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Complete description of the selected organ
Photo: firma Jos. Stevens. Date: 1930.

Photo: firma Jos. Stevens

Brussel, België (Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest) - Paleis voor Schone Kunsten (Palais des Beaux-Arts) (BOZAR), Salle Henry le Boeuf
Municipal: Brussel
Region:Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest
Address: Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000, Brussel
Website: http://www.bozar.be/

Description nr.: 2016287.

Built by: Georg Westenfelder (2000)

YearBuilderOpusActivity
1930 firma Jos Stevens  new organ
2000 Georg Westenfelder  new organ in old case
2017 Georg Westenfelder  restoration and enlargement

  • George Westenfelder built a large concert organ for the Salle Henry le Boeuf of the Palace of Fine Arts (Paleis voor Schone Kunsten, Palais des Beaux-Arts) in Brussels in the years 1998-2000. It was placed in an organ case designed by Victor Horta for the Stevens organ, which was built for the Société Philharmonique in the years 1925-1930. This organ was built under the advice of Paul De Maleingreau. It was opened on November 6, 1930 with a concert by Paul De Maleingreau and Joseph Jongen. The instrument was severely damaged by a fire in 1967. The inside has been removed and stored. A small Flentrop organ has been in the room since 1972.
  • The new organ has four manuals, the fourth of which is connected to a synthesizer. The entire organ is equipped with MIDI and can be programmed using. There is one free rank, the Tuba Mirabilis, which can optionally be used on any manual and pedal.
  • Serious flooding occurred on Saturday 10 July 2010 as a result of heavy rainfall. The organ was badly damaged as a result. The damage was repaired in the following years. On September 15, 2017 the organ was put back into use with a concert by Olivier Latry.
  • On January 18, 2021, a fire broke out in the building. The organ was damaged by water, and a restoration of the instrument is necessary.

Technical data
Number of stops per division
- Grand Orgue15
- Positif15
- Récit19
- Vrij koppelbaar register1
- Pédale10
Total number of stops60
Key actionElectrical
Stop actionElectrical
Windchest(s)Slider chests
 Syncordia-tractuur

Specification
Grand Orgue (C-c''''): Montre 16', Bourdon 16', Montre 8', Flûte Harmonique 8', Bourdon à Cheminée 8', Gambe 8', Prestant 4', Flûte 4', Quinte 2 2/3', Doublette 2', Cornet 5 rangs, Fourniture 5 rangs, Bombarde 16', Trompette 8', Clairon 4'.
Positif (C-c''''): Quintaton 16', Principal 8', Flûte Ouverte 8', Bourdon 8', Salicional 8', Unda Maris 8', Prestant 4', Flûte à Cheminée 4', Nazard 2 2/3', Quarte de Nazard 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Larigot 1 1/3', Plein Jeu 4 rangs, Clarinette 16', Cromorne 8'.
Récit (C-c''''): Bourdon 16', Principal 8', Flûte Major 8', Cor de Nuit 8', Gambe 8', Voix Céleste 8', Prestant 4', Flûte Traversière 4', Quinte Harmonique 2 2/3', Octavin 2', Tierce Harmonique 1 3/5', Piccolo 1', Carillon 3 rangs, Fourniture 5 rangs, Basson 16', Trompette 8', Hautbois 8', Vox Humana 8', Clairon 4'.
Vrij koppelbaar (C-c''''): Tuba Mirabilis 8'.
Pédale (C-g'): Soubasse 32', Soubasse 16', Flûte 16', Salicional 16', Flûte 8', Salicional 8', Flûte 4', Bombarde 16', Trompette 8', Clairon 4'.
Couplers: Accouplement du Positif au Grand Orgue, Accouplement du Récit au Grand Orgue, Octaves Graves du Récit au Grand Orgue, Accouplement du Récit au Positif, Tirasse Grand Orgue, Tirasse Positif, Tirasse Récit.
Accessories: 4000 Setzercombinaties.

