Bartolomeo Formentelli - Biography and its Masterpieces

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New organs                   Restorations

Bartolomeo Formentelli was born in  Courquetaine (France) , near Paris, from italian parents. He received first learning on church music and keyboard by Marcel Thomas, Meaux Cathedral Master. Thomas (He was Italian origins , too) often diiscuss about Italian Organs clear sounds and interesting Plenums.  When Formentelli was 14 yers old, he decided to start a new adventure : learning the Organ Builder Art . Probably this happens from hidden relationship between Corquetaine (Ancient Couperin Feudo) and Brescia, (The city of Antegnati, great musical instruments builders family). After wooden working two years period, Formentelli learns Organ Builder Art on the Gonzales Greats Factory. He remains here for six years. After this period , he pass to Hartmann & Bourgarel Masters (Giura) , the latest owner of real french ancient art "du facteur L'orgue.." .  When he was only 20 years old, he restored the Dammarie Les Lys Organ. First concert was performed by Andre' Marchal. French Government gave to Formentelli  a gold medal for this work.After that, "copyng" the ancient invaders french people, guided from Carlo VIII , he went in Italy. He travel riding a motorbike.. genius normally likes  strong sensations.. Hearing Italian organs clear sound  , Formentelli decided to live in Italy and in 1964 he build it's actua factory in Veneto. On beatiful Valpolicella  Valley (World famous for quality wines , too) he has a artigin laboratory, in which, against market laws , reject any form of modern industry concepts and he works only by hand and ancient tools, directly keeped form ancient papers "dom Bedos : L'art du Facter l'orgue", Rubio and others texts. During first period, Formentelli's extreme conception caused some early  working problems in Italy ;  people was not able to play on ancient mechanical organs, and sounds was really clear and strong (and beatiful...). But Formentelli grat art and capacity had many acknoledgement abroad (see great Moucherel 5-keyboard perfect restoration in Albi, France).  So, today he is well known as "Master" of organ art and Formentelli masterpiece start to fill italian churches, now. So we finally can hear in italy great and impressive sounds, probably same sounds heared from '700 and '800 people...  On 1970 he just married in Portugal and became 3 times father.. the major of childrens, Michel , has great interest for organ builder art and he is becoming the next Master of this strong and ancent art. We are happy about this.. Now  Formentelli will be on for the future. 

MAIN NEW ORGAN BUILT FROM BARTHΙLΙMY FORMENTELLI

(Click on thumbs to see images..)

1968 – Chiesa S.Maria Assunta -Merano
  1972 – Duomo di Cavarzere
1975 – Duomo S.Marco – Rovereto
  1971/75 -Conservatori di Parma, Piacenza, Padova
1982 – Chiesa St.Louis, Grenoble – Francia
  1984 – Chiesa di Meymac, Corrθze - Francia
  1985 - S.Galla (Rome)
  1989 – Chiesa St. Franηois de Salles – Ginevra 
  1990 – Istituto Lemmens, Louvain - Belgio
  1990 – Chamber Organ for Prof. Scarpat - Brescia
  1992 – Positivo Italiano, Conservatorio di Losanna
  1993 – Chiesa S.Giovanni in Valle - Verona
  1993 – Chiesa de la Citι, Perigueux - Francia
1995 – Chiesa di Stroppari - Vicenza
  1997 – Chiesa di Manigod, Haute-Savoie - Francia
  1998 – Basilica di St.Laurent sur Sθvre - Francia
  2000 – Convento di Mazille – Francia : Wooden Organ
see page 2000 - Great Organ on S.M. Angeli, Rome

MOST IMPORTANT RESTORATIONS

1964 – Organo fine 1500 di Claudio Merulo – Parma
1965 - Organo del 1700, Universitΰ di Berkeley – California
1967 – Organo del 1600, Chiesa S.Francesca Romana – Ferrara
1967/91- Quattro organi del 1700 in Corsica
1969 - Organo del 1700, Chiesa S.Giacomo Maggiore – Bologna
1969 – Organo del 1700, Igreya da Pena, Lisbona – Portogallo
1972 – Organo del 1500/800, Duomo di Carpi – Modena
1973 – Organo del 1500/800, Chiesa S.Maria in Organo – Verona
1973 – Organo del 1700, Chiesa S.Nicolς dei Mendicoli – Venezia

1981 – Organo del 1732 "Moucherel", Cattedrale di Albi – Francia
1983 – Organo del 1770, Cattedrale di St.Pons – Francia

1984 – Organo del 1600, Citι de Carcassonne – Francia
1986 – Organo del 1600, Lanvellec, Bretagna – Francia
1988 – Organo del 1600/800, Basilica di Beaune – Francia
1989 – Organo del 1598 "Luca Blasi", S.Giovanni in Laterano
1990 – Organo del 1600, Josselin, Bretagna – Francia

1991 – Organo del 1725 "Moucherel", Mouzon – Francia
1992 – Organo fine 1500, Antegnati, Duomo di Verona
1992 – Organo del 1600, Ploujean, Bretagna – Francia
1992 – Organo del 1600, Cattedrale di Tarbes - Francia
1994 – Organo del 1673, Chiesa S.Giovanni Battista – Roma
1994 – Organo del 1700 "Tommaso de Martino", Duomo di Napoli
1994 – Organo del 1500 Breteuil – sur-Iton, Normandia – Francia
1995 – Organo del 1700 Oratorio SS. Pietro e Paolo – Genova
1995 – Organo dell 1800 Santuario Madonna della Costa – San Remo
1996 – Organo del 1700 "F.lli Ricci", S.Giovanni Marignano – Rimini
1997 – Organo del 1600 "Adriano Fedeli", Dignano (Church was completely ruined form central italy eartquake , september, 1998 : Organ  (this is unbelievable) remains on its wall : the only part of chuch was not ruined. Formentelli rescue it and now the organ is on Factory, waiting  for better moments..
1999 – Organo  1800 "G. Callido", Lunano – Pesaro
1999 – Water Organ ,  Quirinale Palace – Rome

see visit

 2000 - Organo Sona del 1800 organ with 16' and reeds montre and bells - Valeggio sul Mincio (Verona, Italy)

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