The organ

The organ-culture in the Basilica of the Holy Blood has existed for a much longer period than people suspect. As early as the 16th century we find organs and organbuilders in the accounts of the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood. In the archives we find several organbuilders who either repaired or built a new organ during the 16th, 17th and 18th century.

Important names are: Lauweryns Veldam, Jan Waghers (16th century), Crespin du Bois, Boudewijn Ledou (17th century).

In 1751 Isabelle Claesman, daughter of Baron Van Male, donated a new organ, built by the renowned organbuilder of Bruges, Andries Jacob Berger (1712-1774). This valuable instrument was destroyed (or disappeared anyway) during the French Revolution.

The Brugean organbuilder Hooghuys built a new organ in 1836. It is placed on a new rood-loft against the west facade. Unfortunately it had to be removed to enable the placement of a new glass window. Rood-loft and organ were demolished in 1854 and sold to chaplain Slock from Roeselare.

In 1923 the Chapel of the Holy Blood is elevated to a Basilica. For this important occasion the organbuilder Jules Anneessens from Menen was given the commission to build a new organ. This late romantic instrument was placed in the Basilica in 1925.

In the course of history the organists of the Basilica usually played the organ of the Cathedral of Saint Donatius (now disappeared) as well.

An organ service is performed monthly since autumn 2012.

Organist Eric Hallein

Eric Hallein has been the organist at the Basilica of the Holy Blood since September 2012. He is also the artistic director of the Orgelkring Adriaen Willaert, which organizes concerts in the Bruges region, see: www .organassociation-adriaenwillaert.com . In addition to his Master degree in Music specialization organ, he also obtained the Higher Diplomas for harpsichord and chamber music. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and the Conservatory of Maastricht.

In 1981 Eric Hallein became a Laureate of the Horlait-Dapsens Foundation. As a concert organist he has performed in most countries in Europe as well as in South Africa, the United States and Vietnam. He made several recordings for Belgian radio, Spanish radio and Polish TV. He also realized the CDs: "Symphonic organ music from Flanders", "Flor Peeters Organworks" and "Organ sounds from the Brussels Conservatory" with music by Lemmens, Widor, Tinel and Jongen.

From 1981 to 1996 Eric Hallein taught Practical Harmony at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and also for a short time at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent. He was also a music teacher at the Academies of Ieper, Menen and Roeselare, where he was also harpsichord and piano accompanist.