Kuhn Organ Builders Ltd, 2014
New organ in historical style
www.orgelbau.ch/ope=114580
I/4
Switzerland, Berne
Ehemalige Abteikirche, Rekonstruktion Ab Yberg Positiv
Baby Sister
The smallest organ in the former abbey church in Bellelay is a copy of the Ab Yberg organ (built around 1600) from the historical museum in Basel.
The original organ was restored by our firm in 1981. In those days, a desire had already made itself felt - particularly by Wolfgang Rehn, who was carrying out the work - to copy this organ. In the course of time it has undergone various alterations. The extension/replacement of the originally existing reed stop was especially significant. The restoration at that time was based on maintaining the organ as it had developed; all the alterations were retained.
For these reasons, it was an exciting challenge to return, in a copy, to the presumed original condition. For the reed stops we decided on a regal without resonators, based on models from the time around 1600. Voicing of the complete organ was deliberately left to some extent unrefined, so that a particularly large number of harmonics remained. In this way, the great abbey church can be filled with astoundingly clear sound. As a result, the small organ is also to a large degree suitable for purposes of accompaniment.
This project was once again led by Wolfgang Rehn, who thus was able to end his active period with Kuhn with the fulfilment of a long cherished wish. The pipe shades and the frame of the casing were the responsibility of Hippolyte Pulcini. With the cooperation of our trainees, a small, fascinating musical instrument was created that complements in a wonderful way the rich provision of organs that the great abbey church already possessed.
Translation: RS 2015