enEnglisch
Amsterdam, Oude Kerk
Christian Vater 1724-26
The organ of Amsterdam Oude Kerk was recorded in 1726 by the parish superiors as "most admirably praiseworthy and excellent". After a major repair in 1738 by Johann Caspar Müller, the instrument suffered no radical changes.
The Oude Kerk had an organ already in the 15th century. In 1539 a new organ was built where Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck played as organist from 1577 to 1621.
In 1724 the parish superiors of the Oude Kerk contracted the organ maker
Christian Vater of Hanover for a a new organ which was completed in
1726. When in 1738 the church tower was found to collapse, major repairs
of the church were urgent which needed the organ to be taken out. After
the repairs had been finished Johann Caspar Müller was to reestablish
the organ. Müller, however, also enlarged and changed the instrument to
improve its potential of chorale accompaniment. Since Müller had just
finished the organ of Haarlem St Bavo he probably should bring the
Amsterdam organ to a comparable size.
Further alterations followed in 1870 by G. F. Witte who left the Vater and Müller materials widely unchanged.
Music Sample
Jan Pieterzoon Sweelinck (1562-1621) : Variationen über "Mein junges Leben hat ein End", played by Matteo Imbruno