Orgelbau Th. Kuhn AG, 1984
New organ
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=112850
III/P/33
Switzerland, Berne
Ref. Dorfkirche
Art Nouveau and Asparagus
The protestant village church of Spiez (as opposed to the «Schlosskirche») was built between 1905 and 1907 by the architects Bischoff and Weideli. The building emanates the fresh brilliance of the Art Nouveau, which, after the long period of copying historical styles of architecture during the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, marked a change of direction towards a search for new forms. In 1984 the building was restored, the work being undertaken with reverence for both its interior and exterior with the result that its original radiance was preserved.
The organ façade above the pulpit wall was designed by the architects as an important stylistic feature of the interior. The pedal towers are - as in north German Baroque organs of the 17th century - built into the gallery balustrade. In all other respects, however, the façade breathes quite a different spirit. The lengths of the pipes are not at all determined according to the length acoustically necessary for the desired pitch, but instead are designed with the aesthetic effect in mind. There are long stretches of pipes which, in spite of the decreasing scaling of their diameter, are the same length. The band of ornamentation running in front of the pipes, which is punched out of metal at the towers, can be described as a typical feature of the Art Nouveau. This new form of façade design was pointedly described by Albert Knoepfli as being like an «asparagus bundle», a term which has now found its place in technical jargon. The bands along the main case are carved and display the typical vegetative character of Art Nouveau ornamentation.
From a technical and tonal point of view the new organ of 1984 is far removed from the Art Nouveau. Whilst the authentic Art Nouveau organs belong to the era of the tubular pneumatic system, here a mechanical slider windchest organ was built. The organ's stoplist also bears witness to another turning point. A conscious decision was made to turn away from the Neo-Baroque design, which had dominated as a result of the organ movement, and once again include Romantic stops: besides string stops also harmonic flutes and reeds such as the Cor anglais and Clarinette which, only a short time ago, had been viewed with some disdain.
Friedrich Jakob, 2006
Translation: SJR