Organ Works

At almost 700 years old, the late Gothic St. Mary's Church is the oldest surviving church building in Rendsburg. It is a brick hall church with a polygonal choir, whose interior is plastered white and decorated with subtle color paintings. In contrast to the massive structural elements and sober architecture is the rich interior decoration, consisting of the altar, the pulpit, epitaphs, and picture panels from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Since 1922, the enlarged organ loft has been in its current form with integrated reliefs from the 17th century.

St. Mary's Church is one of the most culturally and historically significant churches in Schleswig-Holstein and houses the permanent exhibition “Glaubensspuren” (Traces of Faith). In order to give greater expression to the importance of church music, the exhibition has been expanded to include topics related to regional organ building and organ music. On the other hand, the new organ, built in 2025, forms the centerpiece of both the didactic project task and church music life. Last but not least, the instrument serves as a magnet for organists and students in the organ landscape.

The Europe-wide tender for the construction of a romantic-style organ and its integration into the “Transparent Organ” exhibition concept also called for proposals for visitor presentations. We are delighted that our bid “convinced the organ building commission with great unanimity in terms of musical, artistic, design, and educational aspects.”

The new organ has 45 stops on three manuals and pedal. Its sound is based on French Romanticism, following the example of Cavaillé-Coll. The disposition is so versatile that other musical eras can also be interpreted convincingly. The key action is mechanical, while the stop action is electrically controlled and equipped with a setter system. A separate swell box for the Postif, an extended range up to a3, and additional electrified actions (MIDI) open up further musical possibilities. A cymbal star, a celesta, and tubular bells expand the sound spectrum.

In the front section of the organ, the windchests of the Grand-Orgue are arranged on two levels, one above the other. With a tuning aisle width between them, the two swell divisions follow behind, also on two levels. At the very back, around the visitor passageway, are the pipes of the pedal division.

The organ case consists of a sound-permeable slatted structure and makes use of the entire height of the room up to the vault. The front features pipes from Montre 16' and 8'. The staggering of the pipe lengths and the lip curves results in an elegant, center-emphasized line that dynamically breaks up the shiny pipe surface. Between the heavily decorated gallery balustrade and the relatively low transverse arch, the restrained facade design presents itself as a modern conclusion to the west view of the historic church interior.

In order to bring visitors closer to the world of the organ in a vivid and interesting way, the overall construction is designed to allow a tour around the organ. The partially glazed walls of the side case and the console allow views into the interior of the organ. The adjacent, newly furnished room in the tower behind the organ continues the exhibition of the “Transparent Organ.” Among other things, the wind system and a functional model of the organ are located here.

The parish provides information about the organ project on its own website:https://glaeserne-orgel-marienkirche-rendsburg.de/