Division of Organ and Church Music
North Germany, 2009
July 28 - August 10
| Tuesday, July 28 Fly to Hamburg |
Tuesday, August 4 Morning: This morning we travel to Uttum where we play the Schnitger at the Evangelish-reformierten Kirche. We will also take a short side trip to Westerhausen where we will play the 1642 one manual organ by Jost Sieburg. This was the first mean-tone organ in Europe to be restored to its original condition. Afternoon: During the afternoon we make the short trek to Rysum where we play the organ at the Reformed church. This is one of the oldest playable organs in the world. built by an unknown builder sometime between 1473-1513, and restored by Ahrend and Brunzema. Evening and Overnight: Emden |
| Wednesday, July 29 Morning: Arrive in Hamburg. Afternoon: We take a walking tour of the Old Town, including the historic church of St. Michael's which features the largest church clock in Europe. Evening and Overnight: Hamburg. |
Wednesday, August 5 Morning: Today is a very special day. We will spend the entire day day playing one organ, the famous Schnitger at St. Lugeri in Norden. This will leave ample opportunity for everyone to have significant time playing the organ that many people believe is the greatest extant Schnitger. Afternoon: Norden (continued) Evening and Overnight: Bremerhaven |
| Thursday, July 30 Morning: The tour begins in Steinkirchen playing our first Schnitger at St. Nicolai et St. Martini. Afternoon: We travel just a few kilometers to Stade where we play another famous Schnitger at Ss. Cosmae et Damiani. Evening and Overnight: Hamburg. |
Thursday, August 6 Morning: This morning we play the Klapmeyer organ at the Nicholai kirche in Altenbruch which has recently been restored by Ahrend. . Klapmeyer was one of Schnitger's principal competitors. Afternoon: During the afternoon we will play the Schnitger organ at St. Jacobi in Ludingworth Evening and Overnight: Cuxhaven |
| Friday, July 31 Morning: This is a very special day on the tour. We start the day in Luneburg, the city where Bach lived from 1700-1702. We will see St. Michael's the church and former monastery where he went to school and then proceed to the Johanniskirche where we play the famous Niehoff organ (1551-53, rebuilt by Schnitger pupil Dropa in 1714). This is the church where Bohm was the organist and the organ on which J. S. Bach likely studied with Bohm. It has the most original Niehoff pipework of any extant large organ. Afternoon: We travel to Tangermunde where we play the famous organ by Hans Scherer the Younger (1623-4). This is one of the renowned 17th century organs in all of Europe. Evening and Overnight: Hamburg. |
Friday, August 7 Morning: This morning we will tour the Ahrend organ building shop in Muhlenweg. Afternoon: This afternoon we will travel to Lawrence's sister-city of Eutin where we will play the Metzler organ at St Michael's Evening: During the evening we will attend the open air opera at the palace. Eutin was the birthplace of Carl-Maria von Weber. It has sponsored one of Northern Europe's finest opera festivals since 1951. Overnight: Lubeck |
| Saturday, August 1 Morning: This morning we play the great Scherer organ rebuilt by Arp Schnitger at the Jacobikirche in Hamburg. This is the finest of the great Hamburg organs still extant. After playing the organ we can enjoy the Tower Cafe, offering coffee and cakes 85 meters above the city. Afternoon: The afternoon is free to spend exploring Hamburg, including its wonderful museum, the Kunsthalle. Evening and Overnight: Hamburg |
Saturday, August 8 Morning: This morning we travel to Schwerin where we will play the famous Ladegast organ at the Cathedral followed by lunch at Schwerin castle. Afternoon: The afternoon is free to explore historic Lubeck. Walking along the canals of the "Venice of the north" you can take in St. Anne's Museum (Germany's greatest collection of medieval altarpieces and ecclesiastical art), the castle monastery and, of course, an obligatory stop at the famous Niederegger marzipan shop to sample the confections. Evening: At 5:00 we attend Vespers at the Jaboikirche. Hugo Distler, the organist at the Jacobikirche for some seven years during the 1930's, produced many wonderful musical liturgies designed for Vespers services at this church. After the liturgy is over we will play the great Stellwagen organ as well as Distler's home organ which is now housed at the church. Overnight: Lubeck |
| Sunday, August 2 Morning: We attend church at the Katherininkirche. This is church where Scheidemann and Weckmann both served as organists. Afternoon: After church we will lunch in the little town of Buxtehude and then proceed to Grasberg where we will play the Schnitger organ at the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Evening and Overnight: Bremen |
Sunday, August 9 Morning: This morning we attend church at Dieterich Buxtehude's church, the Marienkirche, the largest brick gothic church in the world. Afternoon: Your final afternoon is free to wander through romantic Lubeck. Evening: We will begin the evening with a harbor cruise followed by our traditional farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Lubeck |
| Monday, August 3 Morning: This morning we play a late 20th century organ by Ahrend which is housed in a renaissance case in the Martinikirche Afternoon: During the afternoon we travel just outside of Bremen to Ganderkesee, where we will play the recently restored Schnitger at the church of St. Cyprian und Cornelius Evening During the evening we will be locked in the Dom in Bremen where we will play the large 19th century German organ by Sauer and the small Silbermann organ in the crypt. This will complete our whirlwind tour of organ culture in the renaissance, baroque, romantic, and contemporary eras within one single day! Overnight: Bremen |
Monday, August 10 Morning: We transfer to Hamburg where we will depart for the U.S. or, for those who choose to attend the Goteborg conference in Sweden, the train will take you there in time to make the opening events of the conference. |
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