David Bridgeman-Sutton muses about the finishing touches to organ pipes; how does Sir require his gilding?
Hats off to arms!
Pic. 1 - Amorbach Abbey and ceiling
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The organ case at Amorbach in Bavaria is, like the church, an outstanding example of the baroque. This style, which flourished in the latter part of the eighteenth century, reached its fullest flowering in Austria and what is now Southern Germany. Designers gave full rein to imagination; carving, painting and gilding abound and, wherever possible, curves replace straight lines and plane surfaces. These features are seen picture (1) which includes one of the ceiling panels. Such panels ~ sometimes entire ceilings ~ usually depict scenes in Heaven. Local bigwigs, recognisable by their features and by their robes and symbols of office, are often shown taking prominent part in these celestial events and thus having their importance impressed on lesser mortals.
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Coronets, mitres and armorial display are occasional features of case decoration. Sometimes these relate to church hierarchies, sometimes to a benefactor who may have presented the instrument. At Amorbach they lead via by-ways of history to something of a mystery. A clearer view of these is given in fig. 2.
Fig. 2
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Crowns and coronets differ in design both according to the country to which they belong and the rank of the owner. Identification is usually possible by reference to C-A von Volborth's Heraldry. The coronet seen in the photograph is that of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
This Empire was a confederation of states that existed from the early Middle Ages until early in the nineteenth century. The Emperor was chosen by a college of rulers known as "Electors". It will be recalled that JS Bach wrote a set of concerti for the Elector of Brandenburg and that, at about the same time, there was some coolness between Handel and the Elector of Hanover. |
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Several blind alleys were followed in trying to link the Amorbach arms with Bavaria. However, at the time the organ was built (1774-1787) and for centuries before, this town had been in the independent state of Franconia.
Franconia was ruled by the successive Prince-Bishops of Wurzburg, whose varied headgear included the style of coronet on the case. Thanks to Dr Johannes Merz, archivist and librarian to the Diocese of Wurzburg, it is established that the bishops at the time of the building of the organ were Adam von Seinsheim (1755-1779) and Franz von Erthal (1779-1795). Adam von Seinsheim's arms seem to have included a pig, which would have been greatly envied by Lord Emsworth. |
Amorbach Abbey
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Fig. 3
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Unfortunately for this enquiry as Dr Merz points out "there is no connection between their arms and those in Amorbach Abbey". If anyone knows the owner of the Amorbach arms - the Abbey itself? and the connection with the coronet ~ please say!
How would the arms of Christchurch (fig. 3) suit the Town Hall instrument? This idea has not yet been tried out on the curator: if steam issues from his ears, let us hope he is playing the Excursion Train Polka at the time. Town Hall audio-visuals are gaining quite a reputation. |
David Bridgeman-Sutton,
August 2, 2003
August 2, 2003
Acknowledgements:
1 photographs of Amorbach: Jenny Setchell
2 computer image: Bessye Lechatte
3 with thanks to Nederlandse Gemeeten Bank
1 photographs of Amorbach: Jenny Setchell
2 computer image: Bessye Lechatte
3 with thanks to Nederlandse Gemeeten Bank
