Colloquium at 30.05.2009 in Trossingen University.  Organ and church music college.

My name is Olev Kents and I´m an organbuilder from Estonia. I also work as a lecturer in University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy and in Institude of Theology. I teach how to build, restore and maintain pipe organs.

The purpose of this report is to talk about historical organs in Estonia, the cultural back round of the organ building history (as well as it being closely tied to German organ building practice) and the problems with restoring these old instruments. 

Estonia is a small country, situated in the northern part of Baltic region. It expands over 45 227 km² and the population is 1,35 million. So you can say that we are a little bit bigger than Belgium and smaller than Denmark. To spek about the weather i guess you can say that  even though we are situated in a 4 season climate, we have about 6 snowy months and another 6 of a mediocre ski weather.

Natives - Estonians have lived on their lands for almost four or five thousand years. The language - Estonian is of Finno-Ugrian origin. Other still spoken languages derived from that root are Finnish, Hungarian and some dialects in Lapi (Northern part of Finland)

First organs in Estonia were built after the first Catholic churches emerged. Supposedly there were Christians in Estonia even before that time, but the bigger distribution took place after christeningwork that was carried out by Kingdom of Denmark in north, and Livonian Brothers of the Sword in south. Many small countries, dukedoms and bishoprics evolved due to it. From that time Estonia gained it's second name Maarjamaa. Chatolic authority more or less established the European cultural area and todays European Union's approximate borderline as well. The expressive symbol of this borderline is Hermann castle situated in Narva. Only a couple of hundered meters detach it from Ivan castle in Russia. 

Estonia has often been in the middle of wars mostly because of it's location - open to the sea from the north and west and sharing the eastern border with Russia. Even though the battles were fought  because of the countryseat it was always accompanied with the desire to change and influence the nation's identity. 

That's why we can speak about somewhat of a cultural loss and can't see any remaining organs that are more than 200 years old.

The first written data of pipe organs is from the 14th century. Unfortunately those documents are also telling us about the destroying works that went on at the time. We can read in chronicles, for example, that in 1329 Lithuanians destroyed some remarkable organs of Paistu and Helme churches. Or that in 1433 all of the churches (with organs) in Tallinn were destroyed after witch in 1439 they mention Estonian organ builders for the first time. First local organ builder we know by name is Dominican Peteri from 1502.

The biggest damaging effect for Estonian organs and culture in general was presumedly the Great Northern War (1700-1721). The war zone was highly desolated and people were dying of plague.

Estonia has been occupied by Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Lithuania-Poland and Germany and it has had a major impact on our culture. But I guess if you look at the bright side -  Estonia has been free from Roman Empire and Mongolian-Tatars conquests.

Kihelkonna. The oldest still functioning organ is from 1805 and it is located in Saaremaa (which at the same time is the biggest island in Estonia). The builder was Johann Andreas Stein (died in 1821). He followed the trends of the 18th century building. He studied his craft presumably from his father in law Heinrich Andreas Contius, who was from Halle and who built organs from 18th century 60s in Estonia and Lativa.

In general, organs had 1 manual and 1 pedal. BUt this organ was improved by F.Weisenbaum from Latvia in 1890. He added the second manual with 4 organ stops, which is located in the swell.

There is still on extant J. Stein organ - it is in Suure-Jaani and it was built in 1804.

Secondly, possibly older and also very interesting organ is in Käsmu. Käsmu is located in the north of Estonia and at the shore of the Gulf of Finland. There is no certain information about who built it. It's possible that the organ case and the manual windchest are made by Johann Andreas Stein. It could probably be the same instrument that he built for the Swedish (Mihkli) Church in Tallinn. In that case, it could be made of some used parts of an organ built by Christoph Meinecke  in ca 1650.
Manual wind chest is made of an oak tree and the pallet box is on the front side. Channel bottoms are covered with cardboard, but originally cowered with leather. The pedal chest is located in the back side and is made of oak plank which has carven channels. In Pedal wind chest there is a vacant area for something, presumably for the reed stop.
Organ was hopped up around the middle of XIX century by Gustav Normann and at the end of that century by Jan Timoleoni. During the last set up, the organ case was re-build and one side taken off to fit in the chapel where it's currently located.

