Jürgen Ahrend

Jürgen Ahrend
Ahrend in 2019
Born(1930-04-28)28 April 1930
Göttingen, Prussia, German Republic
Died1 August 2024(2024-08-01) (aged 94)
Leer, Lower Saxony, Germany
OccupationOrgan builder
OrganizationsJürgen Ahrend Orgelbau
AwardsLower Saxony State Prize

Jürgen Ahrend (German pronunciation: [ˈjʏʁɡn̩ ˈʔaːʁənt]; 28 April 1930 – 1 August 2024) was a German organ builder famous for restoring instruments such as the Gothic Rysum organ and the Arp Schnitger organs of the Martinikerk in Groningen, Netherlands, and of St. Jacobi in Hamburg as well as building original instruments. He ran the workshop Jürgen Ahrend Orgelbau in Leer from 1972 to 2004, operating internationally.

Life and career

Ahrend was born in Göttingen on 28 April 1930.[1][2] From 1946 to 1948, he was an apprentice in the firm of Paul Ott [de] there.[2][3] He then worked for the firm as an employee. He undertook study travel with Gerhard Brunzema [de], who had also been an apprentice of Ott, to European organ builders, Metzler Orgelbau in Switzerland, Flentrop in the Netherlands and Marcussen & Søn in Denmark.[4] The two formed a partnership in Leer–Loga, Lower Saxony in 1954.[1][2][3] They produced 54 new organs and restored 19, until Brunzema left the firm in 1972[1] to work in Canada.[5] They restored the original tuning of organs from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, beginning with the Westerhusen organ [de], the Uttum organ [de] and the Gothic Rysum organ.[2][3] When they built a new organ in Baroque style for the Zorgvlietkerk in Scheveningen in 1958, they received international recognition.[2][5] They built a new transept organ for the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam and a new organ for the Doopsgezinde Kerk in Haarlem, and restored instruments of the Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam and the Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden.[5]

Ahrend in his workshop in 1992

The workshop operated as Jürgen Ahrend Orgelbau from 1972.[3][4] Ahrend was also commissioned to restore the organs and their tuning for the Arp Schnitger organs in the Martinikerk in Groningen (including the main organ in the west gallery), the organ of St. Jacobi in Hamburg and organ of St. Ludgeri in Norden.[3] In Hamburg, the organ pipes had been removed from the organ case for safety in 1942. The church was destroyed by bombing. In the restored church, Ahrend used the historic pipes in a new case to revive the sound he had in mind.[5]

Ahrend used several historic building techniques in his restoration work. He devoted about half of the workshop's time to restoration. He restored internationally, such as the organ of Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød and the Martinikerk.[1] He was interviewed extensively in the film Martinikerk Rondeau, released in 2009.[6]

Since 2005 his son Hendrik Ahrend has run the workshop. Jürgen Ahrend became involved in the organ festival Orgelfrühling in Krummhörn from its beginning. The 2020 edition was dedicated to him to honour his 90th birthday, but it could not be held until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

Ahrend died in Leer, Lower Saxony on 1 August 2024, at the age of 94.[2][3][7]

Awards

Works

Roman number = number of manuals
Arabian number = number of stops
P = independent pedal
p = pull down pedal
R = restoration
Rc = reconstruction
NB = new built

Ahrend & Brunzema (1954–1971)

