A large part of the register section as well as the organ frame was taken over from the preceding organ. That instrument built by Phil. Sieber in 1905 had pneumatical conical wind chests and had been arranged in the style of the German Romantic era. Almost the complete high-quality pipe section could still be used, with the exception of the third mixture of the main section which in the '70s had been exchanged for a mixture 1 1/3'. Also the organ frame which fits so harmoneously into the church interior, was in remarkably good condition, except for some slight damage at the wooden carvings. In cooperation with Mr. Thomas Rothert, church musical director and Mr. Hans-Eberhard Roß, the area's cantor, we agreed to integrate all existing registers, to reinstall the third mixture and to reuse the historic organ frame. The pneumatic system was discarded in favour of mechanically drawn loop chests. To enlarge the musical possibilities of the sound spectrum which had been very fundamental, we added new registers and extended the key volume to 56 for the manuals and to 30 for the pedal. All pipes we had to add were constructed strictly following the existing register molds. In the choice of the extensions and later in the intonation much care was taken so the new registers would comply as much as possible with the style of arrangement in the early 20th century and perfectly blend into the sound to the existing stock. As an example, let us just name the violin mixture "Harmonia aetheria 3f." which creates a very soft and mellow brilliance.

With the extension of the arrangement the organ needed more room. Here, we had to find a concept which would respect the church building, a preserved historic monument. Furthermore, the organ's location at the time seemed rather dissatisfactory for church music to be heard at its best advantage.

Parish members and everybody involved in the project discussed all possible solutions in great detail. With the concept that finally materialized, the pedal section was partitioned into C and Cs sides and placed in two separate frames on either side of the balcony. The pedal-frame front sections are now rather plain in the style of the historic main frame, so the view focuses on the main frame in the middle. The lateral fillings were adorned with stylized rosettes (ornaments) which allow for a good sound volume.

Main section and swell are housed in the historic frame, which was enlarged by about 40 cm in depth. We restored or completed all missing or damaged parts of the carved ornaments, pinnacles or crab ornaments.

A double register system was installed to enhance the concert use of the fully mechanical instrument. For financial reasons, however, the tuning system is to be fitted at a later point.

Summing up we can say that the existing register stock's changeover from conical to loop chests has shown an extraordinary result. The installation of the mechanical loop chests and an exquisite and skilful intonation of the old and new registers certainly refined the register sound, which would have to be described as rather "raw" before. The organ in Woringen now combines the technical advantages of the mechanical loop chest of contemporary organ manufacturing with the sound experience of the organs of the early 20th century.

Stop list
of the Lutheran Church of Woringen

Ist MANUAL
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