Basilique Ste-Clotilde, Paris
Encyclopedia
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
church in Paris, located on the Rue Las Cases, in the area of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Saint-Germain-des-Prés is an area of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France, located around the church of the former Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés....
. It is best known for its imposing twin spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
s.
History
Construction of the church was first mooted by the Paris City Council on February 16, 1827. It was designed by architect F. C. Gau of CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
in a neo-Gothic style. Work began in 1846, but Gau died in 1853, and the job was continued by Théodore Ballu
Théodore Ballu
Théodore Ballu was a French architect.He entered the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1835 and was the pupil of Louis-Hippolyte Lebas....
who completed the church in 1857. It was opened on 30 November 1857 by Cardinal Morlot. The church was declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
in 1896.
The Pipe Organ
St. Clotilde is known for its Aristide Cavaillé-CollAristide Cavaillé-Coll
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll was a French organ builder. He is considered by many to be the greatest organ builder of the 19th century because he combined both science and art to make his instruments...
organ (although it is no longer in original condition) and the succession of famous composers who have been Organiste Titulaire:
- César FranckCésar FranckCésar-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
1859-1890 - Gabriel PiernéGabriel PiernéHenri Constant Gabriel Pierné was a French composer, conductor, and organist.-Biography:Gabriel Pierné was born in Metz in 1863. His family moved to Paris to escape the Franco-Prussian War. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, gaining first prizes for solfège, piano, organ, counterpoint and fugue...
1890-1898 - Charles TournemireCharles TournemireCharles Tournemire was a French composer and organist, notable partly for his improvisations, which were often rooted in the music of Gregorian chant...
1898-1939 - Joseph-Ermend BonnalJoseph-Ermend BonnalJoseph-Ermend Bonnal was a French composer and organist.Ermend-Bonnal received initial musical instruction from his father, a violinist...
1942-1944 - Jean LanglaisJean LanglaisJean Langlais was a French composer of modern classical music, organist, and improviser.- Biography :Jean Langlais was born in La Fontenelle , a small village near Mont St Michel, France...
1945-1987 - Pierre CogenPierre CogenPierre Cogen is a French organist, composer and teacher.Cogen studied at the Schola Cantorum. His compositions are primarily for the organ, and he has recorded music by Langlais, Tournemire and others.-Notes:...
and Jacques Taddei 1987-1993 - Jacques Taddei 1993-