One of the largest pipe organs in Catalonia is this one, located in the Santa Maria basilica church in Mataró (Barcelona Metropolitan Area). It was made in 1927 by the Catalan master organ maker Gaietà Estadella i Solé (1875-1944).
Some experts consider it Europe's most important Romantic organ. It has four manuals and pedals, with a total of 61 stops, both mechanical key and electric stop action, battle trumpets, Corneta, Cimbalet, Celeste stops, an impressive Bombarda 16' and Corn anglais pedal divisions, multiple couplers and expressive divisions, and more. Its technical conditions were highly praised by musicians of the time, being talked about in the Rome universal exhibition.
Most pipe organs in Catalonia were burned down by anarchists and other anti-clericals during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), but this organ was "acquitted" in exchange of playing The Internationale.
Photos by Berenguer Montserrat for Associació Catalana de l'Orgue. Info sources: Associació Catalana de l'Orgue, Pipe Organ Map, Museo Virtual del Órgano.
