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Reusel, Roman Catholic Church (1985/2005)

Reusel, Roman Catholic Church  (1985/2005) Wim van der Ros

Camille Loret delivered in April 1880 a small organ for the Waalse Kerk of Dordrecht. In July of that year,  the church council commissioned a larger organ to be delivered before Christmas of same year.                  

With the return of the small organ NLG 1.750,- had to be paid to Loret. The new organ possess 14 stops, divided over manual (8 stops) and positive (6 stops).

In 1883 followed a report by J. Bätz & Co. By letter, dated February 4, 1885, wrote the owner of the company, J.F. Witte, that he did not wanted to mention a fixed price for annual maintenance and tuning of this organ "due to the general quality of this instrument it is the expectation that it will requier more than ordinary maintenance". He wrotes also "it is not my intention to ever do more than most necessary to keep it in playable condition".

In 1938 Valckx & Van Kouteren installed an electrical blower. In 1978, J. van der Veer attempted to modernize the characteristic organ sound. In 1983 the church was closed and sold to a retail business. The organ was purchased by Van den Heuvel.

The parish of Reusel was able to purchase the Loret organ from organ builder J.L. van den Heuvel. Frans Jespers was appointed as consultant.

The organ pssess two windchests on which the pipes are placed in C and C# side. The front chest is for the Positief (manual II) , the rear for the manuaal (manual I, Great). On the top of the wind chest grid oak panels are glued by Loret with so called windleak groves. Additional slider seals were placed to ensure better resistance agains the heating system. The valves are releatherd with a double layer. The entire mechanical action is in its original state and hardly need to be restored. The pipe work was thoroughly restored from the interventions of 1978.
The organ case has older parts. Presumably Loret used an approximately 100-year old Flemish organ case. We find for example wind chest access panels in the front and in rear 14 holes for stop knobs. This organ case is treated with French red-brown wax. The carvings are painted in the original found colour of brass. The organ was installed in the choir (sanctuary) of the church. During a concert by Ad van Sleuwen, the organ was inaugurated on June 15, 1986.

During the period of February/March 2005, the Loret organ was relocated from the choir to the left transept as the architects of the Diocese wanted to retore the architecture of the choir to its former glory and repaint the church. This relocation was lengthy part of discussion as both KKOR consultant Roger van Dijk and Van den Heuvel were not enamored about the new position regarding climatic conditions.

The organ is since situated on a new platform. The blower is re-located in the platform. Where necessary action parts were restored and corners of the bellows releathered. After moving to the transept, the oak organ case recieved a new waxing and looks very nice in the renovated church (the non original carvings, already added to the organ in the church in Dordrecht, have been stored since the move to Reusel in the church attic).

Acoustically speaking, the current location of the organ is very reasonable. The organ is typical for Loret with a beautiful, versatile and subtle color palette but also with a monumental tutti.

Additional Info

  • Operations: Restoration
  • Stoplist:

    Hoofdwerk (I), C-g3
    Bourdon 16'
    Prestant 8'
    Bourdon 8'
    Viola 8'
    Prestant 4'
    Fluit Harmoniek 4'
    Doublette 2'
    Trompette 8'

    Positief (II), C-g3
    Bourdon 8'
    Holpijp 8'
    Salicional 8'
    Violino 4'
    Veldfluit 4'
    Flageolet 2'
    Trémolo

    Pedaal, C-d1
    permanently coupled to Hoofdwerk


    Manualcoupler ashitch down pedal

    Mechanical key and stop action.