Iris "Frere Andre"
Hybridizer by M. Elaine Bessette, R., 1996
Blossoming: late May, early June







A Message from the Rector 
Winter 2012 click here 


Masses in Spanish
Todos los primeros domingos del mes, se celebrará una misa en
español en la cripta, a las 3 P.M.
Todos son bienvenidos.

On the first Sunday of each month, a mass in Spanish will be held in the crypt at 3 PM. Welcome to all! click here


Renovation of the Beckerath Organ in the Basilica
Renovation work on the Beckerath organ in Saint Joseph's Oratory basilica began August 29, 2011 and will continue until May/June 2012. The Sunday organ concerts remain at 3:30 p.m., but using the Rogers organ, located in the sanctuary area of the basilica. Thus, music lovers can still come and listen to the recitals offered by noted organists.


The reliquary of Saint Brother's André 
Saint Brother André's reliquary in your parish.
Information, click here

 


 

Organs

 


Photo: André Tremblay, Photophex
The Beckerath Organ - Basilica

World-famous for over 40 years, the basilica's superb instrument is considered one of the world’s top 10 outstanding organs.

This majestic organ was built in Hamburg, Germany between the years 1958 and 1959.  It was dismantled and subsequently installed in the Oratory in 1960. It has 78 stops, 118 ranks, and 5811 pipes activated by 5 manuala and a pedal board. It is the masterpiece of the celebrated German organ builder Rudolf von Beckerath.

For more details on the specifications of the organ, click here.
(in French only)

The splendours of the organ are often displayed by the organist of the Oratory, Phillipe Bélanger, during guided tours and the Musique and Spirituality.



Photo: Richard Morin
The Casavant Organ - Crypt

The original organ, opus number 708, was built in 1917 by Casavant Brothers of Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. At that time, the instrument consisted of 18 stops with two keyboards and a pedalboard. It was enlarged during the 1950s by the organ maker Odilon Jacques. Among other things, he added a positif keyboard, stops in the pedal division whose pipes were exposed on either side of the organ case, as well as two stops to the Grand Orgue. In 1989, a “refurbishment” was undertaken by Caron Gagnon Baumgarten organ makers.
 
During this past year, organ designer Alain Baumgarten undertook a thorough reconstruction. This included cleaning, adjusting, rebuilding and enlarging the instrument and its case. All pipes are now contained within the organ case, offering a more homogenous sound. More faux pipes were added to the façade making for an elegantly harmonious visual impression. They are painted in the English style, common among the instruments which Casavant Brothers constructed at that period.
 
This impressive organ now contains 36 stops, distributed over three keyboards and a pedalboard.
 
All that remains is for you to come to admire this beautiful instrument and to hear its revitalized sonority, in the welcoming warmth of the crypt church!
 
Organists in the Crypt:
 
1904-1917                Brother Datien Lavallé, CSC.
1917-1919                Brother Yves Petit, CSC
1919-1937                Brother Placide Vermandère, CSC
1937-1992                Brother Ubald Parr, CSC
1992-2002                Rachel Laurin
Since 2002               Philippe Bélanger


Information
Telephone: 514 733-8211 ext. 2421
Email: orgues@osj.qc.ca
 


Organ recital 




Sundays at 3:30 p.m.
In the Basilica -Free
Lenght: 30 minutes




Program
Coming soon
 




Renovation of the Beckerath Organ in the Basilica

Renovation work on the Beckerath organ in Saint Joseph's Oratory basilica began August 29, 2011 and will continue until May/June 2012.

The Sunday organ concerts remain at 3:30 p.m., but using the Rogers organ, located in the sanctuary area of the basilica.

Thus, music lovers can still come and listen to the recitals ofered by noted organists.

Schedule is subject to change without notice.


Philippe Bélanger
Oraganist at Saint Joseph's Oratory



Photo: Studio André Doyon
 


Born in Aylmer, Philippe Bélanger became the organist of St.Paul's Church in Aylmer at nine years of age. He studied the organ at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec at McGill University in Montréal. He continued his studies with such distinguished Canadian and European professors as Marc Toews, Luc Beauséjour, Ludger Lohman, Marie-Claire Alain and Daniel Roth. Afterwords, Philippe Bélanger held many posts in his native region, most notably at Notre Dame Cathedral in Ottawa, then in the Montréal area at Saint Matthias Church in Westmount and College Presbyterian Church.

In 2001, he took first prize in the John Robb competition sponsored by the Royal Canadian College of Organists and in 2002, first prize from the League for Organ Improvisation.

In November 2002, following a competition Philippe Bélanger was named organist at Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal. He was all of 27 years old. Philippe Bélanger regularly performs in Canada, in the United States and in Europe.

Since 2005, Philippe Bélanger has recorded on the ATMA Classique label. His first recording for the label, Symphony No. 3 by Saint Saëns, with the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal, under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin was awarded 5 Diapasons by French critics. At the same time, the well-known music magazine Classics Today (classicstoday.com) gave it a grade of 10/10. At the ADISQ gala, (the Association of the Recording Industry of Québec) in November 2006, Bélanger walked on stage to receive the coveted Felix Award in the category of Classical Album of the Year. This same recording was nominated for the prestigious Juno Award in the category Classical Album of the Year for all of Canada.