Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2003

New organ

Windchests
slider chests
Key action
mechanical
Stop action
electrical
Inauguration
13./14.12.2003
Expert
Franz Josef Rahe
Case design
Hans-Peter Keller
Voicing
Rudolf Aebischer


www.orgelbau.ch/ope=114010

Osnabrück

III/P/57

Germany, Lower Saxony
St. Petrus Dom, Hauptorgel

© pictures Orgelbau Kuhn AG, Männedorf, Ch. Grovermann, Osnabrück

Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2003

New organ

Windchests
slider chests
Key action
mechanical
Stop action
electrical
Inauguration
13./14.12.2003
Expert
Franz Josef Rahe
Case design
Hans-Peter Keller
Voicing
Rudolf Aebischer

From Confrontation to Consensus

The commission to build a new organ in St. Peter's Cathedral, Osnabrück presented us with what initially seemed an impossible task. The existing architectural features of this masterpiece of the late Romanesque era appeared to conflict with an optimal conception of the organ. Acoustically, the position of the previous instrument, in the south-western tower, had proved unsatisfactory. The placing of the new organ on the west wall was, however, seen as ideal, although the extremely large rose window, constructed in 1305, and Gothic main entrance severely restricted the space available for an instrument intended to meet the highly varied demands on a cathedral organ. On no account should the unique rose window be concealed. We seemed to be, quite literally, in a corner!

Ultimately, a bold decision made by the building committee paved the way towards a convincing solution for us: the entire inner west wall was newly constructed and the old gallery above the main entrance demolished and replaced by a new lower platform exclusively for the organ. Thus we were able to achieve an acoustically ideal position for an organ worthy of the cathedral, and without concealing the rose window. The organ façade surrounds half of the window in the form of a semicircle; organ and rose window combine as an architectural entity. The bronze pipe shades made by the artist Johannes Niemeyer, who also newly designed the entrance, reflect the cathedral's existing decorations and accentuate new stylistic harmony in the west front.

As a result of the unusual design of the organ, an unconventional placing of the console also proved necessary. It is positioned high up, above the main body of the instrument! The individual sections of the organ are grouped around the console in such a way as to enable the organist to achieve optimal feel when playing, through direct connection to the instrument's action. In addition, an even distribution of sound to the player is guaranteed.

In terms of sound colour, this three-manual organ with 53 stops - the smallest cathedral organ in Germany - is intentionally somewhat removed from the smaller, historic Cavaillé-Coll organ which stands in the chancel. The relatively large number of fundation stops enables an almost unlimited differentiation; the mutation stops are available for classical trio and cantus firmus registration. A rarity is the «Turmwerk» («tower organ») which provides an additional four solo stops, or when played in dialogue with the main organ exploits the impressive expanse of the cathedral to its full potential.