Appendix 14 - Letters concerning the Trocadéro organ restoration, 1926

Summary

Subscription Committee for the Restoration of the Trocadéro Grand Orgue

Gathered under the chairmanship of Maître WIDOR, permanent secretary of the Academy of Fine Arts, the Committee for the Restoration of the Grand Orgue of the Trocadéro,

Considering the ever-increasing state of disrepair of this admirable instrument, estimated at nearly two million [francs],

Considering, moreover, the impossibility in which the public authorities find themselves, given the current economic situation, to make the action impatiently awaited by the French artistic world,

Decides to open, in its collective name, a subscription intended to save from definitive ruin the only official concert Grand Orgue existing in Paris, the masterpiece of CAVAILLÉ-COLL, and to make a strong appeal to the Parisian Public, through the generous voice of the Press.

Mazarin Palace, March 10, 1926

[signed:]

Widor,

From the Institute, Chairman

Marcel Dupré,

Professor at the Conservatory, Vice-Chairman

Émile-Alphonse Leduc,

Treasurer

Édouard Monet,

Secretary

Jean Maciet,

Assistant Secretary

Committee for the Restoration of the Grand Orgue of the Trocadéro

Paris, March 11, 1926

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

The Committee for the Restoration of the Grand Orgue of the Trocadéro, meeting under the chairmanship of Maître WIDOR, has decided to deal urgently with the irremediable by opening a subscription in its collective name.

Presenting a wish very dear to all our French composers, organists, and conductors, the Committee makes an appeal to you, certain that you will know how to attend to it, thus contributing greatly to the work that it is undertaking officially today.

The sum to be subscribed to restore purely and simply our official concert Grand Orgue amounts to 60,500 francs.

At its opening meeting, the Committee found itself in possession of various donations amounting to 19,714.50 francs.

The signatories of this appeal express their gratitude to you now—on behalf of the Members of the Committee—for the valuable collaboration that you will be good enough to bring to it by publishing its appeal and mentioning the address of its devoted Treasurer, Mr. Émile-Alphonse LEDUC, Honorary President of the Chambre Syndicale des Éditeurs de Musique, 3 rue de Gramont, PARIS (2e).

Please accept, Mr. Editor-in-Chief, the assurance of our highest consideration.

The Secretary,

[signed:] Édouard Monet

23 rue Madame 6e

Members of the Subscription Committee

BOARD: President: Widor; Vice-President: Marcel Dupré Treasurer: Leduc; Secretaries: E. Monet and J. Maciet, organists.

Sirs: Firmin Gremier, Joseph Bonnet, G. Bret, A. Cellier, G. Jacob, H. Letocart,