Organ Works

In 2020 a new modern building will be completed for the Music High School in the south of the canton capital Luzern, bringing together all the required educational and administrative functions in an 8,000 square metre centre. As well as study and teaching rooms, the students will also have available a chamber music hall and varied facilities for research etc. Within the clinker façade a combination of wood and concrete create a sober, neutral yet open study- and meeting place.

From the start the new building is to be endowed with a high-quality concert- and study organ, the contract for which was awarded to us following an international tendering process. The intended use of the instrument pointed towards the nineteenth-century Romantic as the most appropriate tonal style, not consciously universal, but with its own special character. Specification, pipe scaling and voicing are thus aimed at warmth and good blending opportunities. Nevertheless, it provides for the convincing interpretation of a wide and varied repertoire, both old and new. In this way the many possibilities make this an ideal instrument not only for teaching and practice purposes, but for solo and concert use, whether with choir or in chamber ensemble.

The three-manual design comprises a principal chorus with solo flute and Trompete on the Hauptwerk. The second manual (Positiv) is made up of a Cornet décomposé, intended as a tonal complement to the Hauptwerk. Finally, the third manual offers a small, yet clearly defined Romantic Schwellwerk with lyrical voices. On the Pedal three extended ranks are used to provide additional octaves and on the manuals two manual octave couplers offer further tonal possibilities.

The organ has a sensitive and responsive winding system, providing gently increased wind pressure to ensure stability in loud chordal playing. The sensitive key action has comfortable ‘pluck’ and light coupling, thus enabling suitably differentiated articulation. An electronic setter system operates on the traditional mechanical stop action, thereby offering programmed tonal flexibility for study and performance.

The organ occupies a wall space in the concert hall 7.5 metres wide and just 4 metres high. Above the centrally placed console stands the Positiv. Then, on each side at keyboard level and divided in C and C sharp sides, Hauptwerk and Pedal, standing on common windchests. The bottom octaves of both 16ft stops stand at the rear on their own small windchests on either side of the thick-walled swell box and separated by a passage board for tuning access. The wind system is accommodated beneath the swell box.