Organs have been known for centuries as a central instrument in church music and, as a total work of art consisting of architecture, sound and technology, they are a magnet for music lovers from all over the world. But what makes organ music so special?
The organist has access to more than two hundred registers with almost 18.000 pipes on the world's largest musical instrument, each of which differs in its design and tone color. Their interaction produces millions of tones. This range of possibilities justifiably gives the organ its nickname "queen of instruments."
Organ music and architecture in Germany were declared intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in December 2017. In Saxony alone there are around 2.500 organs, of which over 150 are historical examples. Thousands of music lovers from Germany and abroad enjoy the variety of organs every year. Many of these instruments have been extensively restored and reconstructed in recent decades. This has enabled the sound worlds and an important historical organ treasure to be preserved.
The Leipzig region also boasts a unique wealth of important organs by various architects. The organ landscape was particularly shaped by the work of Gottfried Silbermann and his school. Attractions for organ enthusiasts include treasures such as the Richter organ in the fortified church in Pomßen, the Silbermann organs in Rötha, the Urban Kreutzbach organ in Waldheim and the Schramm organ in the castle church in Wermsdorf.
Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH publishes the annual brochure "Fascination of Organs", which provides an overview of the most important organs in the Leipzig region as well as an events calendar. It is available free of charge from the Leipzig Tourist Information (Katharinenstraße 8), from the participating event locations and for download on the Internet. The organ season opens every year with the AnKlang concert, which takes place at different locations.
The History of Saxon Organs
The first evidence of Saxon organ building goes back to the late Gothic period. For example, the first documented organ building was in St. Thomas Church in Leipzig in 1384. The Gothic period was dominated by internationally active organ builders, which led to a homogenous architectural style throughout Europe. It was not until the 17th century that an independent Saxon organ landscape developed. However, the destruction during the Thirty Years' War led to numerous new buildings being built.
Saxony's economic and cultural heyday during the Renaissance and Baroque periods produced organ builders of national importance. With Gottfried Silbermann (1683-1753), Saxon organ building reached its peak. Even during his lifetime, he was known for the high quality craftsmanship of his organs and his demanding artistic level. Silbermann's student Zacharias Hildebrandt completed his work in the Kreuzkirche in Störmthal in 1723 and quickly became Gottfried Silbermann's greatest competitor. The organ in Störmthal was inaugurated by Johann Sebastian Bach himself, who was full of enthusiasm for Hildebrandt's work. Also important was Christoph Donat, the progenitor of a widespread family of organ builders. They built organs throughout central Germany and immortalized themselves in the town church of Brandis in 1705 and in the Evangelical Lutheran St. Christopher's Church in Böhlen in 1794.
During the Romantic period, the Leipzig university organ builder Johann Gottlob Mende (1787-1850) enjoyed a high reputation as an important organ builder. He was strongly influenced by Gottfried Silbermann's architecture and left Saxony 23 new organs, seven of which have survived. His largest work in the Leipzig University Church of St. Pauli was demolished along with the church in 1968. The Mende organ from 1840/41 with a winged altar by Stephan Hermsdorf in the Podelwitz village church in Rackwitz has been preserved.
In the second half of the 19th century, the influence of foreign organ companies increased with industrialization and the increasing movement of goods. However, the majority of orders remained in the hands of Saxon organ builders, who shaped the organ landscape for several generations. These included the Kreutzbach family of organ builders and the Dresden family business Jehmlich, which, with over 1.100 organs worldwide, has the most extensive work of all Saxon organ builders. Another important representative is Friedrich Ladegast (1818-1905). In addition to medium-sized organs in Altleisnig (1868) and the town church in Naunhof (1882), he also built an organ for St. Nicholas' Church in Leipzig (1862), which is one of the largest church organs in Saxony.
In modern times, the organ landscape is characterized by numerous restorations and reconstructions of historical instruments, including those by the Schmeisser family of organ builders. The portfolio of the Saxon organ landscape has thus been supplemented by several new buildings of national importance in various styles.
