(bap. Podgrebaća, Bulič, Dalmatia, Feb 1694; d Conegliano, Treviso, 16 April 1769). Italian organ builder. His place of birth was then part of the Venetian Republic. He studied philosophy at Sebenico, theology in Venice (he became a friar) and organ building under Giovanni Battista Piaggia, also in Venice. By his industry and excellent workmanship he established himself as the principal organ builder of his time in Venice, Dalmatia and the surrounding area. For a short period in 1729 he worked with Pierantoni and Pescetti.
The
development of the Italian organ under Nacchini may be seen in the
specifications of two fine organs surviving in Venice. The first, an organo
doppio built in 1737 for S Martino (rebuilt by Gaetano Callido in 1799;
restored, 1983–4), has two manuals (unusual in Italy at this time; see Organ, §V, 10) of 59 keys each (C'D'E'F'G'A'–d''',
short first octave) and a pedal-board of 20 pedals (CDEFGA–b, short
octave). The first three keys of the organo grande, and the first eight
each of the organo piccolo and Pedal department, are coupled to the
corresponding pipes of the next octave. The grande consists of a divided
Principale (12') and six Ripieno stops, Voce umana, Flauto in ottava (6',
divided), Flauto in XII, Cornetta (13/5', treble only), Violetta (divided, 4'
in the bass), Tromboncini (8', divided). Piccolo: Principale (8') and
four Ripieno stops (Ottava divided), Flauto in ottava (4', divided), Cornetta
(13/5', treble only), Tromoncini (8', divided). The division of the bass and
treble is between a and b
. Pedal: Contrabbassi 16', Ottava di Contrabbassi,
Tromboni. The second, op.160, for S Maria dei Derelitti, the church of the
Ospedaletto (1751; restored 1983), had one manual, C (short) to c''',
45 notes; nine separate ranks of chorus stops from Principale (8' divided), to
Trigesimasesta, Voce umana, Flauto in ottava (4'), Flauto in XII, Cornetta
soprani, Tromboncini (8' divided); Pedal (C to g
, 17 notes): Contrabassi 16',
Ottava 8'; Tiratutti; Rollante.
Other surviving organs include: S Rocco, Venice (1743; restored, 1959 and in practically original condition); op.98, San Servolo, near Venice (1745; restored, 1989; nearly original condition), op.158, Muzzana del Turgnano, Udine (1750, restored, 1971); all have one manual of 45 keys (C–c''' with short first octave) and 17 pedals.
Trassunto dei titoli di benemerenza e dei servigni prestati in guerra ed in pace dalla Famiglia Nachich … alla sudditanza della Serenissima Repubblica (Venice, 1975)
S. dalla Libera: L'arte degli organi a Venezia (Venice, 1962/R)
L. Nassimbeni: ‘Nuovi documenti sulla presenza dell'organaro don Pietro Nachini in Friuli’, Metodi e ricerche, new ser., xiv/2 (1995), 71–85
L. Nassimbeni: ‘Gli ultimi anni di vita dell'organaro Pietro Nachini e il suo testamento’, L'organo, xxxi (1997), 149–63
GUY OLDHAM/UMBERTO PINESCHI