Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2002
Restoration
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=801230
II/P/9
France, Rhône
Eglise Saint-Ennemond
Still original
The organ in the church of St. Ennemond in La-Tour-de-Salvagny was built as a chamber organ by A. Cavaillé-Coll at the end of the 19th century. It has 9 stops (II/P) and mechanical action. At that time when the chamber organ was very common many model instruments were designed, the technical design being the same (chromatic windchest layout, swell organ behind the great organ, console located at the side with pedal organ on the opposite side) but the organ cases being in different styles. Baron de Raousset-Soumabre possessed the organ previously. In 1929 it was donated to the chapel of St. Luc Hospital in Lyon. In 1998 the hospital executives were looking for a new destination for the organ because the hospital was to be demolished. That was how the organ came to the parish of La-Tour-de-Salvagny.
From a musical point of view the organ suited the church, both its volume and its liturgical needs. From an architectural point of view it satisfied the wishes of the conservators and architects who wanted to integrate the organ perfectly into the neo-Romanesque style of the newly restored building. The organ was placed above the entrance door on an arched oakwood gallery with balustrade, following laterally the character and the moulded ribs of the joinery below the organ case.
The restoration of the organ was entrusted to us and carried out in 2001 and 2002. As a result of wear and lack of maintenance the organ was unplayable and was suffering from the dry atmosphere. Technically it has been completely overhauled. The pipework was in a very good condition, only minor repairs and revoicing needed to be done. This Romantic organ of comparatively modest dimensions represents a living musical monument to Aristide Cavaillé-Coll's work. It remains original in the true sense of the word!