year opus town church picture kind manuals stops information
1954/88 1 Larrelt (D) Larrelt church R I/p 11 organ [de]
1955 4 Westerhusen (D) Westerhusen Church [de]
R I/p 7 organ [de]
1957 9 Uttum (D) Uttum Church [de]
R I 9 organ [de]
1957 (1997) 10 Veldhausen (D) Altreformierte Kirche
NB I (II/P) 6 (13) [12]
1959/2002 18 Scheveningen (NL) Zorgvlietkerk
NB III/P 26 [13]
1961 25 Rysum (D) Rysum Church
R I 7 organ
1961 27 Aurich (D) Lambertikirche [de]
NB II/P 25 [8]
1962 29 Espel (NL) Ref. Church NB I 7 [14]
1962 30 Bremen (D) St. Martini
NB III/P 33 organ [de]
1963 34 Wassenaar (NL) Kivietkerk NB II/P 21
1965 41 Amsterdam (NL) Oude Kerk (transept organ)
NB II/P 17 [15]
1965 43 Amsterdam (NL) Waalse Kerk
R II/P 26 [16]
1965 40 Groningen (NL) Magnaliakerk NB II 13 [17]
1965 42 The Hague (NL) Johanneskapel NB II/P 14 [18]
1966 45 Bremen (D) Protestant Church Oberneuland
NB II/P 22 [19]
1967 49 Castrop-Rauxel (D) Johanneskirche Schwerin-Frohlinde
NB III/P 27
1968 51 Aalten (NL) Gereformeerde Zuiderkerk NB II/P 16 [20]
1968 58 Haarlem (NL) Mennonite Church
NB III/P 24 [21]
1969 62 Hamburg (D) Reformed Church, Altona NB II/P 15 [22]
1966/69/87 65 Marienhafe (D) Marienkirche
R II/p 20 organ [de]
1970 68 Frankfurt am Main (D) Cantate Domino
NB III/P 33 [23]
1970 69 Uelsen (D) Reformed Church NB II/P 20 [24]
1970/76 70 Innsbruck (A) Hofkirche
R II/p 15 organ [de]
1963–71 74 Leer (D) Große Kirche R III/P 37 organ [de]

Jürgen Ahrend (1972–2004)

year opus town church picture kind manuals stops information
1972 76 Eugene MarAbel B. Frohnmayer Music Building of the University of Oregon NB IV/P 38 [25]
1966–73 79 Ochtersum (D) St. Materniani [de] R I/p 9 [26]
1972–75, 1993/94 81 Stade (D) St. Cosmae et Damiani R III/P 42 organ [de]
1974 83 Taizé (F) Eglise de la Réconciliation [de]
(now in Lyon) 		NB III/P 28 [27]
1975 84 Hamburg (D) Christengemeinschaft Johnsallee
NB II/P 18
1975 90 Frankfurt am Main (D) Evangelische Stadtkirche Höchst [de]
NB II/P 18
1975 92 Sloten (NL) Reformed Church
R II/p 16 [28]
1977 97 Duderstadt (D) St. Servatius [de] NB III/P 28
1978 98 Edinburgh (GB) Reid Concert Hall
NB II/P 21
1978 100 Joure (NL) Reformed Church NB III/P 27 [29]
1979 103 Melbourne (AUS) Monash University[30] NB IV/P 45 [31]
1980 104 Leiden (NL) Hooglandse Kerk R II/P 24 [32]
1981 105 Toulouse (F) Musée des Augustins NB III/P 33 [33]
1982/99 107 Lüdingworth (D) St. Jacobi [de] R III/P 35 [34]
1978–83 108 Weener (D) Weener Church [de] R II/P 29 organ [de]
1976/77/83/84 111 Groningen Martinikerk
R III/P 52 [35]
1985 115 Porrentruy (CH) Lycée Cantonale
NB II/P 30 [36]
1981–85 116 Norden (D) Ludgeri-Kirche [de] R III/P 46 organ[37]
1985 118 Stellichte (D) Ss. Georg, Christopherus et Jodocus [de] Rc II/p 12 [38]
1986 120 Tokyo (Japan) St. Gregory House NB II/p 13
1986/2007 121/178 Kantens (NL) Ref. Church R/Rc II/p 15 [39]
1986/87 127 Vienna (A) Michaelerkirche
R III/P 40 [40]
1987–90 128 Stade (D) St. Wilhadi [de] R III/P 40 [41]
1989 130 Tsukuba (Japan) Bach-Grove
NB II/P 19
1989 131 Wetzlar (D) Franziskanerkirche [de]
NB II/P 22 organ [de]
1990 134 Milano (I) San Simpliciano NB III/P 35 [42]
1991 135 Pilsum (D) Pilsumer Kreuzkirche [de] R II/p 16 organ [de]
1991 138 Zwettl (A) Zwettl Abbey R III/P 35 organ [de]
1990–93 139 Hamburg (D) St. Jacobi
R IV/P 60 organ
1993 140 Payerne (CH) Payerne Priory
Rk II/P 22 [43]
1993/94 143 Trondheim (N) Nidaros Cathedrale R II/P 30 [44]
1994/95 144 Osteel (D) Warnfried Church [de] R II/p 13 organ [de]
1995 145 München (D) Deutsches Museum
NB II/P 17
1997 147 Landshut (D) St. Jodok [de]
NB II/P 15
1997 149 Tokyo (Japan) Casals Hall, Nihon University NB III/P 41 [45]
1997 150 Stuttgart (D) Musikhochschule Stuttgart
NB II/P 15 [46]
1998 151 Logabirum (D) Logabirumer Kirche [de] NB I/P 10 [47]
1997/98 153 Dornum (D) St. Bartholomäus [de] R III/P 32 organ [de]
2000 157 Lübeck (D) Lübeck Cathedral (little organ)
R I/p 10 [48]
2000 158 Kongsberg (N) Kongsberg Church R III/P 42 organ[49]
2001 159 Trebel (D) Feldsteinkirche [de] R II/P 19 [50]
2002 160 Leer (D) Lutherkirche [de] NB III/P 39 [51]
2002 161 Köln (D) Ursulinenkirche [de] NB II/P 19 [52]
2002/03 162 Wilten (A) Stift Wilten [de] R I/P 4 (10) [53]
2003/04 163 Altenbruch (D) St. Nicolai [de] R III/P 35 organ [de]
2004 164 Hokksund (N) Haug, Norway kirke NB II/P 22 [54]
2004 165/183 Oldersum (D) Oldersumer Kirche [de]
NB II/P 16 [55]

