The great Organs of the Grasse Cathedral

Since the 17th century, the cathedral has been home to four gallery organs.
The current organ is that of Frédéric Jungk, built in 1855, first played by Lefébure-Wely, organist at the Église de la Madeleine in Paris.
After being dismantled in 1978 for a much-needed renovation, it was returned to its location above the main entrance in 1981.

The instrument has two organ cases: that of the great organ, set back from the gallery, and that of the positive, projecting slightly, in the middle of a railing decorated with ten semi-balusters. Turrets and flats of the large organ’s case - compartments where the flue pipes are housed – are decorated with beautifully executed sculptures – Saint Cecilia, King David, and two elongated angels indicating a cross, with trilobate ends, inserted in the middle of the pointed arch pediment. A cherub adorns the central flat.
The positive case consists of three flats separated by four semi-balusters: It was rebuilt when the instrument was enhanced in 1981.

Technically, the Jungk organ was equipped with mechanical tracker action.
In 1978, the instrument was entrusted to the Tamburini company, located in Crema in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, to be restored and enlarged. Significant changes were made, including the reinstallation of mechanical tracker action that was abandoned for pneumatic action in 1950, the addition of a positive, and an increase in the number of stops. It was first played on November 22, 1981, by Jean Wallet, official organist for the great organs of the Cathedral of Nice.

Organ composition
Three 54-note keyboards: positive, great organ, récit. A 40-note pedal board.
Forty stops across the three keyboards and the pedal board.