Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2002

New organ

Windchests
slider chests
Key action
mechanical
Stop action
mechanical
Inauguration
22.12.2002
Expert
Edwin Peter
Case design
Claude Lardon
Voicing
Raymond Petzold


www.orgelbau.ch/ope=113970

Oberwil bei Büren

II/P/20

Switzerland, Berne
Ref. Kirche

© pictures Orgelbau Kuhn AG, Männedorf

Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2002

New organ

Windchests
slider chests
Key action
mechanical
Stop action
mechanical
Inauguration
22.12.2002
Expert
Edwin Peter
Case design
Claude Lardon
Voicing
Raymond Petzold

Originality through opportunity

The historic church in the Bernese village of Oberwil bei Büren possesses a special architectural feature: its south wing, a feature which indeed proved too inviting to ignore when considering the placement of a new organ. The balcony, where the previous instrument had stood, was very restricting in terms of height and would, in all respects, have considerably limited the design of the new organ. We therefore recommended an unconventional positioning of the instrument in the south wing, at the side of the nave. The available space even facilitates performance alongside choir or orchestra.

A unique place requires an original solution, and this we were able to find for the church in Oberwil: the contemporary façade was designed with a round tower as its central feature and axis; based on circular and square forms, it fits perfectly under the large archway. The centre of the square between superstructure and substructure is, at the same time, the centre of the arch! In addition the height and width of both the nave, as well as the archway under which the organ stands, are in a ratio of 3:4 to one another - an architectural feature which is repeated in the proportions of the organ's width to the height of the outer sections of pipework.

The stop-list tends unmistakeably towards the Romantic, but without neglecting the «classical» tonal elements. Although there are no apparent specialities evident from the nomenclature, the organ in Oberwil is distinctly unique; to the discerning listener charm, attraction and originality are manifested in the instrument's tonal spectrum. Often, through avoiding the spectacular, the remarkable is achieved!



www.orgelbau.ch/ope=113970