Organ Works

Gütersloh, Martin-Luther-Kirche

Renovierung der Steinmeyer-Orgel (1951) | III/58 | 2018

The centrally situated evangelical (Lutheran) parish church of Gütersloh was built in 1861 in neo-gothic, cross-ribbed, hall church style. The main nave terminates in a pentagonal choir, whilst the galleries running above the side aisles end in a traceried transept wall, separate from the main space. Above the rear gallery a balcony-like construction at the level of the capitals of the pillars bears the organ with its very simply structured free-standing pipe front.

This is the largest organ of the Gütersloh deanery or Kirchenkreis, built by the Steinmeyer firm as Opus 1803 with electro-pneumatic pocket chests in two stages between 1951 and 1956. It has since received listed protection status. In the centre at the front is the Hauptwerk chest, flanked by the Pedal in C and C sharp sides. The Schwellwerk is accommodated in the pointed tower niche and enclosed by a wall with visible swell shutters. The Positiv stands separately in an opening in the wall at the end of the north side aisle. Its counterpart on the south side is made up solely of dummy pipes. The original mobile console stands apart from the organ on the gallery.

The instrument remains virtually unaltered, solidly constructed and with carefully made pipework. Despite the steeply devised tonal build-up, the sound at fundamental level carries reasonably well. Nevertheless, in the course of time, certain technical and tonal modifications had become necessary. These we were able to carry out without obvious alteration of substance, so that the instrument presents itself as the mature and complete work of its original builder and epoch.

In addition to the usual cleaning and overhaul work, we renewed the complete electrical and electronic systems and added a BUS system with integrated setter facility. The original console received similar treatment and was fitted with moving stop tablets.

A stable, surge-free wind system was achieved through overhaul of the bellows and regulators, reacting with only slight increase in pressure during the playing of large chords. At the same time the original wind pressures were reinstated.

Thicker cladding to the walls of the swell box together with additional felts to the shutters resulted in an improved swell effect. The new swell mechanism allows a more sensitive operation.

The pipework received a great deal of careful attention and adjustment, without altering its original character. Above all the reeds have gained greater tonal quality through such measures – being voiced to the Bourdonpunkt or fundamental – and with it a fuller, rounder sound of better carrying quality. Only two stops have been re-voiced: the Pommer (HW) was turned into a Bordun 16' and the Schalmey (SW) into Oboe 8'.

Disposition

I. Hauptwerk C-g3

  1. Bordun 16’
  2. Prinzipal 8’ (C-a1 Prospekt)
  3. Rohrflöte 8’
  4. Gemshorn 8’
  5. Quinte 5 1/3’
  6. Oktave 4’
  7. Gedecktflöte 4
  8. Quinte 2 2/3’
  9. Oktave 2
  10. Blockflöte 2’
  11. Terz 1 3/5’
  12. Mixtur4-fach 1 1/3’
  13. Zimbel 3-fach 1/2’
  14. Trompete 16’
  15. Trompete 8’
  16. Trompete 4’

II. Positiv C-g3

  1. Holzgedeckt 8’
  2. Quintade 8’
  3. Prinzipal 4’ (C-fs1 Prospekt)
  4. Holzflöte 4’
  5. Oktave 2’
  6. Schwiegel 2’
  7. Quinte 1 1/3’
  8. Oktave 1’
  9. Zimbel 4-fach 1/3’
  10. Dulzian 16’
  11. Krummhorn 8’
  12. Trompetenregal 4’
    Tremulant

III. Schwellwerk C-g3

  1. Rohrgedeckt 16’
  2. Holzprinzipal 8’
  3. Gedeckt 8’
  4. Dulzflöte 8’
  5. Vox coelestis 8’
  6. Prinzipal 4’
  7. Koppelflöte 4’
  8. Nasat 2 2/3’
  9. Oktave 2’
  10. Waldflöte 2’
  11. Terz 1 3/5’
  12. Sifflöte 1’
  13. Scharff 3-5-fach 1’
  14. Fagott 16’
  15. Oboe 8’
  16. Kopftrompete 4’
    Tremulant

Pedal C-f1

  1. Prinzipal 16’ (C-g° Prospekt)
  2. Subbaß 16’
    Rohrgedeckt 16’ (Transmission aus III. Manual)
  3. Quinte 10 2/3’
  4. Oktave 8’
  5. Gedeckt 8’
  6. Oktave 4’
  7. Nachthorn 4’
  8. Rauschpfeife 4-fach 2 2/3’
  9. Rohrpfeife 2’
  10. Mixtur 5-fach 2’
  11. Posaune 16’
    Fagott 16’ (Transmission aus III. Manual)
  12. Trompete 8’
  13. Trompete 4’
  14. Cornett 2’

 

Koppeln: II/I, III/I, III/II, I/P, II/P, III/P
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