The organ of the church of Our Lady of the Assumption

 

Built at the end of the 18th century in brick emphasised by Gobertange stone, the church of Our Lady of the Assumption houses an exceptional organ that has one and a half keyboards, a type that was fairly common in our area in the 17th and 18th centuries. This keyboard and a half make it possible to modulate the sound less expensively in line with a practice that fits in with the trend towards uniformisation relating to classical organs in France and, to a lesser extent, in our country as well. 

Up until the beginning of the 19th century, Bossut's organ was in nearby Florival abbey. Dated 1760, it is the work of the organ-maker François Coppin, the leading representative of a major school located in Nivelles of whose work this organ is the best-preserved example. This maker is known for having regularly called on the cabinetmaker Nicolas Bonnet  for its organ cases. Bonnet's trademark as a maker can be seen from his use of curved lines that fit in harmoniously with the organ platforms. Another unique feature is a miniature imitation or positive organ, mimicking the presence of the second keyboard, that is recessed into the balustrade of the platform. It appears, according to the invoice for the organ pipes, that the positive organ was created using older pipes than those in the main organ, which were original parts. When the organ was restored in 1989, traces of colour were finally brought to light.

Listed: (3-10- 1974)

Exceptional heritage site of Wallonia