Arp-Schnitger-organ in Norden
The market-place of Norden – perhaps the greatest in Germany – today hosts the greatest sacral building of East Friesland. The church built of local brick and trass, a stone of volcanic origin from the Eifel, was fundamentally restored between 1980-85.
The beginning of its construction was in the 13th century. At that time, the Ludgeri church was a simple hall church with belfry standing separately (built a little later), which has preserved its original form until today. Today, you'll find the old church shortened and located in the nave of the construction. The transept was added first, starting in the 14th century, and then the choir (from 1445). In the interior, your attention will immediately be attracted to the eastern part of the building. Behind the middle cruciform rib-vault of the transept ascends the choir, built in three zones and in its original colors white and red. The statues made of sandstone from Baumberg, which were created around 1230-50 and in former times decorated the blind arcades of the transept tympanum, are now located in the choir ambulatory.
The Ludgeri church is rich in valuable exhibits. For example, there's the Protestant script altar from 1582 with a late Gothic, carved canopy. The words of Lord’s Supper, written in gilded letters, were discovered under a painting of less quality. The Ten Commandments are written on the outsides of the wings. The choir also features a late Gothic sacrament house from 1480, made of sandstone from Baumberg. The choir-stalls from 1481 were also carved in the late Gothic period. The pulpit bears the date of 1712.
The jewel of the Ludgeri church is the three-manual organ with separated pedal and 46 organ-stops which is very famous, not just in East Friesland. It was constructed between 1686 and 1692 by the famous organ-building master Arp Schnitger from Hamburg, who worked in East Friesland between 1684 to 1714.
Remarkable: Its unusual asymmetric arrangement around the crossing pier corresponds brilliantly with the special task of acoustically reaching different parts of the room with a similar sound. Here, the pedal tower is located elsewhere in the transept, while the four manuals (back positive, main organ, breast positive and upper positive) are orientated from the upper-choir diagonally to the opposite transept. The fact that the organ, after many alterations during the course of time and after damages thanks to drying up, has been returned to its original sound splendor.
Thanks to the organ builder Jürgen Arend from Leer-Loga, who massively restored the organ between 1981 to 1985 and in accordance with strict standards of preserving monuments and art. Damaged original parts of the organ were repaired, altered parts were restored and parts which had disappeared were reconstructed; for this, other Arp-Schnitger organs had to be studied to compare the constructions. The uncompromising restoration of the original state made for a convincing result. The instrument impresses with its fascinating, noble and multi-toned sound. Since 1990, even the outside appearance shows its original, noble face.
Address
Ev.-luth. Pfarrgemeinde
Am Markt 66
26506 Norden
Tel 0 49 31 / 1 89 70
E-Mail kg.norden@evlka.de
Internet www.norden-ludgeri.de
