With the construction of the Cathedral, the chant became its musical soul. In the 12th century, an episcopal school was established to train young singers in music. Notre-Dame then became a musical leader in Europe, inventing musical genres such as polyphony and motets.
In the early 15th century, the vast dimensions of the cathedral required an instrument capable of enveloping the entire edifice in musical resonance. The first grand organ was built to accompany the offices.
The music masters directed the choir mastery and had a significant influence on the development of music. In the 18th century, the popularity of organists began to overshadow them. Thanks to the talents of organ builders, the instrument expanded from one to five keyboards and continuously underwent enlargement, remodeling, and restoration. By the 17th century, the grand organ of Notre-Dame was the largest and most modern in the kingdom. Its sound quality, combined with a newfound freedom of composition, generated great enthusiasm in the 18th century.
During the extensive restoration project led by Viollet-le-Duc, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll transformed it into a symphonic instrument. In the 20th century, organ concerts initiated by Pierre Cochereau gained significant popularity. The current organ is modernized and resonates with nearly 8,000 pipes.
