The Concert Organ

The concert organ in the north gallery is from 1914 and has two manuals, a pedalboard, 42 stops and 2,671 pipes.

The concert organ was installed at the north gallery in 1914, where it can also adequately accompany symphonic performances with a choir and orchestra. The stately instrument with its 42 stops was supplied by the Marcussen & Søn company based in Aabenraa, Denmark. Like the orchestras of the late romantic period, it primarily boasts sonorous timbres in subtle, dynamic nuances.

When St. Michael’s was rebuilt after World War II, the damaged organ was redesigned to be the temporary main organ using the meagre funds available at that time. Restoring the concert organ to its original state of 1914 to the highest degree possible proved to be a complicated undertaking. Through the renovation and the stylistically clumsy expansions of the 1950s, technical components and the pipes were changed considerably and adjusted inside the organ. Like a puzzle, the original positions of the 2,000+ pipes had to be determined, using comparable Marcussen instruments from the early 20th century as a guide. The console, including the fully pneumatic control, was reconstructed in this way. Missing parts and stops were replaced in the style of the time.

The highly romantic sound of the organ was thus restored, with its orchestral timbres and extensive range of flute and string voices. Its characteristics include rich sound, dynamic elasticity and the vibrancy of the blaring reed stops and overblown flutes.

I. Hauptwerk C–c4
Can also be played at the primary console on manuals I–IV

Prinzipal* 16’
Bordun 16’
Prinzipal 8’
Gamba 8’
Gemshorn 8’
Dulcian 8’
Doppelflöte 8’
Rohrflöte 8’
Oktave 4’
Offenflöte 4’
Quintatön 4’
Quinte 2 2/3’
Oktave 2’
Mixtur 2-4fach    
Trompete 8’

* aus Prinzipal 16’ (Pedal) und Prinzipal 8 (Schwellwerk)

II. Schwellwerk C–c4, Lade bis c5
Can also be played at the primary console on manuals I–IV

Lieblich Gedackt 16’
Prinzipal 8’
Salicional 8’
Aeoline 8’
Vox coelestis ab c 8’
Konzertflöte 8’
Gedackt 8’
Quintatön 8’
Oktave 4’
Gemshorn 4’
Querflöte 4’
Oktavflöte bis c4 2’
Terz bis c4 1 3/5’
Cornett 4-6fach bis c4    
Rauschquinte bis c4 2 2/3’ + 2’
Oboe 8’

Pedal C bis f1   

Prinzipalbass 16’
Geigenbass 16’
Subbass 16’
Gedacktbass (aus Schwellw.) 16’
Oktave 8’
Gedackt 8’
Quinte 10 2/3’
Quinte 5 1/3’
Oktave 4’
Posaune 16’
Trompete 8’

Couplers:
II/I
I/P
II/P
II/I sub
II/I super
II sub
II super (ausgebaut)