Crespin Carlier (or Crépin Carlier) (c. 1560 - 1636) was a
French
French may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France
** French people, a nation and ethnic group
** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices
Arts and media
* The French (band), ...
organ builder who had great influence on the development of organs in France.
He was a contemporary and colleague of
Matthijs Langhedul
Matthijs Langhedul (d. around 1636) was a Flemish people, Flemish organ-builder who did important work in Paris.
He and Crespin Carlier had great influence on the development of the classical seventeenth century French organ.
Early years
The fa ...
, another great organ builder who introduced Flemish and Walloon styles to France.
Biography

Crespin Carlier was born in
Laon
Laon () is a city in the Aisne Departments of France, department in Hauts-de-France in northern France.
History
Early history
The Ancient Diocese of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held s ...
in the
Picardy
Picardy (; Picard language, Picard and , , ) is a historical and cultural territory and a former regions of France, administrative region located in northern France. The first mentions of this province date back to the Middle Ages: it gained it ...
region of northern France around 1560.
Carlier's family had been involved in building organs since the sixteenth century.
He was based in Lille from 1590 to 1600, when he moved to
Rouen
Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...
.
He is recorded to have done work in
Courtrai
Kortrijk ( , ; or ''Kortrik''; ), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders.
With its 80,000 inhabitants (2024) Kortrijk is the capital and largest cit ...
in 1585,
Ghent
Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...
between 1597 and 1611, the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in
Namur
Namur (; ; ) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is the capital both of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration.
Namur stands at the confl ...
in 1598, at
Hesdin
Hesdin (; ) is a former Communes of France, commune in the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department in northern France. On 1 January 2025, it was merged into the new commune of Hesdin-la-Forêt.
Geography
The N39, from Arras to Montreuil ...
between 1599 and 1600.
He was invited to Rouen in 1600 by the composer and organist
Jean Titelouze
Jean (''Jehan'') Titelouze (c. 1562/63 – 24 October 1633) was a French Catholic priest, composer, poet and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. He was a canon and organist at Rouen Cathedral. His style was firmly rooted ...
to restore the Rouen Cathedral organ,
and was often employed by Titelouze afterwards.
He worked in
Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
in 1601.
He worked in various parts of
Flanders
Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...
, including
Dunkirk
Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...
,
Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer (; ; Picard: ''Saint-Onmé'') is a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department in France.
It is west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais, and is located in the Artois province. The town is named after Sa ...
,
Ghent
Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...
and
Namur
Namur (; ; ) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium. It is the capital both of the province of Namur and of Wallonia, hosting the Parliament of Wallonia, the Government of Wallonia and its administration.
Namur stands at the confl ...
.
With a growing reputation, he was asked to work at
Chartres Cathedral
Chartres Cathedral (, lit. Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres) is a Catholic cathedral in Chartres, France, about southwest of Paris, and is the seat of the List of bishops of Chartres, Bishop of Chartres. Dedicated in honour of the Virgin Mary ( ...
in 1614.
In 1614 Jehan Lebas of Rouen was paid 360 livres to build an oakwood organ buffet for the church of Saint-André in Rouen, while Crespin Carlier was paid 800 livres to supply the organ itself.
He undertook work at
Bruges
Bruges ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is in the northwest of the country, and is the sixth most populous city in the country.
The area of the whole city amoun ...
in 1618.
On 24 October 1618 he signed an agreement with the parish of
Gisors
Gisors () is a Communes of France, commune in the Departments of France, French department of Eure, Normandy (administrative region), Normandy, France. It is located northwest from the Kilometre Zero, centre of Paris.
Gisors, together with the ...
to overhaul the Great Organ at Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, completed in 1580 by
Nicolas Barbier.
The work included revising the existing stops, adding three new stops and adding a "Positif de dos" to the case. The work was completed in 1620.
The Laon city archives record a payment on 19 January 1623 to Philippe Ducastel for making a case for an organ supplied by Carlier for the church of Cordeliers in Laon.
Crespin Carlier was invited to Rouen by
Jean Titelouze
Jean (''Jehan'') Titelouze (c. 1562/63 – 24 October 1633) was a French Catholic priest, composer, poet and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. He was a canon and organist at Rouen Cathedral. His style was firmly rooted ...
, organist of
Rouen Cathedral
Rouen Cathedral () is a Catholic church architecture, church in Rouen, Normandy, France. It is the Episcopal see, see of the Archbishop of Rouen, Primate of Normandy. It is famous for its three towers, each in a different style. The cathedral, b ...
.
The organ that he built there has been called "the finest organ of the period".
In 1630 he rebuilt the facade of the Grand Organ at the
abbey church of Saint-Ouen
Saint-Ouen Abbey, () is a large Gothic (architecture), Gothic Catholic Church, Catholic church and former Benedictines, Benedictine Monastery, monastic church in Rouen. It is named for Audoin (bishop), Audoin (, ), 7th-century bishop of Rouen in mo ...
(''Église abbatiale Saint-Ouen'') in Rouen according to plans provided by Titelouze.
This was an 8-foot instrument with two 48-note manuals and a 28-note independent pedal.
Over the years the organ was to go through major extensions and overhauls, culminating in a complete rebuilding in 1888-1890 by
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll
Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (; 4 February 1811 – 13 October 1899) was a French organ builder. He has the reputation of being the most distinguished organ builder of the 19th century. He pioneered innovations in the art and science of organ build ...
.
Of the original, parts of the case survive and about 40% of the pipework.
Carlier returned to Laon in 1631.
He also worked on an organ, now lost, at Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs in Paris between 1632 and 1636.
Influences
Carlier introduced a number of fundamental innovations in organ design from northern Europe to France.
His work shows strong similarities to that of the Langhedul family. He may have benefited from working with Jan Langhedul in Rouen.
From 1631 onward Carlier collaborated with Matthijs Langhedul on the organ at St. Jacques de la Boucherie in Paris, which introduced important innovations.
The organ builder Wangnon from Liége was one of his disciples.
Another pupil was
Pierre Thierry (1604-1665) who renovated the organ at Saint-Gervais.
Thierry worked with Carlier between 1634 and 1635 at St. Nicholas-des-champs.
Work
*1600 Rouen Cathedral restoration
*1603 Rouen St. Michel repair
*1603 Rouen St. Jean repair
*1606 Paris St. Antoine construction
*1607 Poitiers Jacobin convent construction
*1610-1613 Poitiers Cathedral construction
*1611 Tours Cathedral enlargement
*1614 Rouen St. André construction
*1614 Chartres Cathedral repair
*1620 Gisors construction
*1623 Laon Cathedral construction
*St. Gervais construction
*St. Protais rehabilitation of a Barbier organ, destroyed in World War II
*1629 Rouen St. Ouen construction
*1631 Paris St. Jacques de la Boucherie construction (with Matthijs Langhedul),
References
Citations
Sources
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{{Commonscat, Crespin Carlier
1560 births
1636 deaths
French pipe organ builders