A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cavaille

CAVAILLÉ, the name of several generations of distinguished organ builders in the south of France. The present eminent member of this family is Aristide Cavaillé-Col, born at Montpellier, 1811. The name of Col was that of his grandmother. In 1833 he went to Paris, to see what progress was being made in his art, but without the intention of establishing himself there. Hearing that there was to be a competition for the construction of a large organ for the royal church of St. Denis, he determined to send in a tender, although only two days remained for preparing it. When called up before the committee he gave them such interesting explanations of his plans that they decided to accept his tender. Barker's pneumatic lever was first used in this organ. He thus became established in Paris, built the fine organ of the Madeleine, and many others in the capital and in the provinces. [App. p.583 adds "date of death, Jan. 1886."]

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