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In 1890, a new pipe organ for the sanctuary was purchased at a cost of $3,000 from the Warren Company of Woodstock, Ontario, one of the best organ manufacturers of that era. The new instrument had 19 stops, two keyboards and a pedal board. Its enormous bellows required strong young lads to act as “pumpers.”
In 1912 a major rebuilding of the organ at Chalmers was entrusted to Casavant Frères, which added a third keyboard and a dozen new ranks to create an instrument of 33 stops and 51 registers. Twelve new pipes were added and an electric blower was installed to replace the hand-pumped bellows. No changes were made to the attractive casing or the beautifully decorated, imposing front pipes. The annual report boasted that “the organ is in first class order, and we now have an instrument which is equal to anything of its size.” The unique blend of Warren and Casavant qualities was appreciated by performers and audiences alike and Chalmers soon became a preferred site for organ recitals in Quebec City.
By 1981, it was clear that the 90-year-old organ was in dire need of an overhaul. Under the skilled leadership of Jacquelin Rochette, the firm of Guilbault-Thérien of Saint-Hyacinthe was contracted to rebuild the organ. Much of the on-site labour was initially provided by Rochette himself and his team of volunteers, many of whom were choir members. This major work, estimated at some $120,000, was to proceed in three phases and would increase the number of pipes from 1,944 to 2,381, while renewing over 2,000 parts.”
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Warren, 1890
Casavant, Op. 506, 1912
Guilbault-Thérien, 1982
3 manuals and pedal
31 stops, 37 ranks
Electro-pneumatic action |
| Swell (expressif) |
Great |
Choir (expressif ) |
Pedal (30 notes) |
| Open Diapason 8' |
Bourdon 16'
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Melodia 8'
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Open Diapason 16' |
| Stopped Diapason 8' |
Open Diapason 8'
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Flute 4'
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Bourdon 16' |
| Viole de gambe 8' |
Doppel Flute 8'
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Flute 2'
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Gedackt 16' |
| Voix céleste 8' |
Principal 4'
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Clarinet 8' |
Flute 16' |
| Flute 4' |
Flute 4'
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Cor anglais 8'
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Bourdon 8' |
| Nazard 2 2/3' |
Quinte 2 2/3'
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Flute 8' |
| Flageolet 2' |
Doublette 2'
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| Tierce 1 3/5' |
Mixture IV
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| Oboe 8' |
Trumpet 8'
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Voix humaine 8'
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Couplers:
GT/PED 8; SW/PED 8,4; CH/PED 8 SW/GO 16,8,4; CH/GT 16,8; SW/CH 16,8,4
GT 4; SW 16,4; CH 16,4
GT/PED 8, SW/PED 8, CH/PED 8: duplicated by combination action thumbs at manuals
Combination action thumbs (manuals): GT 4; SW 4; CH 4; PED 2
Combination action tow pistons: 4 General
Expression pedals: Swell, Choir
Crescendo pedal
Reeds
Tutti
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