Time travel – sound
Time lapse through the seven centuries of organ sound
The history of organ building is visible through the housing and the façade. Every moment has its style. However, the music history can also be heard. Here you are invited to follow the sound journey through seven centuries, played on selected organs of different eras, from the 15th to the 21st century. So please listen to the respective period the matching sound – and the belonging music.
15th century
Organ in Rysumer Kirche (Rysum)
With its largely preserved old pipe fragments, this instrument is one of the oldest playable organs in the world.
Sound example: „Frysicum“ – Organist: Hilger Kespohl
16th century
Organ in Warnfried-Kirche (Osteel)
This Renaissance organ was built in 1619 by Edo Evers. Even today sounds are produced from the original pipes of the time.
Sound example: Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck „Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr“ – Organist: Hilger Kespohl
17th century
Organ in St. Martin (Tellingstedt)
A great portion of the pipes from this oldest yet playable organ in Schelswig-Holstein originates from the instrument which was built in 1642 by Tobias Brunner from Lunden.
Sound example: Heinrich Scheidemann „Praeambulum in d (WV 33)“ – Organist: Hilger Kespohl
18th century
Organ in Klosterkirche Uetersen (Uetersen)
The heterogeneous, historical pipe material by Johann Dietrich Busch and Jürgen Marcussen was combined in 1978 by the Beckerath company in the historic housing of a common sound expression.
Sound example: Petrus Heydorn „Fuga“ – Organist: Hilger Kespohl
19th century
Organ in St. Petri (Buxtehude)
Built in 1859 by Philipp Furtwängler, this organ is a representative example of romantic organ building. This instrument replaced the Schnitger organ which was inaugurated in 1701, which was destroyed by a tower fire in 1853.
Sound example: Georg Armbrust „Fantasie c-Moll op. 4, Nr.2.“ – Organist: Reinhard Gundlach
20th century
Organ in Hauptkirche St. Petri (Hamburg)
The great organ originating from the workshop of Rudolf von Beckerath, revised in 2006 by Alexander Schuke (Potsdam), is a demonstrative example of the Neo-Baroque inspired organ building in the 20th century.
Sound example: Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) „Toccata F-Dur, BuxWV 157“ – Organist: Thomas Dahl
21st century
Organ in Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg)
The large, contemporary organ from the workshop of Klais Bonn in 2016 integrates superbly into the architecture of this concert hall.
Sound example:
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