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fr. Isnard large organ (1775) - St. Maximin, Provence
Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine
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The little village of Saint Maximin was the centre of the
early Christianity in Provence and in France. The monumental royal basilica
was raised by the Charles IInd d'Anjou to the honor and glory of Mary
Magdalene. According to the ancient and venerable tradition
this lady well known from the Gospels came to Provence to preach the Good
News, obeying the Jesus' command "Go forth and
preach the Gospel to all creatures...". After many fruitful years, she was
buried exactly in the place where the basilica stands today, at the place
where Saint Maximin, the first bishop of Aix-en-Provence raised an oratory.
After 1279 when the holy reliquiae of St.
Mary Magdalene were found, the present basilica was constructed in
1295-1296, together with the adjacent dominicians convent. Her tomb became a
pilgrimage place. The reliquiary
with the scull of St. Mary Magdalene may still be venerated in the crypt of
the basilica (pictured on the right). |
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Sancta Maria Magdalena - ora pro nobis! |
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The basilica itself
is said to be the highest in Provence with its 33 meters and it hides many
treasures and pieces of art which witness its past glory. On the western
gallery above the main entrance, the magnificent and large "double sixteen
feet" organ was built by friar Jean-Esprit Isnard in 1772-1775.
It is one of very few French historical organs which
miraculously survived the French revolution. The legend says that when the
revolutionars came to the basilica to destroy its furniture including the
organ, the organist of that time, Mr. Forcade, played the revolutionary song
"Marseillaise" in front of the revolutionary authorities. It saved the organ
from the demolition. However, the dominitians were expelled, the place lost
its importance for some time due to the "secularisation" of the French
republic. So, being an organ in a small countryside village during the 19th century,
it was fortunately saved from all the "modernising" tendencies of that time
(unlike other organs - including the Aix-en-Provence
cathedral instrument (in the vicinity of St. Maximin) originally built by Isnard as well, where only the
historical case remained and the instrument was changed in the course of the
19th and 20th centuries to rather average romantic one according to the
taste of several organbuilders of that time).
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result, this organ remains one of the exceptional French large instruments
whose complete original material made by Isnard is preserved in its
entirety: 2960 pipes! The last restauration of
the organ was done in 1986-1991 by M. Yves Chabourdin. The organ is in very
good condition, also thanks to its "titulaire" organist Pierre Bardon who
takes care of the organ for 45 years now! |
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It is
necessary to express our deep gratitude to the authorities concerned with
the St. Maximin organ: Mr. Gabriel Rinaudo, Maire de St. Maximin, Madame
Véronique Guérin Adjointe à la culture, Mr. Pierre Bardon titulaire de l'orgue,
Mr. Bridonneau Président des "Amis de la Basilique de St.
Maximin", Jean-Jacques Le Coz who accompanied us all the time we were in
France and gave us unbelievably enthusiastic support and Francois Blonay who
was encharched with the communication with the authorities on behalf of us.
Further reading:
- Les Grandes Orgues. Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine
Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume. Edisud: Aix-en-Provence, 2000.
- Michel Moncault: The Basilica Saint Mary-Magdalene
and the Royal Convent. Edisud: Aix-en-Provence, 2003.
- J. R. Cain - R. Martin - J. M. Sanchez: Les Isnard.
Une révolution dans la facture d'orgues. Edisud: Aix-en-Provence,
1991.
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| Mr. Jean
Jacques Le Coz at the St. Maximin organ console. |
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