Saxony's famous organ builders and their works
Gottfried Silbermann (1683-1753) is considered to be the most important organ builder of the Baroque period. Due to his efficiency and fast delivery times, he was able to build around 50 organs. 31 organs are still preserved and can be experienced in the Leipzig region. These include the famous Silbermann organs in Rötha in the St. Georgenkirche (1721) and the St. Marienkirche (1722), which Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy was enthusiastic about after a visit in 1840. In 1791, the Trampeli sons enlarged the Silbermann organ in the St. Kilian church in Bad Lausick from 1722.
The Danish organ builder Urban Kreutzbach (1796-1868) settled in Borna in 1828 and made a name for himself in the art of organ building, particularly in Saxony. He left his own organs in 28 churches or restored existing ones. The most famous organs are those in the town churches in Borna and Waldheim. The impressive Kreutzbach organ in Waldheim was built in 1843 as a two-manual mechanical organ with 34 registers. In 1891, a major reconstruction was carried out by Richard Kreutzbach (1839-1903). A new console was built and the mechanical action was replaced with a pneumatic control system. In 1928, the organ was rebuilt again and given an electric blower. A general overhaul took place in 1989. In addition to building new organs, Kreutzbach also carried out restoration work.
The important organ builder Friedrich Ladegast also made a name for himself with his work in Leipzig and the region. He was born in 1818 in Zettlitz, Saxony, and was famous for his organ-building skills during his lifetime. In Saxony alone, he built eight organs, including his largest work in 1868 in the Altleisnig church in Polditz near Leisnig. It has 33 registers, three manuals and a pedal. In 1882, he built an organ for the town church in Naunhof. It has a mechanical action and slider chests and was re-consecrated in 2011 after reconstruction and restoration by the Wegscheider organ workshop.
Other important organ builders in the Leipzig region include Wilhelm Rühlmann (1842-1922: St. Nikolai town church in Bad Düben), the Schmeisser family of organ builders (1844-1975: St. John's Church in Berlgershain, Beucha mountain church in Brandis), Conrad Geißler (1825-1897: Deuben parish church in Bennewitz, St. Mary's Church in Eilenburg, Church of Our Lady in Groitzsch), the Jehmlich organ building company from Dresden (founded in 1808: St. Aegidien Church in Oschatz, St. Mary's Cathedral in Wurzen), Herrmann Eule (1846-1929: St. Nicolai Church in Döbeln, Church of Our Lady in Grimma, St. Wenceslai town church in Wurzen).
Tour offers around the organ
The website www.faszination-orgel.de contains a lot of information about organs. In addition to bookable offers, there are also 35 organ portraits from the entire Leipzig region and a special event calendar for organ concerts. Interested parties can also book a guided bus tour from Leipzig with an organ performance. The annual tour takes visitors to various churches. There they have the opportunity to see the organ gems up close and listen to their sound. The tour includes a guided tour, an organ performance, church tours and a lunchtime snack. An overnight package with an individual city tour of Leipzig can also be booked.
Combine musical enjoyment with experiences in the city and country
In the Leipzig region, you can combine musical enjoyment with experiences in nature or exploring the many picturesque towns. Many organ sites can be linked by hiking or cycling routes such as the Mulderadweg or the Lutherweg Sachsen.
In the Catholic Church of St. Mary in Delitzsch, for example, you can admire the Weimbs organ, which was built in 2013 by the organ builder Weimbs from Hellenthal. Also worth seeing in Delitzsch are the lavishly renovated city center and the baroque Delitzsch Castle.
The nationally known Danish organ builder Urban Kreutzbach worked, among other places, in the St. Nikolai town church in Waldheim. Anyone who would like to see this gem from 1848 can combine it with a visit to the oldest continuously operating prison in Germany and from here start hiking in the idyllic Zschopau valley. A day trip to Wermsdorf, around 30 kilometers away, is also worthwhile. With its baroque Hubertusburg Castle and the adjacent Wermsdorf Forest, it has a lot to offer both culture and nature lovers. The Schramm organ can be admired at an organ and violin concert in the St. Hubertus Castle Chapel and at the same time enjoy the impressive architecture of the residential castle.