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Complete description of the selected organ
Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 16 September 2008.

Photo: Piet Bron

Liège, België (Liège) - Église Collégiale Saint-Dénis, Orgue de Transept

Forwarded from: Liège - Conservatoire Royal (1862 - 1979)

Municipal: Liège
Region:Wallonie
Address: Place Saint-Dénis, 4000, Liège

Description nr.: 2023403.

Built by: Joseph Merklin (1862)

YearBuilderOpusActivity
1862 Joseph Merklin  new organ
1887 Pierre Schyven & Cie.  transfer/relocate
1963 Georges Delmotte  rebuild
1979 Builder unknown  transfer/relocate

  • In 1862, Joseph Merklin built an organ for the conservatory in Liège on behalf of François-Joseph Fétis, who was then director. The conservatory was located on Place Cockerill. It was a two-manual organ with thirteen registers. In 1887 the organ was moved to a new building on Rue Forgeur by Pierre Schyven.
  • The organ was renovated by the Delmotte company in 1963. On the advice of Jeanne Demessieux, then organ teacher, the disposition was adjusted to a more baroque character, the action was electrified and the compass of the pedal was expanded from 27 to 32 keys.
  • When Hubert Schoonbroodt became organ teacher in 1969, it was decided to replace the organ. It was sold in 1979 to Christian Vaillant, who had it placed on loan in the Église Saint-Dénis in Liège. It was installed here in the north transept behind a wooden screen without a visible facade. The console was placed free-standing in front of this screen, with the organist's view towards the choir of the church. The pitch was raised from a'=435 Hz to a'=440 Hz.
  • The organ will be overhauled in 2024. The wooden screen will be replaced by the front of the organ of the former Église Saint-Joseph (Église des Jésuites) that stood on Rue Saint-Gilles. This front was purchased by Christian Vaillant and Philippe Libois when the church was demolished.

Short list of all locations the organ has been
1862LiègeConservatoire Royal
1979LiègeÉglise Collégiale Saint-Dénis, Orgue de Transept

Technical data
Number of stops per division
- Grand Orgue8
- Récit Expressif5
- Pédale3
Total number of stops16
Key actionElectro-mechanical
Stop actionElectropneumatic
Windchest(s)Slider chests
Pitcha' = 440 Hz
TemperamentEqual temperament

Specification
Grand Orgue (C-g'''): Principal 8' - 1963, Bourdon 8', Prestant 4', Flûte Conique 4' - 1963, Nazard 2 2/3' - 1963, Octave 2', Tierce 1 3/5' - 1963, Fourniture 3 rangs - 1963.
Récit Expressif (C-g'''): Flûte 8', Salicional 8', Principal 4' - 1963, Cymbale 2 rangs - 1963, Hautbois 8'.
Pédale (C-g'): Soubasse 16', Bourdon 8' - 1963, Flûte 4' - 1963.
Couplers: Accouplement du Récit au Grand Orgue, Tirasse Grand Orgue, Tirasse Récit, Tirasse Récit en 4'.
Accessories: Combinaison Libre, Tutti.

Other specifications
Different specifications The original specification was:
Grand Orgue (C-g'''):
Jeux de Fonds: Bourdon 16', Bourdon 8', Flûte Harmonique 8', Viola di Gamba 8'.
Jeux de Combinaison: Prestant 4', Doublette 2', Trompette 8'.
Récit Expressif (C-g'''): Flûte Harmonique 8', Salicional 8', Flûte Harmonique 4', Basson-Hautbois 8', Trémolo.
Pédale (C-d'): Soubasse 16', Flûte 8'.
Accouplements: Accouplement du Récit au Grand Orgue, Tirasse Grand Orgue, Tirasse Récit.
Accessoires: Appel de la basse des jeux de Combinaisons du GO, Appel du dessus des jeux de Combinaisons du GO, Appel des jeux de Combinaisons sur l'étendue du GO.
Literature Orgues de Wallonie : Volume 5 : Province du Liège : Tome 8 - Arrondissement de Liège / Eric Mairlot, Jean-Pierre Felix. - Namur : Ministère de la Région wallone : Direction générale de l'Aménagement du Territoire, du Logement et du Patrimoine, 1998.
Links https://liegelesorgues.eu/orgues/liege-saint-denis-orgue-de-choeur/
Other sources
  • Jacques Libois

Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 16 September 2008.
Photo: Piet Bron
Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 16 September 2008.
Photo: Piet Bron
Photo: Piet Bron. Date: 16 September 2008.
Photo: Piet Bron