From 1840 to1940 the quantity of original organs was relatively rich and diverse. It was the same time period when the Russian emperor was looking for people ready to devolve from Lutherian congregation and become a member of Russian orthodox congregation. Who ever changed their religion was promised land in Siberia and Caucasus, as well as other advantages. Later the act evolved into more general Russification. This was posed a strong opposition by Estonians and the dissension was brewing. Russia was restructuring the whole network of schools and churches as these institutions carried the most influence. As a strike back Estonians started building more organs into churches to stress the unique cultural back round as orthodox churches didn't have any organs. 19th century Russification  was extremely strong but it also created a foundation for the Estonian Republic to emerge in the early nineteen hundreds. 

Estonian organs in average have 20 stops. The largest Walckerorgan (1923 a.) in Tallinn Kaarli cathedral has 84 stops. It was built in Ludwigsburg Württemberg by Walcker & Cie workshop and its opus nubrer is 2011.  

Altogether there are 150 organs in Estonia.

Keila church organ was built in 1842 by the German organ builder E.F. Walcker. This instrument is also important because it was the first organ in Estonia to have a cone chest. Prior to that Walcker had built organs with the similar action system in Germany, but it should be the first cone chest organ outside German borders. It is remarkable that the organ is located in the town which then was named Kegel. so it is said that that kind of chest got his name after the town  (it is called  "kegellade") 
Actually cone chest was just servicing the manual. Pedal chest was on a slider chest. The organ is also a little bit unconventional because the valves open to the side.

There are 10+1 stops in that organ.

Stoplist:

Manual.

Principal 8'

Viola di Gamba 8'

Gedackt 8'

Dolce 8'

Rohrflöte 4'

Spitzflöte 4'

(Octave 2') transmission from mixtur

Mixtur 3x

Pedal.

Subbass 16'

Violonbass 16'

Prinpalbass 8'

Organ used to be located on the side balcony of the church.
It was rebuild around 1914 by organbuilder Terkmann. He added the II Manual, pneumatic action and moved the organ to the west balcony. From the Walcker's organ there are remaining pipes, wind chests and parts of the organ case. Walcker's original console, tracer action and wind system are missing.

Keila stoplist now

I manual

Bordun 16'

Principal 8'

Quintatön 8'

Gedackt 8'

Octave 4'

Cornett 4f'

Trompete 8'

II manual

(in Swell box)

Lieblich Gedackt 8'

Gamba 8'

Lieblich Gedackt 8'

Flauto Amabile 8'

Aeoline 8'

Spizflöte 4'

Quinte 2 2/3' 2'

Pedal

Principalbass 16'

Violon 16'

Subbass 16'

Gedacktbass 16' (trans II)

Principal 8'

Gedacktbasss 8'

II-I

I-P

II-P

Super I

Organ in Audru was built in 1843 a. by the organbuilder Thal Carl Georg (1786-1854) from Paide.
Originally the instrument had 5 stops. Later, probably at early 20th century pedal with Subbass 16' was added and Gamba 4 ' changed to Gamba 8'. The entire reconstruction was technically unprofessional. This exacerbated organs functionality and tuning.
Remaining from the original Thal organ are the wind chest, tracer action, pipes of Gedackt 8 ', 36 metal pipes, organ case, wind supply. Metal pipes are kept in the local museum.

Stoplist

Manual.

Gedackt 8'

Gamba 8' (preliminary Gamba 4')

Principal 4'

Qunte 2 2/3'

Octav 2'

Pedal

Subbass 16'

Pedalkoppel

Sperventil

2 wedge bellows

65% of it's original parts and construction have remained to this day.

Väike Maarja organ was built in 1848 by an organ builder Gustav Normann from Tallinn.This is one of the first instruments from this builder. After that he built many organs in Northern Estonia and Southern Finland
Väike Maarja Organ had 1 manual and later was added a pedal.

Stoplist

Man.

Prestant 4'

Bordun 16'

Prinpal 8'

Viola di Gamba 8'

Gedackt 8'

Flauto dolce 4'

Octave 2'

Qunte 3'

Mixtue 3x

Posaune 8'

Ped.

Principal 8'

Subbass 8'

2 wedge bellows

Karksi organ was built in 1848 by Ernst Kessler (1808-1863) from Tartu. He built organs in Estonia and Russia, one of his organ has also been restored in USA.
Initially there were 6 stops in that organ but organbuilder Wilhelm Müllverstedt later (in 1882) added 2 pedal stops. The pedal chest was a cone chest.

Stoplist:

Manual.

Gedackt 8'

Gamba 8'

Principal 4'

Flöte 4'

Octav 2'

Mixtur 1-2x

Pedal.

