Donat organ in the Evangelical Lutheran City Church of Brandis

A handwritten entry in the manual wind chest from 1803 proves that the organ was built in 1705 by Christoph Donat. Christop Donat (1625 - 1706) is the founder of a Saxon-Thuringian family of organ builders. He was granted citizenship of Leipzig in 1662. He built the Brandis organ together with his son Christoph (1659 - 1713). Johann Jacob Donat (1663 - 1732), son of Christoph Donat the Elder, Italianized the name Donat to "Donati". This name is documented in the tradition of the company founder until 1824. The Brandis organ and its case still pose a few mysteries. The pedals that now stand behind the organ were originally flush with the case on the left and right at the front.

In 2024, the restoration of the Donat organ began with the dismantling of the wind supply and keyboards. Organ builder Georg Wünning was commissioned to carry out the work. Thanks to federal and state monument preservation grants, as well as numerous donations, the project was able to commence. The organ was ceremonially rededicated on May 4, 2025.

The following work was carried out:

• Reconstruction of the organ case including the historic carvings
• Restoration of the pedal whistles surrendered in World War I
• Restoration of the existing prospectus
• New keyboards modeled after surviving Donat organs
• Reconstruction of four registers
• Refurbishment of the bellows system
• Carpentry work on the gallery floor
• Cleaning, intonation and tuning of all pipes

Layout
 
The current disposition is the result of numerous reschedulings.
About 50% of Donat's pipework is still preserved.
 
Manual range C,D - c''' Pedal range C,D - c'
 
1. Manual 2. Manual Pedal
 
 1. Grobgedackt 8' 9. Gedackt 8' 14. Subbass 16'
 2. Quintadena 8' 10. Octave 4' 15. Octave 8'
 3. Principal 4' 11. Dacktfift 3' 16. Trombone bass 16'
 4. Rohrflöte 4' 12. Spielflöte 2'
 5. Octave 2' 13. Cornett 3-fold pedal coupling
 6th fifth 1 1/2' manual coupling                 
 7th Sequialtera 2fach                                    
 8. Mixture 4-fold pitch gis' 448 Hz