Orgue Banfield de l’église Saint-Léger

Banfield organ (1886) at Is-sur-Tille.
Church of Saint Léger.
The organ, which is not listed, differs from the usual techniques of the major French organ-building schools. It is based on English organ building from 1886.
Professionals and amateurs alike are delighted by its range of sounds and its malleability, and enjoy a surprising, pleasant and easy-to-play instrument.
Special features
It is distinguished by the contrast between its modest size and its many possibilities. It is said to have "a lot of chest". It can also be soft and full of nuances.
Its 30-note radian pedalboard is made of oak with pneumatic transmission. The sound is enhanced by the judicious distribution of its 14 stops over two windchests and a pedal windchest split into two smaller ones.
A pitch-pine case in the front houses a Great Organ and an Expressive Recital on two 56-note manuals with wooden action. The clocks or front pipes are painted gold.
A brief history
The restoration and reassembly of the organ were entrusted to Nicolas Martel of Montmirey le Château in the Jura in October 2018. The work was carried out using traditional organ-building techniques.
Inscriptions inside the organ reveal that it was built in 1886 by Banfield, and has been rebuilt and restored over the years. It underwent a complete restoration at Is-sur-Tille.
In July 2019, the organ will be handed over to Sylvain Pluyaut, organist and professor of organ and music education at the Conservatoire de Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
In September 2019, it was inaugurated by the Mayor and the Departmental Councillors, and blessed the same morning by the Parish Priest.
On the afternoon of the same day, the inauguration concert was performed by Sylvain Pluyaut, the association's musical referent.
The association
"Les Amis de l'Orgue à Is-sur-Tille", formalised in 2021, aims to promote and preserve the instrument through various activities:
I/ Organ and worship
The organ can be heard at Sunday services, on the occasion of the visit of religious pontiffs,
the feast of Sainte Geneviève, patron saint of the Gendarmes in 2019 and 2024.
2/ Organ and culture
Organisation of the annual concert: 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
Participation in national organ days: "Organ Day".
3/ Organ, tourism and heritage
The association will take part every year in the national and European heritage days in September, starting in 2019, and in the local heritage days in June, starting in 2023.
Under the patronage of the tourist office, since 2023 it has been organising "Organ Tourism Mondays", with appropriate content, during June-July-August. In 2025, it will take part in the national "Organ Day".
3/ Organ and school events
From March onwards, every Monday, an organist will be available to help children in nursery and primary school classes discover the instrument and its sounds, with explanations and comments adapted to their age.
For further information, including the composition of the organ, visit the
aois.fr