Other specifications
Different specifications The stop list of the Stevens organ (1930) was:
Grand-Orgue (C-c''''): Diapason 16', Bourdon 16', Montre 8', Flûte Harmonique 8', Violoncelle 8', Salicional 8', Bourdon 8', Gros Nasard 5 1/3', Prestant 4', Bourdon 4', Flûte 4', Grosse Tierce 3 1/5', Nazard 2 2/3', Septième 2 2/7', Doublette 2', Fourniture 4 rangs, Cymbale 4 rangs, Bombarde 16' (gereserveerd), Trompette 8', Clairon 4'.
Positif Expressif (C-c''''): Quintaton 16', Bourdon 8', Gemshorn 8', Salicional 8', Unda Maris 8', Flûte à Pavillon 8', Principal 4', Gemshorn 4', Flûte 4', Nazard 2 2/3', Octavin Harmonique 2', Tierce 1 3/5', Nasard 1 1/3', Septième 1 1/7', Piccolo 1', Trompette 8' (gereserveerd), Cromhorne 8', Trémolo.
Récit Expressif (C-c''''): Dulciana 16', Bourdon 16', Dulciana 8', Diapason 8', Gambe 8', Flûte Traversière 8', Voix Céleste 8', Prestant 4', Dulciana 4', Flûte Octaviante 4', Octavin Harmonique 2', Larigot 1 1/3', Piccolo 1', Cornet 3 rangs, Basson 16', Trompette Harmonique 8', Clairon Harmonique 4', Musette 8', Voix Humaine 8', Trémolo.
Pédale (C-g'): Contrebasse 32', Soubasse 32' (expressif), Contrebasse 16', Flûte 16', Soubasse 16' (expressif), Quinte 10 2/3' (expressif), Octave 8', Contrebasse 8', Flûte 8', Basse 8' (expressif), Tierce 6 2/5' (expressif), Quinte 5 1/3' (expressif), Septième 4 4/7' (expressif), Octave 4', Flûte 4', Octave 2', Basson 16' (expressif), Bombarde 16', Trompette 8', Basson 8' (expressif).
Accouplements: Positif au Grand Orgue, Récit au Grand Orgue, Récit au Positif, Tirasse Grand Orgue, Tirasse Positif, Tirasse Récit, Tirasse Récit Octave Aiguë, Récit au Grand Orgue Octave Grave, Positif au Grand Orgue Octave Aiguë, Grand Orgue Octave Aiguë.
Combinaisons: Anches Pédale, Anches Grand Orgue, Anches Positif, Anches Récit, Piano, Forte, Mezzo-Forte, Tutti, 4 Combinaisons Libres, Crescendo Général.
Literature
  • Société Philharmonie de Bruxelles Palais des Beaux-Arts : Grande Salle de Concerts : Jeudi 6 novembre 1930 à 20 h. 30 : Récital Hors-Série Inauguration des Grandes Orgues.
  • Nieuwe orgels. - In: Musica Sacra, XXXVIIe jaar, no. 4, december 1930.
  • Het orgel in het Paleis van Schoone Kunsten te Brussel / Ferd. Timmermans. - In: Maandblad Het Orgel, 35e Jaargang No. 7, April 1938.
  • Orgel International 4/2000.
  • Een nieuw concertzaalorgel in Bozar te Brussel / Luk Bastiaens. - In: De Orgelvriend, jrg. 60, nr. 1, januari/februari 2018.
  • Actueel : Orgel kunstcentrum Bozar in Brussel onbruikbaar door brand / Gerco Schaap [red.]. - In: De Orgelvriend, jrg. 63 nr. 2, maart 2021.
Recordings Joseph Jongen : OEuvres pour orgue / Cindy Castillo. - Orgue en Wallonnie MEW 2001 (CD). - 2021.
Other sources
  • Jörg R. Becker