Debate about the excited organ: Who is responsible?
Debate about the excited organ: Who is responsible?
The ARP Schnitger Festival in Ganderkesee should be a pleasure for the ears, but reality looked different. The beautiful sounds of the famous organ were clouded by unpleasant abuse, and the discussion about the reasons for this mood has caused the mind. Just hoped for the brilliant musical experience? That was obviously not in this year.
The discussion is primarily the way the organ, which is not only acoustically but also historically important, has been prepared before the concert. The ARP Schnitger organ in Ganderkesee is a masterpiece that is equipped with different types of pipe. This includes labial pipes, the sound of which is generated by air flow over a gap, and tongue pipes, in which an swinging metal plates in air flow produces the sound, similar to a harmonica. It is these different mechanisms that make up the unique sound of the organ.
responsibilities in focus
The discussion about the upset also raises questions about the responsibility: Who is the blame for the shortcomings? The labial pipes are sensitive to temperature and humidity, while the tongue pipes are rather stable. This means that precise voice work is necessary before each concert. An failure in this preparation could be the cause of the abuse at the concert on August 25th.
The emotions are cooked up, not least because the visitors had expected a lot from the performance. The debate is aimed at whether the technical preparation was carried out properly or whether various climatic factors that play a role in the mood of the Pfiepen were not sufficiently taken into account. The audience had rightly hoped to enjoy a harmonious sound experience, and the disappointment about the missed mood is difficult to hide.
A large number of opinions can be heard among the audience. Some emphasize that there were problems for problems before the event, while others see responsibility among the organizers and the technicians responsible for the instrument. If the organ is not given in time and satisfactory, this will not remain without consequences.
The excellent technology of an ARP Schnitger organ requires careful handling, and that failures have occurred here is difficult for many. The turmoil around the technical implementation not only has a future workshop for the festival, but could also have an impact on future events if the reputation of the organizers is at stake.
The musical community in Ganderkesee and beyond, hopes for clarification of the incidents. A harmonious interplay of technology, musicians and organ can get so much more out of a performance. But with such a notoriously sensitive organ as the ARP Schnitger, a precise preparatory work is always required to enchant the audience with the majestic sounds.
The discussions about the causes of the moods show how important proper procedures are and how strongly technical aspects can influence the overall impression of a festival. It remains to be seen how this controversial situation will develop at future events and whether trust in the technical execution can be restored.