Restoration of our smallest organ

According to tradition, the organ in the Briefkapelle was built by the virtually unknown organ builder Johannes Schwarz from East Prussia. An inscription on the organ case gives the date 1713. Originally intended as a domestic organ, the instrument was purchased in 1724 for the castle chapel in Dönhoffstadt (near Rastenburg), as plans for a new organ had fallen through. Similarities to a design by the eminent organ builder Josua Mosengel are evident.

In 1937, the Lübeck-based organ-building firm Karl Kemper replaced the instrument with a new organ. The instrument was thus brought to Lübeck and, after the end of the Second World War, was installed in St Katharine’s Church and later in the Chapel of Letters at St Marien. There, it was used, amongst other things, to provide musical accompaniment for church services in winter.

The instrument can be described as unique for a number of reasons.

It retains a large proportion of historical components dating from the early 18th century:

• a high percentage of historical pipes from the builder’s era
• the bellows system, including pedals and a scoop bellows
• the wind chest
• the keyboard
• significant parts of the case
• as well as the mechanisms for registerting the sounds

The sound is quiet and moving.

This places this organ, dating from 1713, in the same category as Lübeck’s other valuable historic organs: the one at St Jakobi (15th/16th century), the Italian organ from 1777 in the cathedral, and the façade of the Scherer/Fritzsche organ at St Aegidien, dating from 1625.

Following an examination of the instrument by two independent organ experts and other organ builders, it was concluded that the post-war alterations to the instrument – some of which were carried out improperly and were of a significant nature – have resulted in damage to its sound, mechanics and appearance. The organ in the Briefkapelle is in a poor state of repair!

The organ’s surroundings – that is, the chapel – have affected the instrument itself due to salt damage to the masonry and the resulting damage to the plasterwork. The pipework must therefore be cleaned and the organ treated to remove mould. Moving parts, such as the wind supply, action and stop action, are in poor condition and require overhaul.

Throughout, the material added to the historic pipe organ by Kemper is to be regarded as substandard and must be replaced or supplemented through reconstruction.

The tuning, pitch and timbre must be restored and re-established in accordance with the specifications of the historic pipe material.

The aim of a Restoration

The organ in the Briefkapelle is to continue to be played in this architecturally and acoustically outstanding space. Following the restoration of the chapel in 2024, which was made possible by a donation, the parish now aims to install the instrument in the Briefkapelle in a condition that is as close to its original state as possible and in the best possible condition in terms of sound and technical performance, and to present it to visitors in various formats.

Thanks to this ambitious project, the Chapel of Letters of St Marien will once again be seen and heard in all its splendour.

Plan and Implementation

Restauration and reconstruction work is required.

Despite the otherwise limited availability of sources, the original layout and other details of the instrument were rediscovered, thanks to a stroke of luck, in a descriptive travel account written by an organist from East Prussia who was passionate about organs. Further details will come to light as the instrument is dismantled. Surviving 18th-century portable organs in East Prussia are being used for comparison.

The organ builder’s tasks will include constructing a new mechanical action and relocating the historic keyboard to its original side, the rear of the instrument.

Restoring the original range and supplementing the historical pipework through reconstruction based on historical models will be another key task.

The restoration and repair of the organ case (façade panels, doors, including new façade pipes) forms part of the project. A colour scheme is being developed and implemented in collaboration with a restorer. The church and local authority heritage conservation bodies are involved in the process of both internal and external restoration.

The project, including all restoration and reconstruction work, will cost €280,000.

In Detail
(all prices are quoted as net amounts, so 19% VAT must be added)

1. Refurbishment of the organ case, including replacement of the panelling at the front and rear of the organ’s base, addition of side doors, repair of various areas of damage to the case, construction of a mobile platform and a stool, installation of the organ mechanics, dismantling of the organ and its reinstallation in the Marienkapelle, as well as the creation of a colour scheme and its implementation (~€51,700)

2. Overhaul of the wind chest, reconstruction of the bellows board and the modified stops (~€14,600)
3. Conversion of the keyboard to a rear-action organ system, including the construction of a shaft board with associated tone action (~€20,350)
4. Conversion of the stops (~€7,800)
5. Re-leathering of the bellows, construction of a new motor housing with a new high-speed wind generator. Extension or modification of the wind channels. Removal of the front water-drawing step (~€22,600)
6. Overhaul of the pipes, addition of the new stops to be built, intonation and tuning of all pipes (~€85,500)
7. Construction of a new cymbal star based on appropriate models (~€4,100)
8. Concept development, documentation of the individual restoration stages (~€19,450)
9. Colour restoration based on historical evidence (~€8,900)