Paul Isom Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 I have just heard in the news that there has been a serious fire at Nantes Cathedral: https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/nantes-violent-incendie-dans-la-cathedrale-18-07-2020-8354811.php Another tragedy in France in addition to Notre Dame, Paris and Soissons. https://www.musiqueorguequebec.ca/orgues/france/nantescsp.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
contraviolone Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 The latest report on the BBC suggests that the Grand Organ has been destroyed in the fire. The French police are treating the fire as a criminal act. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveHarries Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 1 hour ago, contraviolone said: The latest report on the BBC suggests that the Grand Organ has been destroyed in the fire. The French police are treating the fire as a criminal act. Both confirmed by Reuters. One local prosecutor has said that "three fires had been started at the site". Perhaps it is possible that someone somehow stayed in the cathedral overnight somehow but you would think that the building would be checked over at locking up time. Organ was by Cliquot (1784) and others. IV/74/104. The man thing here is that the damage to the cathedral in Nantes is understood to be not as serious as that at NDP. Interestingly, despite the words from that local prosecutor, a local fire chief has said that the fire "had broken out behind the grand organ" but confirms the instrument's destruction. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-france-nantes-fire/fire-destroys-organ-shatters-stained-glass-at-nantes-cathedral-in-france-idUKKBN24J07Q So two probable causes: either arson (as suggested by the prosecutor) or an electrical fault in the organ (if the local fire chief is correct: electrical equipment for the organ might have been located there). A sad loss either way organ-wise. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowland Wateridge Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 The first organ that I played had a mains electricity isolation switch box, located at a considerable distance in the Rector's vestry. I forget how we accessed it during weekday lunchtimes (nearly 70 years ago!) but no risk of out of hours electrical fires with that arrangement. I believe that my local cathedral organ is similarly protected now. As far as I am aware, this does not have any adverse consequences for registration memories. Of course, it isn't established what caused this fire. It's a very sad loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
contraviolone Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 1 hour ago, Rowland Wateridge said: The first organ that I played had a mains electricity isolation switch box, located at a considerable distance in the Rector's vestry. I forget how we accessed it during weekday lunchtimes (nearly 70 years ago!) but no risk of out of hours electrical fires with that arrangement. I believe that my local cathedral organ is similarly protected now. As far as I am aware, this does not have any adverse consequences for registration memories. Of course, it isn't established what caused this fire. It's a very sad loss. Looking at the specification, the Grand Organ appeared to have a significant percentage of pipework by Clicquot. A tragic loss indeed. The specification for the Grand Organ may be viewed here: https://www.musiqueorguequebec.ca/orgues/france/nantescsp.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 Gosh, this is really unfortunate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Isom Posted July 18, 2020 Author Share Posted July 18, 2020 I think that the rather fine Orgue de Choeur has survived (apart from the console which was destroyed). It is unusually large for such an instrument. I have an excellent recording of the organ works of Rene Vierne played by the current titulaire which is well worth buying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Robinson Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 11 hours ago, DaveHarries said: Both confirmed by Reuters. One local prosecutor has said that "three fires had been started at the site". Perhaps it is possible that someone somehow stayed in the cathedral overnight somehow but you would think that the building would be checked over at locking up time. Organ was by Cliquot (1784) and others. IV/74/104. Exactly the same thing that happened at York Minster in 1829, with the exception that the organ which was destroyed in that case was by Blythe (1803) and ?bits of Bernard Smith (1691), and the case by Dallam. The original choir stalls went as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveHarries Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 5 hours ago, Paul Isom said: I think that the rather fine Orgue de Choeur has survived (apart from the console which was destroyed). It is unusually large for such an instrument. I have an excellent recording of the organ works of Rene Vierne played by the current titulaire which is well worth buying. Yes. One of the two other fires was on one side of the nave and has taken the console of the OdC of which the pipework has survived, albeit probably in need of a clean by now. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrabombarde Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Some photographs of the damage from the Diocesan website here. Choir organ seems intact minus what appears to have been its detached console: Remains of main organ: Authorities said to be investigating arson as fires broke out in three separate locations including both organs and a church volunteer who was responsible for locking up is reportedly being investigated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveHarries Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 (edited) Post withdrawn @ 2353 BST, 19/07/2020: please delete. Edited July 19, 2020 by DaveHarries Removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Robinson Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 8 hours ago, Contrabombarde said: Some photographs of the damage from the Diocesan website here. Choir organ seems intact minus what appears to have been its detached console: Remains of main organ: Authorities said to be investigating arson as fires broke out in three separate locations including both organs and a church volunteer who was responsible for locking up is reportedly being investigated. So another 'organ hater' then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveHarries Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 10 hours ago, Contrabombarde said: Authorities said to be investigating arson as fires broke out in three separate locations including both organs and a church volunteer who was responsible for locking up is reportedly being investigated. BBC News have said that the arrested man was released without charge on Sunday evening (19th July): see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53462790 in which can be found a quote from a clerk (priest?) of the cathedral, Jean-Charles Nowak, who is quoted as saying that the volunteer was "a man of duty who had suffered a lot in Rwanda [.....] I don't believe for a second that he could have set the cathedral on fire. It's a place he adores." Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwhodges Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 The volunteer who was questioned and released has now been rearrested and charged with arson. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/26/nantes-cathedral-fire-volunteer-arrested-and-charged-with-arson (later) The radio news tells me he's confessed. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DQB123 Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 The person now charged with arson and the destruction of the Grand organ and the stained glass was apparently released, and news is that he has now murdered the priest who welcomed him into the area. The man is described as being of Rwandan origin, and evidently a very troubled individual indeed. This is all very distressing news. Noting the mention of Nantes, I was wondering if work is now afoot to restore the cathedral and if there are plans to replace the organ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adnosad Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 Yet another example of the work of one of our creators wonderful creations. Never mind, he/she/it loves us all if we believe what we have been told down the ages. Still it is bad news. Regarding repair and restoration; well they will just have to wait in the queue it would seem. Lucky it has not happened in blighty ( as yet ) the authorities would merely see it as " an exciting real estate venture ". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adnosad Posted August 10, 2021 Share Posted August 10, 2021 4 hours ago, D Quentin Bellamy said: The person now charged with arson and the destruction of the Grand organ and the stained glass was apparently released, and news is that he has now murdered the priest who welcomed him into the area. The man is described as being of Rwandan origin, and evidently a very troubled individual indeed. This is all very distressing news. Noting the mention of Nantes, I was wondering if work is now afoot to restore the cathedral and if there are plans to replace the organ. In view of the present situation I feel quite sure that the organ will be the last thing on the church authorities mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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