Sweelinck - Toccata

Monumenta Musica Neerlandica No. 22 in the Opera Omnia (vereniging voor Nederlandse Muziekgeschiedenis) On the Müller oosterwijtwerd (Hauptwerk): Christian Müller (1690-1769) likely came to Holland in the wake of Arp Schnitger to try his luck here. He probably came from Westfalen. He settled in Amsterdam where he garnered great fame as an organ builder. He played an important role in the renewal of organs in Holland. Probably Christian Müller built this cabinet organ, a little sister to the ones in the famous Great Church in Leeuwarden and the St.Bavokerk in Haarlem, as a house organ for the owners of one of a Groninger fortified castlehouse. How long the organ served as houseorgan is not known. The local paper, Provinciale Groninger Courant of 31 March 1845, had an advertisement with the text "for disposal.. a good and excellent house-organ: well suited for a small church". The same advertisement was placed in the same year in August with the added text "price below 200 Dutch guilders". The organ was placed in the church by Hermann Eberhard Freytag in 1845. It was inaugurated during the morning service of December 14th 1845. Freytag played the organ at this occasion. " ..In the evening,around six o'clock he again caused this musical instrument to be heard". Freytag limited the organ modification to the attached pedal. He respected the rest of the organstructure. Jan Doornbos made a few modifications in 1895. He added a Prestant 4 feet and a Viola da Gamba. All the flutes remain intact. The organ case has probably been made by J.Proper. It is only in 1950 that the temperament was adjusted by Mense Ruiter. The motivation for this change was the repair work that resulted from water leaks. It is possible that he added the Sesquialter. At the same time an electric blower was added. Albert Hendrik de Graaf restored the organ in 1996 on request of the "Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken" who is the owner of this church. It became clear during the restoration that the 18th century pipework pipe work was virtually intact. This is one aspect of the organ that gives it great historical value. The restoration work consisted of small repairs to the pipes, rebuilding the wind chests made by Müller, and repairs to the action. The organ is characterised by its transparent sound; according to a citation by Albert "clear and vital: not rough, but refined". (PAINTINGS: Dutch portraits) ernst stolz

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