Instruments

The église du Sacré-Cœur-de-Jésus houses three pipe organs, two reed organs, five large church bells (which serve as concert instruments), and a variety of invented instruments. The mandate of Les Vespérales is centred on new, experimental musical creation for this unique collection of musical instruments. Below you will find information on the pipe organs at the Sacré-Cœur.

Casavant Frères, opus 1290 (1928)

3 manuals and pedal ; 39 stops (43 ranks)
Electro-pneumatic action

Photos: Brandon Patitucci

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Massimo Rossi, opus 3 (1987)

1 manual and pedal; 9 stops
Mechanical key and stop action

Manual (54 notes C-f’’’)

8′ Voce Umana (30 notes c’-f’’’)
8′ Principale
4′ Flauto in Ottava
4′ Ottava
2′ Decimaquinta
1 1/3′ Decimanona
1′ Vigesimaseconda
2/3′ Vigesimasesta

Pedal (17 notes C-e)

Bassi al Pedale

• Coupler Man./Ped.
• Uccelli (Rossignol)
• Temperament: ¼-comma meantone
• Pitch: A=440 Hz

This instrument is generously offered on loan to the Sacré-Cœur by the Canadian International Organ Competition

Photos: 1. Brandon Patitucci; 2 and 3 Adrian Foster

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LIMINARE – Alexander Ross, opus 1 (2025)

Dual mechanical and direct-electric action

Rank I: Principal

32 pipes
First 32 partials of the natural harmonic series (just intonation)
Fundamental pitch: FFFF (24′ F)
Lowest pipe: (FFFF) stopped
Second pipe: (FFF) Haskell
Remaining pipes: wooden principal

Rank II: Rohr Schalmei (1970s, repurposed)

13 pipes (C to c0)
Chromatic

• Variable wind pressure (0 to c.330 mm) via knob or expression pedal (voiced at 60mm)
• MIDI control system: Espressivo W3 windchest module (Orgelpunkt)
• Dynamic/proportional valve control via MIDI polyphonic aftertouch
• Available controllers at the Sacré-Cœur: Exquis (Intuitive Instruments); Osmose CE (Expressive E)

Commissioned by Adrian Foster with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

Photos: Brandon Patitucci