The organ and his balcony - Conclusion
Out of a concern for poverty, the Cistercians did not introduce expensive instruments such as organs to their community until quite late. The Pontigny organ was installed in 1773. Like the richly sculpted gallery that supports it, the choir screen and the ornaments in the sanctuary, its Baroque aesthetic contrasts with the sobriety of the architecture. [To go further]
This contrast is itself a reminder of the life plan of the "white monks", which is still reflected today in the soothing light of their churches and their flight towards Heavens.
The quotation
"We salute you, O Queen,
Mother of Mercy, our life
sweetness
and hope, hail!
To you we do cry,
poor banished children of Eve ;
to you we sigh,
mourning and weeping
in this valley of tears.
Turn then, our advocate,
those merciful eyes
toward us,
and Jesus,
the blessed fruit of your womb,
after your exile, show us.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary!
Salve Regina (12th century), last prayer of the Cistercian day
The picture
Abbey of Pontigny - aerial view taken around 1960
To go further
This organ was originally built in 1643 for the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Pierre-aux-Monts in Châlons-en-Champagne, and was later brought here by the organ builder, Jean Richard, who had to adapt it to the site.
Its restoration/reconstruction in 2023 means that we can now appreciate the alternating music played by the monks in the choir: polyphonic music from the king of instruments and, constantly echoed under the vaults built to accommodate it, the plainchant of their prayers.