The Hildebrandt Organ
The history of the instrument
Die englische Übersetzung der Orgelgeschichte sandte
Charles Sullivan, Wellington, am 4. April 2007 mit den Worten:
Für die Hildebrandt-Orgel in St. Wenzel lohnt es sich, von Neuseeland nach Naumburg zu reisen.
There is no doubt that the Hildebrandt Organ in St. Wenzel belongs
to the most significant creations of late baroque organ building.
It exceeds all Silbermann organs not only in number of stops but also
in variety. The specification shows conservative elements with deep
roots in German baroque organ building and also aspects matching
the new sound sensibilities which developed in the 18 th century,
with French characteristics in the background. Thus this unique work
has come into being from the universality of Bach`s spirit, from the
cosmic multiplicity of his work, and likewise it unifies traditional
achievements and foreshadows future developments in a brilliant
synthesis.
Ulrich Dähnert (author of "The organ builder and instrument maker
Zacharias Hildebrandt" and "The organs of Gottfried Silbermann in
Central Germany")
History of the Hildebrandt organ in Naumburg
On the 27th of August 1743, the Naumburg City Council entered into a contract with Zacharias
Hildebrandt of Leipzig for the building of the new organ of 52 stops in the existing case of
the organ by Zacharias Thayssner (built 1696 -1705). Previously a report from J. S. Bach about
the organ had been obtained which was "most kindly found acceptable". Thus we can surely assume
that Bach had an influential role in the drawing up of the specification, and that this instrument
corresponded to his idea of a fine large organ. On the 27th of September 1746 J. S. Bach and
Gottfried Silbermann examined the finished organ and certified that Hildebrandt's work was good.
In 1748 Joh. Chr Altnikol, Bach's son-in-law, became organist of the Hildebrandt organ.
In 1834 some small changes to the specification in the taste of that time were made by Friedrich Beyer, a local organ builder. In 1864 Friedrich Ladegast of Weissenfels overhauled the organ and also changed the specification. In 1917 Oskar Ladegast removed the windchests of the Oberwerk and replaced these with cone-chests. In 1932/33 the organ was extensively rebuilt by the Walcker firm (Ludwigsburg). The mechanical action remaining until then was removed and replaced by electropneumatic action, and an electrical console installed on the first gallery. The specification was nominally restored to that of 1746 following the advice of Christhard Mahrenholz.
In 1964, the Eule firm of Bautzen made the sound closer to that of the Hildebrandt original. In 1992 an international symposium took place on the past, present and future of the Hildebrandt organ. The unanimous vote for uncompromising restoration of the organ opened the way to restoration and reconstruction work from 1993 to 2000, again carried out by Hermann-Eule-Organbuilding of Bautzen. The work included: key action, stop mechanism, winding, pipe work, pitch, tuning, case, structural framework, carving, and colouring.
Weiterführende Links:
- Orgelrestaurierung in Naumburg, St. Wenzel:
"... und wer diese Orgel gesehen und gehöret, der ist niemahls ohne Bewunderung davon hinweggegangen"
(Johann Christoph Altnikol)
www.euleorgelbau.de/orgelrestaurierung/naumburg/naumburg.htm
Winfried Schrammek "Die durch Hermann Eule Orgelbau Bautzen wiederhergestellte
Bach-Orgel von Zacharias Hildebrandt in der Wenzelskirche zu Naumburg"
www.gdo.de/orgelgalerie/naumburg/
Specification:
|
Rückpositiv (l) Principal Viol di Gambe Prestanta Quintadehn Rohr-Floete Vagara Rohr-Floete Nassat Octava Rausch-Pfeife Mixtur Fagott |
8` 8` 4` 8` 8` 4` 4` 3` 2` 2 ranks 5 ranks 16` |
Hauptwerk (ll) Principal Quintadehn Octava Spitz-Floete Praestanta Cornet Gedakt Spitz-Floete Sesquialter Octava Quinta Weit-Pfeife Mixtur Bombart Trompete |
16` 16` 8` 8` 4` 4 ranks 8` 4` 2 ranks 2` 3` 2` 8 ranks 16` 8` |
|
Oberwerk (lll) Bordun Principal Hohl-Floete Princ.und.mar. Praestanta Gemshorn Quinta Octava Wald-Floete Tertia Quinta Sif-Floete Scharff Vox humana |
16` 8` 8` 8` 4` 4` 3` 2` 2` 1 3/5` 1 1/2` 1` 5 ranks 8` |
Pedal Front pedal chests Principal Octaven Bass Violon Bass Octaven Bass Octava Mixtur Bass Trompet. Bass Clarin Bass Rear pedal chest Posaune Posaune Violon Bass Subbass |
16` 8` 8` 4` 2` 7 ranks 8` 4` 16` 32` 16` 16` |
|
Accessories Coupler Coupler Pedal coupler Tremulant Schwebung (Tremulant doux) Sperrventil Sperrventil Cymbelstern Pitch Temperament Wind-pressures Compass |
OW - HW RP - HW HW - P HW + RP OW HW OW a`= 464 Hz/15°C Neidhardt l (1724) Man. 74 mm Ped. 78 mm C,D-c``` C,D-d` |