Subbass 16'

Prinpalbass 8'

Sperrventil

Ulatus C-c3

2 horizontal bellows with 1 fold.

It is 80% original

Kullamaa organ was built by Carl August Tanton (1801-1890) in 1854. Organ has 12 stops and 1 manual.
It is estimated that he studied organbuilding in Scandinavia. His structure style is mainly influenced by the work of Eberhard Friedrich Walker, with whom he restored the Church of St. Nicholas in Tallinn. To this day there are 4 organs remaining. Those have one manual and are usually played from one side of the organ.

Dispositsioon

Manual

Bordun 16'

Principal 8'

Viola di Gamba 8'

Gedackt 8'

Octave 4'

Spitzflöte 4'

Qunte 2 2/3'

Super-Octave 2'

Mixtur 3x

Pedal.

Violon 16'

Sub-Bass 16'

Octave 8'

In the middle of the 19. century many Estonians liked to have a house organ in their homes. It became almost a national movement. There were many little villages where almost every household had their own little organ. Those organs were originally built by farmers and usually in the winter time as cultivating the fields had stopped for good 3 months. All the parts were often made by farmers themselves, skillful ones even built tin pipes. My grandmothers father made a house organ and a harmoniums as well. The latter is still in use!

Valga organ was built in 1867 by Friedrich Ladegast. 

At that time, there was a Janis Zimse Seminar working along with the church where school teachers were trained. To improve the organ teaching skills they ordered an organ  from a well known organbuilder. 

Altogether, that year the Ladegast company built 3 organs in the Baltic region.

Valga organ has two manuals and 22 stops.

Stop list

I Man.

Bordun 16'

Principal 8'

Doppelflöte 8'

Gambe 8'

Pricipal 4'

Rohrflöte 4'

Quinte 2 2/3'

Octave 2'

Mixtur4 x

Cornett 3x

II Man.

Lieblich Gedackt 8'

Viola di Amour 8'

Flauto traverso 8'

Flauto amabile 8'

Salicional 4'

Waldflöte 2'

Pedal.

Violonbass 16'

Subbass 16'

Cello 8'

Bassflöte 8'

Posaune 16'

Manualkoppel

Pedalkoppel (I/P)

1 horizontal bellow with 1 fold (manual) 76 mm/WS and 1 wedge bellows 74 mm/WS (Ped.) 1 feeder bellow is a two-way operation box bellow.

Inside of lower bellow was a letter:

Diese Orgel ist erbaut im Jahre 1867 von den Orgelbaumeister Ladegast aus Weissenfels im K önigreich

Preusen und die Geh ülfen

G. Schmerwitz E. Diersch

B. Landmann K. Bernecker

E. Hellmud K. Meier

Hajnisch Friedrich

Steinbock G. Geier

Thieme L öber

Kranzen Stiezcka genannt Pietsch

Organ has remained almost 95% original. Pipes are repaired and most of the leathers have been changed. A blower has been installed as well.

The organ of Tallinn Dom Church is buit in 1914 by Wilhelm Sauer. Organ has 73 stops and 3 manuals.

Stoplist

I Manual

Principal 16’

Bordun 16’

Principal 8’

Gamba 8’l

Doppelflöte 8’

Flauto amabile 8’

Quintatön 8’

Gemshorn 8’

Gedackt 8’

Dolce 8’

Nasard 5 1/3’

Octave 4’

Gemshorn 4’

Rohrflöte 4’

Waldflöte 2’

Mixtur 3 f

Cornett 3 f

Trompete 8’

II manual

Salicional 16’

Gedackt 16’

Principal 8’

Flauto traverso 8’

Viola 8’

Koncertflöte 8’

Salicional 8’

Rohrflöte 8’

Dulciana 8’

Principal 4’

Flauto amabile 4’

Dolce 4’

Nasard 2 2/3’

Piccolo 2’

Progressiv 2-3 fach

Zimbel 3-4 f

Klarinette 8’

III manual

Gedackt 16’

Gamba 16’

Geigenprincipal 8’

Schalmei 8’

Portunalflöte 8’

Flauto amabile 8’

Quintatön 8’

Viola d’amour 8’

Gedackt 8’

Gemshorn 8’

Voix celeste 8’

Aeoline 8’

Fugara 4’

Salicet 4’

Flauto dolce 4’

Flautino 2’

Harmonia aetheria 3f

Oboe 8’

Trompete 8’

Aeolodicon 8’

Pedal

Untersatz 32’

Principal 16’

Violon 16’

