The Organ

Since its installation in 1919 over a hundred years ago, the Casavant Frères organ has been a part of the fabric of St. Basil’s, accompanying the community in many of the most important moments of their lives. In liturgy, at weekend and weekday Masses, weddings, funerals, and baptisms; in ceremony, at university convocations and installations; in concert, with local, national, and international artists. St. Basil’s celebrated the 100th anniversary of the installation of the instrument in 2019 with a masterclass and gala concert with Olivier Latry, Titular Organist of Notre-Dame de Paris.

Modified in 1960/62 as well as in 1981, and recently restored in 2017, the instrument’s sound is an exceptional blend of early 1900s vintage and the mid-century Organ Reform movement, harmonized under the unifying voice of French symphonic ideals. The shimmering foundation stops are balanced against the rich mixture and fiery reed stops, styled on the principles of the famous French organ-builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.

The console, from which the pipework is operated, includes many of the most recent innovations in organ-building, including a pedal divider, and sostenuto functions. From the console, an organist has at their disposal 52 stops, 64 ranks, and 3,624 pipes.