The Aeolian Organ
A monumental masterpiece of mechanical music
A symbol of the union between innovation and musical heritage, theAeolian Organ is one of the most impressive treasures of the Mechanical Music Museum in Les Gets. This exceptional instrument combines manual performance with automatic playing through perforated paper rolls.
A historic and musical masterpiece
Built in England in 1910 by the prestigious American firm AEOLIAN, the organ originally belonged to George Davison,Managing Director of Kodak UK. Initially installed in London, it followed him to Cap d’Antibes when he moved there in 1922. Davison installed the instrument in a dedicated music room within his residence: Le Château des Enfants, a former residence of the King of the Belgians.The estate was home not only to his family, but also to young musicians, adopted children, and a dance school directed by Margaret Morris.
An impressive repertoire
The Aeolian Organ has a repertoire of more than 900 music rolls, including: :
- Classical works
- Light music
- Pieces suitable for ceremonies and concerts
Its console features two 61-note manualsand a 30-note pedalboard,allowing for rich performances both in manual and automatic mode. Among its organ stops are:
Violin, Flute, Vox Humana, Oboe, Trumpet, Clarinet… representing approximately 1,000 pipes in total..
The organ also features a 20-tube chime and a 49-note metallophone.
From history to heritage
After Davison's death in 1930, the organ remained in the residence, which later became theHôtel Résidence du Cap.In the late 1960s, it faced destruction until organ builder Marc Fournierrescued it at the last moment. The Mechanical Music Museum acquired the instrument in 1988 with the support of the French Ministry of Culture and the Haute-Savoie Departmental Council..
Classified as a Historic Monument in 1989,the organ underwent a four-year restoration requiring more than 10,000 hours of work.
Since 1994, the organ has been installed in the Church of Les Gets,where it is used for:
- The Tuesday Organ Concerts (Les Mardis de l'Orgue)
- Des Religious services
- Musical events throughout the year