Completion of the first phase of the reconstruction of the organ at the American Cathedral
At the end of August, we completed the first half of the reconstruction of the Cavaillé-Coll organ at the American Cathedral in Paris.
The ‘Nave’ division of the organ, comprising the two cases on stilts at the rear of the nave as well as the pipes situated beneath the large stained-glass window, was installed in February and voiced in March (with the exception of the Récit reeds and the Chamade, which will be installed during the second phase).
Andrew Dewar, titulaire, playing various pieces of the repertoire on the Nave Division upon its completion (without the reeds)
Above, views of the cases and pipework of the Nave Division
Views of the Chancel Positif Expressif and Grand Organ sections, and their pipework.
Below, you will find videos recorded by Andrew Dewar, the organist, and by George Throup, also musician at the American Cathedral in Paris
Andrew Dewar plays
- Charles-Marie Widor - Marche, from Symphony No. 3
- Louis Vierne - Scherzo, from Symphony No. 2
- Maurice Duruflé - Prélude et fugue sur le nom d’Alain, Op. 7
- Franz Schmidt - Toccata
- César Franck - Prière
- Jonathan Dove - The Dancing Pipes
- Sigfrid Karg-Elert - Marche Pontificale, from Triptych
George Throup plays Le Jardin Féerique, from Ma Mère l'Oye, by Maurice Ravel
Andrew Dewar plays 14 Interludes in different keys by Sigfrid Karg-Elert
The organ is still awaiting the return of its grand Récit expressif (largely by Cavaillé-Coll), its (new) double Solo — expanded and completed based on the concept of Convers' works — as well as the Grande Pedale.
The diagram above shows the instrument’s current specifications.
Four Grande Pedal stops that have not yet been reinstalled are temporarily playing different combinations on the 16’ Bourdon of the Positif expressif, to compensate for the virtual absence of actual pedal stops in the Chancel
Notes:
＊: transforming the progressive, Cavaillé-Coll like Plein-Jeu III-VI into a Plein-Jeu VI.
＊＊: stop placed outside the swell box, unenclosed, partially in the façade
1: currently Théorbe III in 32’ (6’ 2/5, 4’ 4/7, 3’ 5/9)
2: first 12 notes by Resultant on the Bourdon 16’ GO and Positif, then Bourdon 16’ Positif one octave down
3: currently Théorbe III in 16' (3' 1/5, 2' 2/7, 1' 7/9)
4: 10 2/3 from the 16' Bourdon of the Positif
The full specification is available on the project page by clicking here.
This major milestone provides an opportunity to come together and get a first glimpse of this part of the instrument during a grand Thanksgiving concert to mark the 140th anniversary of the consecration of the American Cathedral in November 1886.
On Wednesday 25 November 2026, come and hear the organ played by Andrew Dewar, accompanied by the Chœur Lumière conducted by George Throup, with William Fielding on the piano and Valerie Kirby-Ashmore on the violin.
Free concert; a collection will be taken at the exit to benefit the grand organ reconstruction.
