enEnglisch
Groningen, Martinikerk
Arp Schnitger 1691, Frans Caspar Schnitger (+1729) and Albertus Anthoni Hinsz 1728-1730 and 1739/40; including reuse of older pipes of the 15th to 17th centuries. Case by Allart Meijer 1691, parapet case by Egbert Tiddens 1730.
State of preservation: After successive removal of harmonics ranks in 1808 and 1817 and reed stops in 1855 and 1867 a pneumatic action was installed in 1904, electrified in 1937/38. Restoration according to the state of 1740 by Jürgen Ahrend in two terms 1976/77 and 1983/84.
The organ of Groningen Martinikerk is an instrument grown and shaped over more than five centuries. Father and son Schnitger and their head journeyman and successor Albert Hinsz (Hinsch) used all older pipes still functioning so that the instrument now contains pipes from 1481 to 1984. The sound qualities of the older structures still kept in the diapasons and their integration in the advanced concepts of the Schnitger workshop with all their typical reed colours (eg reed Viola da gamba HW, Dulciaan and both reed cornets P) obviously worked very well. Charles Burney called it "one of the most pleasing instruments I ever met with" (The present state of music in Germany ..., vol. 2, 2London 1775, p. 283).
Later ages did not share this enthusiasm. Massive losses of historic pipes during the 19th and loss of original action in the 20th century did not prevent but rather create further damages and needs for repairs so the restoration to the baroque state of the Schnitger/Hinsz-era seemed appropriate..