Saint-Sulpice

This impressive instrument is perhaps the summit of Cavaillé-Coll's craftmanship and genius. The sound and musical effects achieved in this instrument are almost unparalleled. Widor's compositional efforts for the organ were intended to produce orchestral and symphonic timbres, reaching the limits of the instrument's range. Albert Schweitzer, his student and collaborator?despite initiating an "Orgelbewegung," or organ reform movement, which deplored many nineteenth-century developments?called this organ the most beautiful in the world. More recently, Stephen Bicknell concurred, pointing out that the full ensemble of many large organs is dominated by a few powerful stops; but at S. Sulpice many ranks, each of moderate power, contribute to a sound of dazzling complexity.[22] With five manuals? keyboards? and boasting two 32-foot stops, organists at St. Sulpice have an incredibly rich palette of sounds at their disposal.