Hendrik Ahrend (from 2005)

year opus town church picture kind manuals stops information
2005 170 Notre Dame/Indiana University of Notre Dame NB I 5
2005 171 Pernegg (A) Stift Pernegg [de]
R II/P 18
2006 172 Calgary (CA) University of Calgary NB II/P 21 [56]
2007 176 Herzogenaurach (D) St. Otto [de] NB II/P 26 [57]
2007 177 Vaison-la-Romaine (F) Vaison Cathedral
NB II/P 20 [58]
2007 178 Kantens (NL) Antoniuskerk Rk II/p 15 [39]
2007 179 Våler, Hedmark (N) Våler kirkelige fellesråd R I 8 [59]
2007/08 180 Leer (D) Catholic-Apostolic Church NB II/P 10
2009 187 Venice (I) Chiesa di San Salvador
NB I 8 [60]
2009 188 Melle (D) St. Matthäus [de]
R II/P 23 [61]
2009 189 Königs Wusterhausen (D) Kreuzkirche [de] NB II/P 19 [62]
2010 194 Brixen (I) Frauenkirche am Kreuzgang [de]
R I/P
2010/11 195 Hollern (D) St. Mauritius [de] R II/P 24
2011/12 199 Worpswede (D) Zions's Church
NB II/P 24 organ [de]
2011/12 200 Buttforde (D) St. Marien [de]
R I/p 9 organ [de]
2012/13 202 Badia, South Tyrol (I) St. Jakob und Leonhard, Abtei [de] NB III/P about 35
2013 203 Sankt Peter (D) Maria Lindenberg [de]
NB II/P 17
2013/14 204 Rinteln (D) Kloster Möllenbeck [de]
R II/P 20
2015 207 Langwarden [de] St. Laurentius [de] NB II/P 21
2015–16 210 Heidelberg St. Raphael [de]
N II/P 32
2017 213 Tokyo (J) Concert Hall NB II/P 21
2014–18 206/215 Leer (D) Große Kirche [de] R III/P 48 organ [de]
2018–20 217 Regensburg Dreieinigkeitskirche [de] NB II/P 30

