Editing Chartres Cathedral (section)

== Grand Organ ==
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File:Chartres Cathédrale.JPG|The grand organ
File:Chartres Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres Innen Langhaus Orgel 1.jpg|The grand organ. The tribune, or case, dates from the 14th century. 
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The buffet, or wooden case of the grand organ of the cathedral is among the oldest in France. It was first built in the 14th century, rebuilt in 1475, and enlarged in 1542. Both the organ and the tribune have been classified as separate historic monuments since 1840.<ref>{{Base Palissy|PM28000084|Orgue de tribune : buffet d'orgue; tribune d'orgue}}</ref><ref>{{jstor|906340}}, "Church and Organ Music – the Organs of Chartres Cathedral", ''The Musical Times'', 1 July 1913</ref>

The organ is placed in the nave at the crossing of the south transept, sixteen meters above the floor of the nave, in close proximity to the choir, to assure the best sound quality throughout the cathedral. The whole case is fifteen meters high, with the top of its central tower thirty meters above the floor of the nave. The case was rebuilt during the Renaissance, and largely took its present form. Closer study of the case by the Ministry of Culture showed that the early case was covered with polychrome painting; yellow ochre under a varnish of reddish brown in earlier layer, and later by a brighter yellow on white. This study also showed that the mechanism was in very poor condition, and urgently needed reconstruction.<ref>{{Base Palissy|PM28000084|Orgue de tribune : buffet d'orgue; tribune d'orgue}}.</ref><ref>{{Base Palissy|PM28000968|Orgue de tribune}}.</ref><ref>{{Base Palissy|IM28000173|Grand orgue}}</ref>

A major rebuilding and enlargement of the organ instrument took place in 1969–71, both to restore the ageing mechanism, and to add new keys and functions. The case was also restored, with the cost paid entirely by the French State, as was part of the cost of restoring the organ itself. As a result of this, and after further work on the organ in 1996, the instrument has 70 stops, totaling of over 4000 pipes.<ref>{{cite web |title=The great organ of Chartres Cathedral |url=https://www.cathedrale-chartres.org/en/the-great-organ-of-chartres-cathedral/ |website=Cathédrale de Chartres |language=en |access-date=19 September 2022 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173345/https://www.cathedrale-chartres.org/en/the-great-organ-of-chartres-cathedral/ |url-status=live }}</ref>