Quintatön 16’

Subbass 16’

Gemshorn 16’

Liebl.Gedackt 16’

Quinte 10 2/3’

Principal 8’

Cello 8’

Bassflöte 8’

Gemshorn 8’

Dulciana 8’

Principal 4’

Flauto 4’

Posaune 16’

Trompete 8’

Clairon 4’

Organ uses Friedrich Ladegasts` front from 1878 and some of the stops. Some of the pipes also come form the organ that was built in 1783. by Johan Friedrich Graebner. Organ has pneumatic action and is intonated according to the “Orgelbevegungs” ideals. Organ construction was finished by the beginning of the First World War. German organ builders were interned but they were able to complete the organ. There was also a letter in the organ where the German builders wrote how they, by nightfall, hoped to get on the ship that would let them escape the war zone and bring them back home.

In 1998 the organ was restored by Christian Scheffler. It was the biggest organproject in Estionia after the second independence declaration.

I would like to get more in depth with the organ builder family Knauf. Knaufs came from South Germany, Thüringen and built 8 organs in Estonia.

Kõpu 1866

Friedrich Knauf & Sohn

8/1

Stoplist

Man.

Principal 8'

Gamba 8'

Gedackt 8'

Octav 4'

Flauto 4'

Quinte 3'

Octav 2'

Ped.

Bordun 16 '

Valve paddock

2 wedge bellows. Blower installed some time in the 21st century. Organ is 80% original.

The organ in Viljandi was built in 1866 by Guido Knauf and it is the largest mechanical organ in Estonia.

Stoplist

I manual

Bordun 16'

Principal 8'

Gamba 8'

Hohlflöte 8'

Gedackt 8'

Hohlqunte 6'

Octav 4'

Flauto 4'

Qunte 3'

Octave 2'

Cornet 4x

Mixtur 4x

Cymbel 3x

II manual

Lieblich Gedackt 16'

Geigenprincipal 8'

Lieblich Gedackt 8'

Gemashorn 8'

Flaauto traverso 8'

Salicional 8'

Octav 4'

Flauto dolce 4'

Quinte 3'

Octave 2'

Scharf 1 1/3'

Pedal

Principalbass 16'

Violonbass 16'

Subbass 16'

Quintbass 12'

Octavbass 8'

Gedacktbass 8'

Posaune 16'

II/I

I/P (coupler as using an extra palletbox)

Restauration of that organ has brought up many problems which would require a more thorough discussion. As mentioned, this organ has 5 big wedge bellows. Although it ensures enough wind for the organ the pressure is still quite irregular for smooth playing. That's why the builder didn't find it necessary to make the lower pipes tunable. Gedact pipes are covered with plate of wood which enables tuning but opened wooden pipes are just cut in right size. Closing of the bellow creates more pressure which elevates the pitch and if we use many bellows at one the pressure and pitch will constantly change. That is why it can be said that the tuning at that time was not great. Lower the pipe the less noticeable the changes in pitch become. Therefore the lower pipes were left without the possibility to tune them.

After the Second World War the organ was equipped with a fan and at the beginning of the 20 century pipes were improved with the ability to tune. 

During the intonation process the organbuilder mostly used the system where the "foot"  was totally open and the volume and timbre were affected only by the languid, windway and by changing the position of the upper lip. (Gamba and other quiet stops make an exception). Saarde and Kõpu organs are intonated the same way. 

The pressure of wind was also affected by the humidity that reached the pipes.

The level of humidity level in Estonian churches used to be about 75% but in a dry summer could fall even near to 20%. If the dry period would last longer than a month then  gaps between the slider and wind chest begun to form which, of course, caused the wind pressure to decrease. We have to face this problem even today, especially when the old churches are equipped with heaters. But without the heater the temperature in country churches may fall down to 14 degrees (Celsius) below zero (with outside temp. being 20 or 30 degrees below zero)

Hargla 1876

Kolga Jaani 1883

Saarde 1890

Stoplist:

I Man.

Principal 8'

Bordun 16'

Gedackt 8'

Gamba 8'

Octava 4'

Mixtur 3x

II Man.

Fl. traverso 8'

Salicional 8'

Geigenprinicpal 4'

Flauto dolce 4'

Ped.

Subbass 16'

Violoncello 8'

Organ has a reservoir bellow with one fold and a blower which was installed late 20th century. The organ remained about 90% original.

Halliste, Kambja and Helme Knauforgans were destroied during the Second World War and the occupation period.

