Dom Bédos de Celles

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François Lamathe Bédos de Celles de Salelles, known as Dom Bédos de Celles, (born in Caux, Hérault near Béziers, France January 24, 1709) was a Benedictine monk best known for being a master pipe organ builder. He was elected to the French Academy of Sciences at Bordeaux and correspondent of the Academy at Paris, in 1758.

As a recognised organ builder, he was called upon to carry out repairs and appraise and advise other organ builders in many locations across France.

In 1760, he published "La Gnomonique pratique ou l’Art de tracer les cadrans solaires" under the patronage of the Jean-Paul Grandjean de Fouchy, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences and an authority in gnomonics and sundials.

In 1776-8, he published his treatise "L'art du facteur d'orgues," (The Art of the Organ Builder). This monumental opus contains great historical detail about eighteenth-century organ building, and is still referred to by modern organ builders.

He died on November 25, 1779 and is buried in the former Abbey (now Basilica) of Saint-Denis.

[edit] Bibliography

Ferguson, Charles (trans.) (1977) "The Organ-Builder". Translation of Dom François Bédos de Celles L'art du facteur d'orgues 1766–68. Raleigh, NC: Sunbury Press.