Zacharias Hildebrandt

Zacharias Hildebrandt (* 1688 in Münsterberg, † October 11, 1757 in Dresden ) was a German organ builder.

Life

His father Heinrich Hildebrandt, a master wheelwright, sent him in 1713 when Gottfried Silbermann in Freiberg in teaching. 1721 he completed his masterpiece then, the organ of St. Nicholas Church Langhennersdorf. It was followed by the building of an organ in Störmthal at Leipzig, which he joined acquaintance with Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach expressed by the Störmthaler organ in a report from 1723 full of enthusiasm. From 1724 to 1726 was the construction of the organ to Lengefeld based on which there was a dispute with Gottfried Silbermann, the Hildebrandt now viewed as competitors and sued in court. The dispute arbitrated an agreement wherein Hildebrandt undertook to take over previously rejected only by Silbermann orders. He moved then its scope in the Leipzig area and the western Electorate.

The largest organ of Zacharias Hildebrandt with 53 registers are located in the Church of St. Wenceslas in Naumburg ( Saale). It was built from 1743 to 1746. On September 27, 1746 was the joint inspection test by Gottfried Silbermann and Johann Sebastian Bach. For the disposition Hildebrandt had resorted to advice from Bach. The multi rebuilt organ was completely restored in the years 1993 to 2000.

Zacharias Hildebrandt was also father of the famous organ builder Johann Gottfried Hildebrandt.

Works

Hildebrandt is one of the most important organ builders of the Baroque, whose works were among his contemporaries in high esteem. His instruments are a ringing testimony to the art of organ building in the environment of Gottfried Silbermann. In recent decades, awareness has grown that his works are to be obtained and properly restore.

The default list includes all known by Zacharias Hildebrandt organ new buildings. Italics indicates that the organ only the historical case is not or not yet received. In the fifth column, the Roman numeral denotes the number of manuals, a capital "P " an independent pedal, a small " p" only appended pedal. The Arabic number indicates the number of sounding register. The last column provides information on the conservation status or characteristics.

Furthermore Hildebrandt took from 1732 to 1738 the maintenance of the organ in the castle and cathedral in Merseburg ago. At that time, Hildebrandt had settled as an organ builder in Weissenfels. In 1734 he built the organ several new registers.