Orgelbau Th. Kuhn AG, 1962
New organ
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=110440
III/P/54
Switzerland, Berne
Collégiale St-Germain
The main organ in the Collegiate Church of St-Germain in Moutier
Before the present organ was built, there were already two organs in this church: one with two manuals and 24 stops, that was replaced in 1935 by an organ with three manuals and 42 stops. This larger organ, built in 1909, came originally from the reformed church in Rüti/Zürich. Initially pneumatic, it was electrified in 1950.
On the occasion of the large-scale restoration of the collegiate church an order was placed for a new, modern organ in the neobaroque tradition. André Luy, at that time organist in Lausanne Cathedral, and Ernst Schiess were engaged as experts for the organ, which was inaugurated in 1962. The organ is highly thought of and has 49 speaking stops, two combined drawstops, four extensions and three transmissions.
When in 2017 the organ underwent a more thorough general overhaul with extended technical work, it was expanded on the basis of Christoph Maria Moosmann's concept. In the Great division, which already stood on two separate windchests, the rear chest became independent as an expressive positive. A string stop and the swell box were new additions. The Récit was extended by a Flûte harmonique and a Voix humaine. The pedal was given a Subbass 32'. Thanks to some cleverly positioned transmissions the organ pipework can now be used more extensively. The installation of a modern capture system completed the work.
Following personnel problems in the parish, the organ was out of order for two years, but was successfully and finally completed in 2019 in the condition described above. Thanks to the extension, the versatility of the organ has been considerably broadened. The organ now has 66 stops: 54 speaking, six transmissions, four extensions and two unified stops.
Translation: RS 2019
