Crespin Carlier

He was a contemporary and colleague of Matthijs Langhedul, another great organ builder who introduced Flemish and Walloon styles to France.

[1] Crespin Carlier was born in Laon in the Picardy region of northern France around 1560.

[3] On 24 October 1618 he signed an agreement with the parish of Gisors to overhaul the Great Organ at Notre-Dame de l'Assomption, completed in 1580 by Nicolas Barbier.

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.

[1] Carlier introduced a number of fundamental innovations in organ design from northern Europe to France.

[3] From 1631 onward Carlier collaborated with Matthijs Langhedul on the organ at St. Jacques de la Boucherie in Paris, which introduced important innovations.