Victor Togni

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Victor Togni
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Born15 March 1935
Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika
Died29 March 1965
Gananoque, Canada
Occupation(s)Organist, improviser, teacher, composer, conductor
Websitewww.victortogni.com/

Victor Togni (15 March 1935 - 29 March 1965) was a Swiss Canadian organist, improviser, composer, and teacher, most noted for his work in the field of improvisation.[1]

Biography

Victor Togni's short life is punctuated by contributions to organ performance and improvisation. He studied with many of the leading organists of the twentieth century across several European countries.

In France, he studied with Rolande Falcinelli at the École Normale de Musique, with Olivier Messiaen at the Conservatoire National de Musique, and privately with Jean Langlais and Marcel Dupré. In Switzerland, he studied at Einsiedeln Abbey as a teenager; years later, he returned to Switzerland to study with Jean-Jacques Grunenwald at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, where he won three first prizes in organ. In Italy, he studied with the noted Italian organist Fernando Germani at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He achieved an ARCM from the Royal College of Music in London.[2][3][4]

Victor Togni is noted for having won the first place prize at the American Guild of Organists|American Guild of Organists' Improvisation Competition on June 26, 1964. He won by unanimous decision, improvising a prelude and fugue on themes by the American composer Vincent Persichetti. The prize was sponsored by Casavant Frères.[5][6]

Victor Togni held several church organist positions throughout his life. In Italy, he served at St. Gregory's Basilica, Rome, and as the assistant to Fernando Germani, who was Organist of St. Peter's Basilica|Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. In Switzerland, he served at the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence (Lugano)|Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, Lugano. Togni held many positions over his years in Canada, the most significant of which were as Organist and Choirmaster of St. Basil's Church, Toronto|St. Basil's Church and University of St. Michael's College|St. Michael's College, Toronto, at St. Michael's Choir School|St. Michael's Cathedral Choir School as Professor of Organ and Improvisation, as well as at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica (Toronto)|St. Michael's Cathedral as Organist.[7]

As a recitalist, Victor Togni's cultivated an international profile. In North America, he gave concerts at St. Mary's Cathedral (Calgary)|St. Mary's Cathedral in Calgary, Saint Joseph's Cathedral, Edmonton|Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Edmonton, and Christ Church Cathedral (Vancouver)|Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, as well as the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia and the St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul|Cathedral of St. Paul in Minnesota (where he inaugurated the Aeolian-Skinner organ in 1963). European concerts include the Cäcilienkirche in Regensburg, Germany, among others. [8] Togni cofounded the International Organ Festival of Magadino|Festival Internazionale di Musica Organistica di Magadino in Switzerland in 1963, where he played alongside Marcel Dupré and Gaston Litaize. [9][10] Before he died, Togni was scheduled to play at the Royal Canadian College of Organists|Royal Canadian College of Organists' 1965 National Convention, and again at the same Magadino Festival in 1966. He was also slated for concerts at Haarlem, Rome, Paris, and throughout Germany.[11]

Victor Togni was killed on March 29, 1965, in a car accident. He had been travelling to record an organ concert in Québec.[12]

Victor Togni married a Canadian. His son,Peter-Anthony Togni, is a celebrated Canadian composer, organist, and improviser.[13]

Improvisations

At the time of his death, Victor Togni had been writing an improvisation method book entitled The Liturgical Organ Improvisation. Though incomplete, The Liturgical Organ Improvisation demonstrates several models for improvising on Gregorian chant melodies based on Togni's own work in improvisation.

Precomposed and Extemporized: Rediscovering the Life and Improvisatory Work of Canadian Organist Victor Togni (1935 - 1965), a 2019 publication, assesses the role of improvisation in Togni's life, including unpublished recordings of Togni improvising.[14] These improvisations largely date from the final years of Togni's life from 1963 to 1965, and include recordings of Togni's winning improvisation at the 1964 Improvisation Competition of the American Guild of Organists' National Convention at First Baptist Church, Phildelphia, as well as several improvised works on the historic former Warren and Son organ of St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica (Toronto)|St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, the Aeolian-Skinner organ of the St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul|Cathedral of St. Paul, Minnesota, and the International Organ Festival of Magadino|Festival Internazionale di musica organistica di Magadino.[15]

Works

  • Mass for the Parishes (initially published as A Parish Mass, 1965, 2016) – unison voice and organ
  • Five Liturgical Inventions (1966, 2015) – organ
  • Alleluia! (1966) – SAATBB
  • Ave Maria (2005) – SATTB

Awards

  • 1963 – Prix de Virtuosité, Conservatoire de Musique de Genève
  • 1963 – Prix Rochette, Conservatoire de Musique de Genève
  • 1963 – Prix Otto Barblan, Conservatoire de Musique de Genève
  • 1964 – First Place Casavant Prize, American Guild of Organists' Improvisation Contest

In the media

  

References

  1. ↑ "Music | Victor Togni". Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  2. ↑ "Victor Togni - Counterpoint Music Library Services". Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  3. ↑ "The Early Years | Victor Togni". Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  4. ↑ "Switzerland | Victor Togni". Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  5. ↑ Thévenot, Maxine (January 2008). "Victor Togni (1935 - 1965): From Tanganyika to Toronto". The America Organist.
  6. ↑ "North America | Victor Togni". Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  7. ↑ Thévenot, Maxine (January 2008). "Victor Togni (1935-1965): From Tanganyika to Toronto". The American Organist.
  8. ↑ Farahat, John Paul (2019). Precomposed and Extemporized: Rediscovering the Life and Improvisatory Work of Canadian Organist Victor Togni (1935 – 1965) (Doctor of Musical Arts thesis). University of Toronto.
  9. ↑ "Have played - Magadino International Organ Music Festival - Magadino". www.organ-festival.ch. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  10. ↑ "Switzerland | Victor Togni". Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  11. ↑ Farahat, John Paul (2019). Precomposed and Extemporized: Rediscovering the Life and Improvisatory Work of Canadian Organist Victor Togni (1935 – 1965) (Doctor of Musical Arts thesis). University of Toronto.
  12. ↑ "Victor Togni - Counterpoint Music Library Services". Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  13. ↑ "Peter Togni - Applied Instructor - Composition - School of Music". music.acadiau.ca. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  14. ↑ "Precomposed and Extemporized". JOHN PAUL FARAHAT. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
  15. ↑ Farahat, John Paul (2019). Precomposed and Extemporized: Rediscovering the Life and Improvisatory Work of Canadian Organist Victor Togni (1935 – 1965) (Doctor of Musical Arts thesis). University of Toronto.

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