Cavaillé-Coll

Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (1811-1899), was born in Montpellier, France. His father, Dominique Cavaillé-Coll, was an organ maker in Toulouse. Aristide worked in his father's workshops then moved to Paris in 1833.

His first major instrument was for the Cathedral of Saint Denis (1840), and he constructed more than 500 instruments during his life.

The exceptional quality of his instruments, some of which were very large, such as that in the Church of Saint Sulpice and Notre Dame in Paris, or that of the Basilica of Saint Sermin in Toulouse, influenced various generations of organ composers, such as Franck, Widor, Dupré and Messiaen.

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