Jann organ of the Frauenkirche in München

Organs

Today's organ and choir loft was built in 1993 by Carl Theodor Horn. The cathedral has a total of four Organs, all of the workshop Jann organ from Allkofer (Laberweinting/Lower, South of Regensburg).





Franz Lehrndorfer (1928)

Improvisation on "Lobet den Herren alle, die ihn ehren"
1. Erster verse
2. Zweiter verse
3. Dritter verse
4. Vierter verse

Franz Lehrndorfer at the Jann organ of the Frauenkirche in München

The main organ

On the West gallery a four manual Main organ of 95 Registers was built during the restoration of the cathedral in 1994. The main organ is stylistically to the works of Baroque and Romance designed. It has a solid console with mechanical action and also an identical console on the choir level. The organ has a total of nearly 9900 pipes, and special registers such as a Carillon (Shell bell) and a Carillon (Röhrengocken). The Prospectus architecture was the model of North German organs such as the Stellwagen organ St. Mary's in Stralsund designed.

Because of the enormous power of the sound in tutti (Hauptwerk mixtures) is very northern German, nevertheless the instrument has very fine French tongue choirs in the Swell. In particular, the flutes, which are represented in large numbers because of their color richness, deserve special attention. The room acoustics, which is typical for large cathedrals, the majestic sound of the organ does not display any faster tempos.

I had not heard of the Holy Ghost church before going to Munich, so the imposing building overlooking the very popular and central Viktualien food market was a very pleasant surprise. When we entered we were the only people in the building and this also gave a special feeling of peace and solitude, which I did not experience in any other church in Munich. I immediately liked the place.

Originally belonging to the 14th-century Hospice of the Holy Ghost, a medieval order flourishing in the 1300s, this is called a Gothic "Hall Church." It was built on foundations laid by another structure in the 12th century, and the church was completed in 1730. Except for the church, the other hospice buildings were demolished in 1885. Architects at that time added three bays on the western facade of the church, giving it a neo-baroque facade. The tower (1730) has a lantern dome of characteristic Munich type.

World War II bombs brought much destruction, and only the original choir, buttresses, and the north wall of the nave remain intact. The rest of the building, which you see today, is a reconstruction but frankly, you cannot really tell.

This is not one of Munich’s most spectacular churches but it is impressive for its size and location. The interior of the church was renovated at great expense in 1991 and it is certainly worth wandering around seeing some of the attractions. Among several items of considerable art-historical interest in the church are: in the porch, to left and right of the main entrance, parts of a bronze memorial made in 1608 by Hans Krumper for Duke Ferdinand of Bavaria and in the chancel the high altar by Nikolaus Stuber (1730), with an altarpiece by Ulrich Loth "The Effusion of the Holy Spirit" (1661) and two flanking figures of angels by Johann Greiff (1729).

Other features are by the right aisle, a series of wall paintings (1725) by Peter Horeman illustrating the "Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit"; in the Kreuzkapelle, a Late Gothic crucifix (1510); and, midway along the left aisle, an altar with a miraculous image of the "Hammerthaler Madonna" (15th C.).

If you are planning to visit St Peter’s church, which is just across the street, visit here first and I am sure you will be impressed by both buildings.

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• by LenR on December 13, 2006

Church of the Holy Ghost
Munich, Germany

The Dom

Attraction

The Frauenkirche ("Dom zu unserer Lieben Frau" - Cathedral of Our Lady), or Dom as most visitors know it, is the most famous building in the city center and serves as the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. It is particularly famous for the brass onion domes that top the twin towers and which have become the symbol of Munich. The domes were added in the 16th century, in a style that contrasted with the Gothic style of the rest of the building. The original design, apparently, called for pointed towers like Cologne Cathedral but they were never completed due to lack of money.

The monumental late Gothic brick church has shaped Munich's skyline for 500 years. The towers are not only an impressive sight but the south tower is also accessible via an elevator. When you look at the church, the two towers appear to be the same height but in fact one is slightly taller than the other. Unlike most buildings in Munich's old town, the towers of the Frauenkirche (but not the church itself) survived WW2 intact, making them more than 500 years old. The Frauenkirche's towers (99 meters and 100 meters) are also the measurement for a rule which limits the height of new buildings to the same height in the city. This rule was passed in November 2004 by the people of Munich in a referendum.

