ROUEN.
THE CATHEDRAL.—At the west end, under a grand rose window, stands one of the best organs in Normandy. Its gallery is supported by two internal buttresses of white stone, or marble, on each side of the grand entrance. It consists of five towers of five pipes each, the largest, which are the outside towers, being supported by giants, and surmounted by a statue. The two next towers have vases on their summits; and the centre tower, which is the least, is crowned with a clock. Between these towers stand four equal flats, with nine pipes each, which are perhaps the only failure in this grand case. The Choir in front has three towers, with five pipes each, surmounted with vases, the least in the centre, and two flats of nine pipes each. The culs-de-lampe have much open work about them. The organ gallery is concave in plan. The tone of the Great Organ is good, the shrill stops not being prominent, and the reeds not too loud. When I heard it, the player could not be called first-class. The Accompaniment Organ stands on the north side of the Choir; it has two gabled flats, with a narrow gable tower between, of modern Gothic work. Its tone is fair, but nothing particular. 1866, 1875.
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ROUEN CATHEDRAL
21ST. MAY, 1875.
CANTELEU.—The parish church is without an organ, but in the centre of the Choir stands a harmonium or American organ. It is a pity that a good church like this, in a wealthy suburb, is without a proper instrument. 1875.
ST. GEORGES DE BOSCHERVILLE.—A small village some little distance from the city, with a famous Norman church, which has a small old three-towered organ, with no Choir in front, standing in its west gallery. 1875.
ST. MACLOU.—The organ, which stands at the west end of the church, has four towers of five pipes each, the largest outside, overhanging the case. The two adjoining flats have seven pipes each, and the centre flat, which is divided in half, has nine pipes in its lower division, and thirteen in the upper, which is surmounted by a clock. The Choir in front, has three towers; the centre, which is the tallest, having seven pipes, the outer towers have five pipes, and the intermediate flats seven. The organ gallery is supported by grey marble columns, and on its south side has a very fine stone-staircase. The case has very elaborate Renaissance carving, and above it stands a good rose window. When I saw it in 1866, the organ had just been repaired, and the pipe-work was brilliant and had well-shaped mouths. When I saw it again in 1875, they looked very dull and out of condition. 1866, 1875.
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ST. MACLOU, ROUEN.
20TH. MAY, 1875.
NOTRE-DAME DE BON SECOURS has, at the west end, a modern French Gothic organ, with much gilding and plain pipes. The Choir Organ in front is very small, merely a screen in front of the player. Behind the Stalls, on the south aisle of the Choir, is a long low oak box, containing a small organ, the key-board of which is in the Choir Stalls. 1866.
ST. OUEN.—The organ stands in a grand case, in a gallery supported by white marble columns, at the west end of the church, with one of the finest rose windows in France over it. The great case has five towers with five pipes each, and four flats with seven each. The largest towers overhang the extremity of the case, and are surmounted by winged angels. The intermediate towers, which are half hexagons, have on the southern tower, the statue of St. Cecilia, and on the northern, one of King David. The centre tower, which is the smallest, has a figure which I could not make out. Query, St. Ouen? The Choir case has three towers of five pipes each, the least in the centre, with two flats of seven pipes. This organ has very good Renaissance carving about it. In a chapel on the north side of the Choir is a modern Gothic organ, the mouths of whose pipes are well formed. The key-board is in the Choir, and the trackers run under the side aisle. 1866, 1875.
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ST. OUEN—ROUEN
20TH. MAY, 1875.
ST. SEVER (on the south side of the river).—The organ in this church is curiously arranged. The west tower, which projects into the church, is faced with marble, the lower part of which consists of a large arch for the western door. It has on either side a round-headed recess, holding on one side a painting of St. Paul, and on the other, that of St. Peter. Above this is a large round arch, panelled with oak, with a small Choir Organ in front, and the upper part of the arch has pipes which follow its curve. Beyond this, can be seen a circular west window, with a flat of pipes underneath, with oak carving. On each side of this arch stand tall round arches, filled with pipe-work. 1875.
ST. VINCENT.—The aristocratic church of Rouen. The Tarif de Chaises beats any regulation for letting pews that I am aware of in England. At the west end is a Renaissance organ, with a Choir Organ in front, in fairish condition. On the north side of the Choir is an Accompaniment Organ, of the usual French Gothic pattern. 1866.
ST. VIVIEN.—In a gallery at the west end is a large organ, very similar to that in the Cathedral, the chief difference being, that in place of the intermediate towers, are pilasters surmounted by statues. The Choir Organ in front, which has three towers, projects very far from the gallery. On the north side of the Choir is a small organ of no particular style, consisting of three flats. 1875.
The three great organs in Rouen, in the Cathedral, St. Ouen, and St. Maclou, have cases of which any city or town may well be proud.