Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2002
New organ
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=113950
III/P/41
Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia
Salvatorkirche
Like a butterfly
There is a long tradition of church music in Duisburg. To this day the blackened dome on top of the tower of the Protestant Salvatorkirche remains the symbol of the town. This Gothic church dates back to the 14th century and is famous for its large stained-glass windows. We positioned the organ in front of the mighty window depicting the Revelation, taking care not to conceal this work of art. Therefore, the façade was designed without a middle tower. Instead, the mouths of the pipes across the centre form a curve, the lowest point of which is directly beneath the highest point of the church window - like a mirror image of a pointed arch. The intense colouration of the window is, in this way, accentuated by the cool colours of the organ, which rests between the heavy columns of the tower like a butterfly.
With its 41 stops the organ of Duisburg is not, architecturally speaking, of gargantuan proportions. However, the Great, which has, as its foundation, a 16' stop gives an impression of considerable stature. The Solo, based on 8' pitch, possesses the complete range of Prinzipal (diapason) stops as well as having the expanse of a Positive. The sharing of voices between the four divisions of the organ results in an exceptionally wide range of combination possibilities and a magnificent tone.
In addition, in the Swell all elements required for echo effects, solo lines or the building of an 8' chorus are represented. The 16' pedal stops form the side towers of the façade and possess all the qualities necessary to provide the foundation. The tonal characteristics of both the Classical and the Romantic profit from the richly varying range of 8' stops together with the 16' and 4' couplers.
