Organ in Urphar: From misunderstanding to musical treasure!

Organ in Urphar: From misunderstanding to musical treasure!

As part of the celebrations for 1250 years of Urphar, the organ, which was assessed by Johann Wendelin Glaser 245 years ago, was once again the focus of attention. The prominent organist and composer, who was born on April 30, 1713 in Ostheim vor der Rhön and died on March 7, 1783 in Wertheim, left behind over 300 cantatas and had a lasting influence on the church music of his time. According to main-echo.de, Frank Wolz introduced visitors deep into the history of this organ during a tour of the organ.

According to Wolz, the organ was donated by Johann Georg Flegler, a barrel maker from Urphar. Flegler was the main financier of the building, which was originally designed for his weddings. The order went to Johann Conrad Wehr, who was 72 years old at the time and had previously built organs in monasteries. A note inside the organ refers to Johann Josef Bendel as another contributor, which raises the question of how much of the organ was actually built by Wehr himself.

Criticism and restorations

The organ had an eventful history that began with Glaser's negative report. Despite his determination that the organ was in poor condition, he documented various defects, including leaking bellows and jammed mechanical parts. According to Glaser's report, Wehr was obliged to make improvements, which meant that the organ functioned for over 100 years without further repair. The first significant restoration took place in 1952, during which worm damage was removed and registers were replaced. An electric motor was also installed.

Further work on the organ in 1984 improved its playability, but without restoring it to its original condition. Wolz compared the organ to a family, with different registers representing different characters. This unique perspective attracted a large and enthusiastic audience who listened to the organ variations by Johann Gottfried Walther.

The legacy of Johann Wendelin Glaser

Johann Wendelin Glaser, who worked as cantor of the Evangelical City Church in Wertheim, had a formative role in the church music landscape from 1744 until his death. He left behind a comprehensive legacy of musical works, which were documented in a comprehensive catalog raisonné in 1936/1937. Even after his death, he continued to promote the combination of old and new musical styles, and his influence on church music is still valued today.

The organ tour in Urphar not only showcases the history of an instrument, but also brings the work of an important musician back into the public eye, whose work is inextricably linked to the development of church music. The organ in Urphar remains a living testimony to this tradition and is cherished and valued by the community.