Amédée de Vallombrosa
Amédée Joseph Gabriel Marie Manca-Amat de Vallombrosa was a French organist and composer.Biography
Born in Cannes, Amédée de Vallombrosa was the son of Riccardo Manca-Amat, duke of Vallombrosa and Asinara, and Geneviève. He was the brother of the Marquis de Morès. He married Adrienne Lannes de Montebello in 1906 in Paris. Their daughter, Roselyne, born in 1910, married Foulques, 7th duke of Sabran, in 1936. Despite his family fortune, Amédée de Vallombrosa did not choose the path of business and devoted his life to music and the organ at an early age.
He was the pupil, substitute and friend of the great organist Charles-Marie Widor. He composed a few pieces himself. In 1910, he succeeded Camille Rage to the great organ of the Église Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles de Paris, while also holding the position of Kapellmeister. In 1928, he succeeded Félix Raugel as head of chapel of the église Saint-Eustache.
He continued to work on music until the end of his life. At more than 80 years old, he still played on the choir organ of the Saint-Eustache church.
De Vallombrosa died in the 7th arrondissement of Paris on 9 February 1968, aged 87.
