The Nordic - Baltic Organ Book
- a region that takes its organs seriously and a book that helps us to understand them better.
Reviewed by David Bridgeman-Sutton
Reviewed by David Bridgeman-Sutton
Editors: Anna Frisk, Sverker Jullander & Andrew McCrea.
Published: Göteborg Organ Art Centre.
ISBN: 91-973916-9-7
Published: Göteborg Organ Art Centre.
ISBN: 91-973916-9-7
This is a most valuable introduction to organs that are far less well-known than those of many European countries. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia circle the Baltic Sea. Language has been a barrier – despite the skills of many inhabitants. Here the chapters, from many contributors, are given both in the original and in excellent – if occasionally idiosyncratic – English translation.
Some 50 instruments are described, the earliest dating from 1570, the latest from 1984: in size they range from an 1847 “wardrobe organ” of two stops to the 1884 IVP/124 of Riga Cathedral. This latter was increased from 120 stops by the builder – Walcker – to keep it ahead, in terms of size, of an American rival. Historical influences elsewhere range from the ruin of Russian builders after the 1917 revolution to rescue work in Sweden carried out by Albert Schweitzer. Wars, trade, topography and the clash of personalities also play their part.
The chapters fall into five main sections, each dealing with an era, from Renaissance to 20th century. Introductions to each of these together with three “intermezzi” ( essays on aspects of organ-building in the region at various periods) provide a far more comprehensive background than any that has been available in the past.
Last – but far from least – must be mentioned the numerous excellent photographs, many in colour, of organ-cases, some elaborate, others simple, a few eccentric but all elegant. They are the cases of a region that takes its organs seriously. This book helps us to understand them better.
Some 50 instruments are described, the earliest dating from 1570, the latest from 1984: in size they range from an 1847 “wardrobe organ” of two stops to the 1884 IVP/124 of Riga Cathedral. This latter was increased from 120 stops by the builder – Walcker – to keep it ahead, in terms of size, of an American rival. Historical influences elsewhere range from the ruin of Russian builders after the 1917 revolution to rescue work in Sweden carried out by Albert Schweitzer. Wars, trade, topography and the clash of personalities also play their part.
The chapters fall into five main sections, each dealing with an era, from Renaissance to 20th century. Introductions to each of these together with three “intermezzi” ( essays on aspects of organ-building in the region at various periods) provide a far more comprehensive background than any that has been available in the past.
Last – but far from least – must be mentioned the numerous excellent photographs, many in colour, of organ-cases, some elaborate, others simple, a few eccentric but all elegant. They are the cases of a region that takes its organs seriously. This book helps us to understand them better.
Available from: Organ Historical Society
or from
Göteborg University / GOArt
Box 210
SE-405 30 Göteborg
Sweden
or from
Göteborg University / GOArt
Box 210
SE-405 30 Göteborg
Sweden
David Bridgeman-Sutton, 2009