The foundation stone of the building was laid by Duke Sigismund in 1468. The church is huge but simple and is a ‘must-see’ when visiting Munich. Its central location just a few meters from the Town Hall means that you cannot miss it. Much of the original Gothic interior has been destroyed or removed partially by contra-reformists. An unusual feature of the building is that when viewed from the porch, the aisles and side windows are invisible, the octagonal pillars of the nave having the appearance of a wall; at one time the window of the choir was also obscured by the high altar.

The cathedral houses an elaborate 15th-century black-marble tomb guarded by four 16th-century armored knights. It's the final resting place of Duke Ludwig IV (1302-47), who became Holy Roman Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian in 1328. The Frauenkirche's great treasure, however, is the collection of 24 carved wooden busts of the apostles, saints, and prophets above the choir, made by the 15th-century Munich sculptor Erasmus Grasser. Don’t leave without seeing these.






Improvisation on "Lobet den Herren alle, die ihn ehren"
5. Fünfter verse
6. Sechster verse
7. Fuge, Choral

Franz Lehrndorfer at the Jann organ of the Frauenkirche in München

DISPOSITION

I Rückpositiv Ca3

Quintade 16'
Praestant 8'
Voce umana (ab c0) 8'
Rohrflöte 8'
Quintade 8'
Octave 4'
Hohlflöte 4'
Sesquialtera 2 2/3'
Superoctave 2'
Flautino 2'
Quinte 1 1/3'
Sifflöte 1'
Scharff IVVI1'
Cymbel III 1/3'
Trompette 8'
Cromorne 8'
Clairon 4'
Tremulant

II Hauptwerk Ca3

Praestant 16'
Gedeckt 16'
Octave III 8'
Gambe 8'
Flûte harmonique 8'
Quinte 5 1/3'
Octave III 4'
Flauto 4'
Terz 3 1/5'
Quinte 2 2/3'
Octave III 2'
Mixtur major VIVIII 2'
Mixtur minor IV 1'
Cornet V 8'
Trompete 16'
Trompete 8'
Horn (durchschlagend) 8'

III Positiv Ca3

Gemshorn 16'
Praestant 8'
Bourdon 8'
Octave 4'
Blockflöte 4'
Nazard 2 2/3'
Doublette 2'
Tierce 1 3/5'
Larigot 1 1/3'
Mixtur V 1 1/3'
Obertöne II 2/7'+ 8/9'
Dulcian 16'
Schalmey 8'
Clarinette 8'
Tremulant
Glockenspiel c1d3
Carillon Cf2

IV Schwellwerk Ca3

Gambe 16'
Bourdon 16'
Diapason 8'
Flûte traversière 8'
Bourdon 8'
Aeoline 8'
Salicional 8'
Unda maris (ab A) 8'
Octave 4'
Flûte octaviante 4'
Nachthorn 4'
Viola 4'
Quinte 2 2/3'
Octavin 2'
Tierce 1 3/5'
Piccolo 1'
Progressio harm. IIV 1 1/3'
Plein-jeu IV 2'
Basson 16'
Trompette harmonique 8'
Hautbois 8'
Vox humana 8'
Clairon harmonique 4'
Tremulant
Carillon Cf2

Chamadewerk Ca3

Chamade 16'
Chamade 8'
Tuba 8'
Trompeta quinta 5 1/3'
Clairon 4'

Pedal Cf1

Principalbass 32'
Violonbass 32'
Principal 16'
Violon 16'
Subbass 16'
Quinte 10 2/3'
Octave 8'
Bassflöte 8'
Cello 8'
Octave 4'
Offenflöte 4'
Bauernflöte 2'
Hintersatz IV 2 2/3'
Bassmixtur VI 2'
Bombarde 32'
Posaune 16'
Fagott 16'
Trompete 8'
Feldtrompete 4'