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hamilton 2004.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Orgelnieuws 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wagner 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Lade 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Kerkhof 2024.
  6. ^ Martinikerk Rondeau, Fugue State films, 2012, OCLC 810658764
  7. ^ Zum Tod von Orgelbaumeister Jürgen Ahrend (in German)
  8. ^ a b "Ahrend-Brunzema-Orgel". Kirchengemeinde Aurich Lamberti (in German). Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Niedersächsischer Staatspreis". Portal Niedersachsen (in German). 15 September 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Roll of Honorary Graduates". Monash University. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Buxtehude-Preis der Hansestadt Lübeck". Handbuch der Kulturpreise (in German). Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  12. ^ Organ in Veldhausen. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  13. ^ Organ in Scheveningen. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  14. ^ Organ in Espel Archived 16 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  15. ^ Organ in Amsterdam, Oude Kerk. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  16. ^ Organ in Amsterdam, Oude Waalse Kerk. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  17. ^ Organ in Groningen, Magnaliakerk Archived 15 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  18. ^ Organ in Den Haag, Johanneskapel. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  19. ^ Organ in Bremen-Oberneuland. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  20. ^ Organ in Aalten Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  21. ^ Organ in Haarlem, Mennonite Church. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  22. ^ Organ in Hamburg-Altona. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  23. ^ Organ in Frankfurt, Cantate Domino, p. 162f. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  24. ^ Organ in Uelsen. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  25. ^ Organ in Eugene. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  26. ^ Organ in Ochtersum. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  27. ^ Organ in Taizé. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  28. ^ Organ in Sloten. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  29. ^ Organ in Joure. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  30. ^ "Monash Ahrend organ". Organ Historical Trust of Australia. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  31. ^ Organ in Melbourne. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  32. ^ Organ in Leiden. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  33. ^ Organ in Toulouse. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  34. ^ Organ in Lüdingworth. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  35. ^ Organ in Groningen, Martinikerk. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  36. ^ Organ in Porrentruy. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  37. ^ Organ in Norden. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  38. ^ Organ in Stellichte. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  39. ^ a b Organ in Kantens. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  40. ^ Organ in Vienna Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  41. ^ Organ in Stadem St. Wilhadi. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  42. ^ Organ in Milano. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  43. ^ Organ in Payerne. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  44. ^ Organ in Trondheim. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  45. ^ Organ in Tokyo, Casals Hall. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  46. ^ Organ in Stuttgart. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  47. ^ Organ in Logabirum. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  48. ^ Organ in Lübeck Cathedral Archived 22 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  49. ^ Organ in Kongsberg. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  50. ^ Organ in Trebel. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  51. ^ Organ in Leer, Lutherkirche. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  52. ^ Organ in Köln, Ursulinenkirche Archived 11 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, p. 10f. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  53. ^ Organ in Wilten. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  54. ^ Organ in Hokksund. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  55. ^ Organ in Oldersum. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  56. ^ Organ in Calgary. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  57. ^ Organ in Herzogenaurach Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  58. ^ Organ in Vaison-la-Romaine. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  59. ^ Organ in Våler, Hedmark Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, p. 10. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  60. ^ Organ in Venice Archived 1 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  61. ^ Organ in Melle. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  62. ^ Organ in Lönigs Wusterhausen. Retrieved 5 December 2017.

Cited sources

Further reading

  • 25 Jahre Orgelbau Jürgen Ahrend 1954–1979. Leer-Loga 1979.
  • Fiori gratulatorii Jürgen Ahrend – Organopoeius. Zum 50jährigen Bestehen der Orgelwerkstatt in Leer und Loga dagli amici e ammiratori. Ed. Peter Golon and Harald Vogel. CSW Druckservice, Grasberg 2004.
  • Pape, Uwe: Jürgen Ahrend and Gerhard Brunzema. In: Organ Yearbook. No. 3, 1972, p. 24–35.
  • Ahrend, Jürgen; Wallmann, James L.; Moe, Lawrence; American Organ Academy; American Organ Academy. Conference (1995). Jürgen Ahrend, Organbuilder : Celebrating Forty Years of his Career (1954–1994). Oakland, California. pp. 22–23. ISBN 0-9646650-0-X. OCLC 33407872.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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