THE ORGAN IN THE WESTERKERK, AMSTERDAM
HISTORY
The instrument was completed in 1686 by Roelof Barentsz. and Johannes Duyschot. At that time it had two manuals and pedal. A Bovenwerk was added by Christian Vater in 1727. In the following centuries the organ was altered many times in order to adapt it to continually fluctuating sound ideals. Following the restoration of 1939 an untenable situation had arisen in all respects.
In the period 1989-1992 the organ was rebuilt by Flentrop Orgelbouw using the situation of 1686/1727 as a point of departure. Only about 600 pipes from that period were still present in the instrument. 3000 new pipes were made based on analysis of the material still present. Three reeds were added to the old disposition: Dulciaan 8', Fagot 16' and Trompet 4'. The original windchests, still present in altered form, were restored. Mechanical action was once more provided, new key-boards and stopknobs were constructed in the original style. The front pipes (1845) of the Hoofdmanuaal, Rugpositief and Pedaal were retained. The Baarpijp dating from 1895 was again introduced. The 17th century pitch, at a'460 Hz., was altered to a'440 Hz. by means of moving up the pipework, equal temperament was the chosen tuning. As a result combination with other instruments and the performance of 19th and 20th century music was made possible.
The parts remaining from the old organ were too fragmentary to be able to speak of a restoration or reconstruction. Rebuild is the most suitable term. The original case, wind-chests and about 20% of the pipework from the 17th and 18th centuries made their mark on this project. The creative interpretation of the past by the organbuilders certainly contributed to the result: an organ with historical roots that is also usable for the cultural and religious function of a large city church.
Jos van der Kooy - Ich ruf' zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ
Jos van der Kooy - Cantilena J. Rheinberger
Not until 1686, when organ accompaniment to singing had become customary, was the Westerkerk organ built by the father and son team of Roelof Barentszn Duyschot and his son Johannes Duyschot. In 1727 it was considerably extended by Vater, and it was further enlarged in the 19th century. Between 1988 and 1991 Flentrop of Zaandam restored the organ as nearly as possible to its original condition of 1686/1727.
DISPOSITION
Hoofdmanuaal
Prestant 16'
Octaaf 8'
Quintadeen 8'
Octaaf I-II 4'
Nasat I-11 3'
Superoctaaf I-II 2'
Sesquialter disc.III-IV 2 2/3
Mixtuur bas/disc.IV-VII 1'
Scherp bas/disc.IV-VII 1
Fagot 16'
Trompet 8'
Bovenwerk
Prestant I-II 8'
Baarpijp 8'
Quintadeen 8'
Octaaf I-II 4'
Holfluit 4'
Quint I-II 3'
Woudfluit I-II 2'
Ruispijp III-VI 2'
Tertiaan II-III 1 3/5'
Dulciaan 8'
Vox humana 8'
Rugpositief
Prestant I-II 8'
Holpijp 8'
Quintadeen 8'
Octaaf I-II 4'
Open fluit I-II 4'
Octaaf I-II 2'
Sifflet I-II 1'
Sesquialter II-III 2 2/3
Mixtuur III-VIII 2'
Scherp III-VIII 1'
Scherp IV 1 3/5'
Trompet 8'
Pedaal
Bourdon 16'
Prestant 8'
Roerquint 6'
Octaaf 4'
Bazuin 16'
Trompet 8
Trompet 4'
Tremulant Gehele orgel
Koppelingen
Pd-Hm, Pd-Rp, Pd-Bw,
Hm-Rp, Rp-Hm, Hm-Bw
Toonhoogte a' = 440 Hz
Evenredig zwevende stemming
Omvang
Rp: C, D, E-d"
Hm Bw: C-d"
Pd: C-d'
1686: Duyschot
1727: Vater
1992: Flentrop Orgelbouw
