Organ building

The organ builder is concerned with the design, construction, production and sound design of organs. In addition, its role is to maintain existing organs to repair, renovate, restore and reconstruct. Apart from the actual organ building the organ maintenance, tuning and intonation is the primary activity of the organ builder.

Working image

For the construction of an organ, the organ builder receives instructions from the client (usually parishes and organ experts). This is mainly for disposition. For spatial, technical and tonal characteristics of the organ builder must find solutions that meet the financial and musical requirements. After that he must construct in every detail the organ. A few theoretical requirements are necessary, which must be purchased specifically for the organ building, including the scaling of organ pipes. In addition to the knowledge of the various materials ( wood, metal, felt, leather, and others) but must also be present knowledge in the field of structural analysis, aerodynamics, mechanics and electronics.

The practical skills that are now required by the organ builder, include the construction of the pipework, all components of the technical system and the case of an organ with a. Not every organ builder has to be a specialist in every workspace. In an organ workshop usually work other organ builders for each area. With some work and regular external companies or organ builders are commissioned, such as the metal casting, the pipe making or with special rarely required parts.

After the production of all components of the modules of an organ and the voicing of the pipework usually a partial or overall structure of the organ takes place in the workshop. Then the instrument is disassembled, the components are transported to the destination. There, the organ is finally built. Finally, the pipes are voiced and tuned.

Regular on-site maintenance include the mood of the pipework and the regulation of the key action. Also, the organ builder must perform minor and major repairs, ( here is mainly to call the wrong room air ) due to wear, unforeseen effects or due to improper handling are necessary.

In an overhaul of the organ pipe work is expanded, all modules of an organ to be thoroughly cleaned and set if necessary repaired. As part of the overhaul, smaller alterations, changes or additions to be made to individual modules with if necessary.

In an organ restoration an organ is restored to a previous state. The individual parts of the instrument need to be carefully restored in materials and workmanship or faithfully reconstructed.

Education and situation of the profession

The term organ builders and organ builder a craft in the musical instrument manufacturing is called. In Germany it bears the full name of organ and harmonium builder, Switzerland music instrument maker EFZ with a major in organ building. The formation of an organ builder takes place in Germany on the one hand in an organ workshop and on the other hand at the Federal Academy of Instrument Making in Ludwigsburg. There are also regularly offered courses for aspiring champions, lay their examination before the Stuttgart Chamber of Crafts.

In Germany there are approximately 200 organ -building workshops with about 2200 employees (as of 2003). It is expected that the number of employees will significantly decrease in organ building, due to the deteriorating financial situation of the large churches.