The St. Johanniskirche in Lüneburg: 2.2 million for the Bach organ!

The St. Johanniskirche in Lüneburg: 2.2 million for the Bach organ!

The St. John's Church in Lüneburg is about to make a musical comeback: The almost 500-year-old organ, a true masterpiece by Hendrik Niehoff, was built between 1551 and 1553 and is now being restored for around 2.2 million euros. This challenge will begin in September 2023 and the entire restoration will take two years. With this work, which is being carried out by the Ahrend company from Leer, the organ will not only be restored to its original condition, but also brought to a historical state that is reminiscent of the baroque extensions by Matthias Dropa in the years 1712 to 1715. This restoration is not only a local matter, but also has national significance, as the organ is considered one of the most important Baroque organs in Northern Europe, as church music director Ulf Wellner highlights.

Johann Sebastian Bach himself played this organ while living in Lüneburg in his youth. It is therefore also known as the Bach Böhm organ because Georg Böhm, an influential organist, taught Bach there. The importance of this organ is also reflected in the fact that it is the last Dutch Renaissance organ in the basic stock and is one of the large North German Baroque organs. It also contains a register that only exists three times in the world. The sound of this organ is incomparable and it has a multitude of 3,856 pipes, some of them up to ten meters high.

Restoration plan

Restoration is a careful process that begins with a comprehensive documentary study. This will enable those responsible to make informed decisions about the various restoration options without endangering the historical substance of the organ. The aim is to restore the organ to a condition that meets the requirements of its previous era, without correcting the “mistakes” of the original creator. This is particularly important because historical instruments may not be modified to suit contemporary tastes, as stipulated in the organ builder's charter.

During the two-year restoration work, the parish will use a second organ for church services. The inauguration of the restored organ is scheduled for Pentecost 2028. Since the organ remains in its case during the restoration, the pipes can be professionally restored in Leer-Loga (East Frisia). This is expected to take about a month before full recovery takes place.

Funding through diversity

This ambitious project is being financed through a combination of funds, the majority of which is provided by the federal government, supplemented by foundations and the state of Lower Saxony. The support from various quarters shows that both local and national actors recognize the importance of this historic organ and are willing to contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage. The last renovations in 1852 had already taken a serious toll on the organ, so the priority now is to secure the legacy of this pioneering work.

Overall, it can be said that the upcoming restoration of the organ in St. John's Church in Lüneburg is not just a technical project, but also a valuable contribution to the cultural identity of the region and beyond. The right mix of historical respect and modern craftsmanship will ensure that this masterpiece remains accessible to future generations. The organ will continue to be a place of encounter and inspiration for all music lovers.

For more information about this exciting restoration, visit the reports from evangelisch.de, NDR and Orgelbau König.

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