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of 20th century the were two productive organ master dynasties - Kriisa and Terkmann. Both builders have given a great contribution to Estonian churches. At the end of the 19th century there was another organ builder Friedrich Wilhelm Müllverstedt who was born in Thüringen. He built about 10 organs in Estonia. Relation between Knauf and Müllverstedt is quite notable. They both are from Thüringenis and they built organs in Southern Estonia pretty much around the same time. However the resonance and the technical aspects of their work were quite different.

Tartu Peetri organ was built by W. Müllverstedt in 1890. Organ was badly affected in the battle in 1944. Even in 1999 we found some bombarding particles and holes they had caused. The heating system that was installed in 1970s was a big headache. It dried organ's wooden particles causing them to twist and brake.

The organ is particularly dismantled and re-assembled, missing parts have been replaced with new details which have been made to follow the original model. Completely missing front pipes and Trompet stop were replaced with new ones to match the old pipeholes. Flautino 2' stop had just 1 remaining pipe. new pipes were made copying the remaining pipe and using an example of a Maarja-Magdaleena organ's Flautino.

Stoplist

I manuaal

Bourdun 16`

Principal 8`/prospekt/

Viola di Gamba 8`

Hohflöte 8`

Oktave 4`

Doppelflöte 4`

Quinte2 2 /3`

Oktave 2`

Mixtur 4x

Trompet 8`

II manuaal

Geigenprincipal 8`

Lieblich Gedackt 8`

Viola d`amour 8`

Salicional 4`

Flauto traverso 4`

Flautino 2`

Pedaal

Subbass 16`

Violon 16`

Violon 8`

Principalbass 8`

Bassflöte 8`

Oktavbass 4`

Posaune 16`

Manuaalkoppel

Pedalkoppel (coupler as using an extra palletbox)

4 wedge bellows

The biggest remaining instrument by Müllverstedt is in Tartu Peetri church. It has two manuals and two pedals, altogether 23 stops. The next one by the size is Maarja-Magdaleena organ with 19 stops, Puhja with 17, Rõngu 16, Vigala 14, Põlva 13 and Alatskivi with 11 stops. Others remaining instruments are smaller - Vändra organ with 8 stops, Häädemeeste 6, Vara ja Mustvee 4 and Nõo has 2 stops.

It is interesting to know that Müllverstedt did not build smaller organs just per order as, for example, in 1893 he made a proposal to Roosa's church to build an organ with 4 stops. In that offer he explained that he could deliver the organ within 14 days because he already had some almost finished small organs in his workshop.

Most of Müllverstedts organs are built slider chest. Some of the instruments have mechanical cone chest but in those cases only for the pedal, like it is in Vändra organ for example. His pipe organs prospects are usually similar as well. They consist of 3 "fields". Front pipes are divided between them mostly so that 11 pipes are in the outer 2 fields and 9 pipes in the middle field.

During the occupation period (1940-1991) 7 organs were built in Estonia. First was 1961 in Jõhvi church by Eduard Kriisa. Organ is remarkable because it was built despite the lack of tools in war period. Needed tools were made during the organ building process. To my knowledge, the lead tubing compactor makes the lead tubes and smaller details to this day. They are still exported to organ builders all over the world.

Next four organs were built for concert halls in Tallinn and Tartu, also for Tallinn Niguliste church and Tallinn Conservatory. These organs were made by Czech company called Rieger-Kloss. Last 2 were built by Hardo Kriisa and are in Tartu Music School and Ruhnu church.

During the occupation period congregations had very little resources to build organs or to restorate the old ones. Soviet authorities wanted to close all the churches. They strategically levied taxes and tightened the laws. That caused  the organs remain the state they were in 1940s. Bigger repairs took place in 1989 after collapsing of The Soviet Union. Remarkable is the vinyl series called "Estonian organs" by Hugo Lepnurm (1914-1999). these records carried a bigger meaning as people were already used to read between the lines. It became somewhat of a symbol of our culture and religion and made the project quite successful. Repairing, and maintenance of organs became popular again.

In recent years Estonia has imported organs from Finland, Sweden and Germany. These organs represent mostly neobaroque style (which was totally missing in the Estonian occupation period) After the independence declaration German organ builder Martin ter Haseborg has built three of the main pipe organs in Estonia. Local organbuilders have also built several smaller and practice organs for schools and for private use.

I would like to give special thanks to Toomas Mäeväli and Helika Gustavson-Rätsep for helping to prepare this report.