organ was examined, and it is a rare example of an almost untouched Cavaillé-Coll organ. A restoration is necesarry. The wooden box around the instrument was removed and the organ is visible since.

Technical data
Number of stops per division
- Grand Orgue14
- Positif10
- Récit Expressif10
- Pédale6
Total number of stops40
Key actionMechanical
Stop actionMechanical
Windchest(s)Slider chests

Specification
Grand Orgue (C-g'''):
Jeux de Fonds: Montre 16', Bourdon 16', Montre 8', Flûte Traversière 8', Bourdon 8', Unda Maris 8' - 1868, Prestant 4'.
Jeux de Combinaison: Quinte 3', Doublette 2', Fourniture 4 rangs, Cymbale 3 rangs, Bombarde 16', Trompette 8', Clairon 4'.
Positif (C-g'''):
Jeux de Fonds: Quintaton 16', Flûte Harmonique 8', Bourdon 8', Viole de Gambe 8', Dulciane 4'.
Jeux de Combinaison: Flûte Octaviante 4', Doublette 2', Flageolet 1', Trompette 8', Cor Anglais 8'.
Récit Expressif (C-g'''):
Jeux de Fonds: Flûte Harmonique 8', Viole de Gambe 8', Voix Céleste 8', Flûte Octaviante 4', Viole d'Amour 4'.
Jeux de Combinaison: Octavin 2', Trompette 8', Basson et Hautbois 8', Voix Humaine 8', Clairon 4'.
Pédale (C-d'):
Jeux de Fonds: Contrebasse 16', Basse 8', Octave 4'.
Jeux de Combinaison: Bombarde 16', Trompette 8', Clairon 4'.
Couplers: Accouplement du Positif au Grand Orgue, Accouplement du Récit au Grand Orgue, Tirasse Grand Orgue, Octaves Graves Grand Orgue, Octaves Graves Positif, Octaves Graves Récit.
Accessories: Trémolo Voix Humaine, Effet d'Orage, Appel d'Anches Grand Orgue, Appel d'Anches Positif, Appel d'Anches Récit, Appel d'Anches Pédale.

Literature
  • Les églises de Gand : Tome II. Églises Paroissiales et Oratoires / Kervyn de Volkaersbeke. - Gand : L. Hebbelynck, 1858.
  • Het Cavaillé-Coll-orgel der St-Niklaaskerk te Gent / Berten De Keyzer. - Gent : Uitgeverij De Schalmey, 1946.
  • Cavaillé-Coll : Brief van Cavaillé-Coll aan de Z.E. Pastoor Dryver van de St-Niklaaskerk te Gent / Luc Jageneau. - In: De Schalmei, 5e Jaargang Nr. 1, Februari 1950.
  • Brief van Cavaillé-Coll aan de heer Strauven organist aan de St-Niklaaskerk te Gent II. - In: De Schalmei, 5e Jaargang Nr. 2, April 1950.
  • Brief van Cavaillé-Coll aan de heer Strauven III. - In: De Schalmei, 5e Jaargang Nr. 3, Juni 1950.
  • Brief van Cavaillé-Coll aan de Heer Strauwen IV. - In: De Schalmei, 5e Jaargang Nr. 5, Oktober 1950.
  • Un orgue centenaire / J. Kreps. - In: Musica Sacra, 57ste jrg., nr. 4, 1956.
  • Oude orgels in Vlaanderen : deel II / Gaby Moortgat. - [Brussel] : B.R.T., Dienst Pers en Publikaties, 1965. - (Brochure nr. 30).
  • Autour de l'inauguration par Lefébure-Wély de l'orgue Cavaillé-Coll de l'église St-Nicolas à Gand (1856) / J.P. Felix. - In: L'Organiste, 25e Année, Numéro 97, 1993/1.
  • Cavaillé-Collorgels in België 1859-1891 / Gilbert Huybens. - In: Orgelkunst, jrg. XX nummer 4, december 1997.
  • Storm in de St.-Niklaaskerk te Gent anno 1856 / Joris De Henau. - In: Het Orgel, jrg. 99 nr. 4, juli 2003.
  • Aristide Cavaille-Coll in de Sint-Niklaaskerk te Gent (1853-1856) / Joris De Henau. - In: Orgelkunst, jrg. 26, nr. 3, september 2003.
  • Het Cavaillé-Collorgel in de Sint-Niklaaskerk te Gent (1856) : De geschiedenis van de bouw en de inspeling van een romantisch orgel / Joris De Henau. - 2004.
  • Symposium rond Cavaillé-Coll-orgel St.-Niklaaskerk te Gent. - In: De Orgelkrant, jrg. 11 nr. 10, oktober 2006.
Links https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orgel_van_de_Sint-Niklaaskerk_in_Gent
YouTube Mini Documentary - The Cavaillé-Coll Organ of Ghent and its builder (2020)

Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Source: BRT.
Source: BRT
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
 Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 17 November 2012.
Photo: Piet Bron
Photo: Jan van der Male. Date: 10 March 2011.
Photo: Jan van der Male