Orgelbau Th. Kuhn AG, 1997
New organ
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=113730
II/P/36
Switzerland, Appenzell Inner Rhodes
Kath. Kirche
The parish church in Oberegg was built in 1870/71 by the architect Karl Reichlin from Schwyz in a uniformly Neo-Romanesque style. In 1969/71, however, it met a fate common to many churches of the time: it underwent radical renovations and was «freed» from so-called «frippery». What remained was a «huge bleak and bare hall» (KDM, S.509) with an empty and functionless chancel area. During the latest renovation to the church the architect Robert Bamert successfully managed to give back the interior a sense of life and structure with pilasters and horizontal plaster edging set out from the wall in contrasting colours. The new organ was to be integrated into this overall scheme, and the structure of the case which can be seen in the picture was the result.
The new organ is positioned where the High Altar had stood, whereas the previous instrument was located on the west gallery. The console is free-standing and is constructed so that the player faces the congregation.
Tonally, the organ is richly endowed and besides the classical repertoire, the performance of Romantic-symphonic organ music is also made possible. The Schwellwerk is designed in the manner of a French «récit expressif». The 8 ' range in the Hauptwerk and the Schwellwerk were given appropriate consideration. Three good quality stops from the Klingler organ of 1896 could be incorporated into the new instrument without any problems. Taking into consideration the concertante use of the organ, it was fitted with a double stop jamb which also made possible the employment of an electronic capture system.
Translation 2008: SJR
