Q.
Speaking of ‘pulling out all of the stops’: when you look into creators of stunning organs, the Quebec-born Casavant Brothers come up a lot. Who were they, and how did they develop such a glittering reputation as organ crafters?

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A.

Papa Casavant – born 1807 in La Présentation-de-la-Sainte-Vierge – started his working life as a blacksmith. With a deep love of music and impressive hands-on skills, he worked his way to studying then building organs. It was a pursuit that came to intrigue his sons: Claver and Samuel.

After learning the craft in their father’s studio, Samuel and Claver traveled around Europe studying with organ masters, like John Abbey in Versailles.

When they returned to Quebec, The Casavant Brothers set up their organ business in the same location where father Joseph had built his reputation. ‘We are honoured,’ they wrote, ‘ to inform you that we have just opened a workshop for the building of Pipe Organs for Churches, Chapels, Concert Halls, Salons, etc.’

The brothers quickly developed a reputation for innovation and quality. Samuel was particularly deft with organic mechanics; Claver was gifted in voicing. The two of them also consulted physicists around how electricity could be used to advance organ functioning. All of their innovations came together in their great 1891 achievement: the remarkable organ at Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal.

The original Casavant organ did indeed come with electric adjustable-combination pedals and a four manual mechanical action of 82 stops. An eager congregation first heard the Notre Dame organ on Easter Sunday, March 28th, 1891.

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After a series of renovations, the Casavant brothers Notre Dame organ now has:

• 92 stops over 4 keyboards and a pedalboard
• An outward facing trumpet stop
• 7,000 pipes
• A largest pipe of 32 feet and a smallest pipe of 1/4 inch
• A console from 1962
• Electro-pneumatic action

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Here in Vancouver, Canada, we’re lucky to have Casavant organs at churches such as St. Mary’s Kerrisdale, and St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church on Nelson Street.

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www.justcurious.ca

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Header Photo & Photo #2: Getty Images