Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2010
New organ
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=114230
II/P/23
Germany, Lower Saxony
Evang.-luth. St. Johannis-Kirche
Free cube for symphonic sound
Tones which have never been heard before in the Lüneburg organ world: a new chancel organ in the Church of St. Johannis is opening the door to symphonic, romantic church music. The instrument was conceived as a musical complement to the existing historical, Renaissance/Baroque organ, and forms a contrast to its Baroque sister not only on a tonal level. Its independence can also be seen in its external appearance. It is a modern organ of our time. The instrument presents itself to the observer in the form of a free-standing cube of pipes. A peculiarity is the four-sided front. It displays tin front pipes on three sides and oak pipes on the fourth side.
Door on new spheres of sound
The tonal concept of the new organ is not based on a particular historical model but on the musical order of the present day and the variety of tasks in church services and concerts. The French symphonic type of organ complements the great historic principal organ, and is especially suitable for interpreting the literature of the 19th and 20th centuries.
For years we have been deeply involved in this sphere of sound, which differs from German organ design in many details. When working on the scaling and voicing we were able to profit from the rich experience we had gained in restoring historical, original instruments by Cavaillé-Coll and in building several large, new instruments in this style.
When planning this instrument we were obliged to coordinate as far as possible the external design of the front by the architect Carl-Peter von Mansberg (Lüneburg) and the design of the internal system which must have regard to organ-building requirements. A challenge which we mastered successfully and with pleasure, not least thanks to the great trust and understanding shown us by the architect.
Translation: RS 2010
