Norden

The monumental organ of the Ludgerikirche in Norden (Germany), the largest historical instrument in the rich organ landscape of Germany’s East Frisia region, was built in 1686/87 by the Hamburg organ builder Arp Schnitger (1648–1719). Schnitger, the most important organ builder of the Baroque period, was widely renowned in his time.

He built around 150 instruments of various sizes in northern Germany and the Netherlands. The organ in the Ludgerikirche is his second largest instrument and is built according to the Werkprinzip. The contract for an organ with two manuals and pedal dates back to 1686, but when the instrument was delivered in 1688, it turned out that Schnitger had exceeded his contract by adding a Brustpositiv with six stops. Moreover, in 1691/92, he expanded the organ with an Oberpositiv with eight stops, which could be played from the manual of the Brustpositiv, resulting in a total of forty-six stops.

Eight stops were taken over from the two previous instruments: the oldest organ dated from 1567 and was built by Andreas de Mare from Groningen (Netherlands) / Emden (East Frisia), while the younger instrument was built in 1618 by Edo Evers from Emden / Jever (East Frisia). The 3110 pipes are distributed among five different divisions, played from three manuals and the pedal. The organ is located on the southeastern crossing pier, with the large pedal tower exceptionally placed in the transept.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the organ underwent various modifications. The most significant changes occurred in the 19th century when organ-building styles evolved, and some stops were adapted to match the musical taste of the time. Fortunately, much of Schnitger's original pipework was preserved. In the 20th century, there was renewed appreciation for historical organs, and it was decided to restore the instrument as much as possible to its original state. Between 1981 and 1985, the organ was exemplary restored by Jürgen Ahrend from Leer-Loga. During this restoration, twenty-five stops and three of the six bellows were reconstructed based on Schnitger's models.

The current temperament of the Norden organ is a modified or extended meantone temperament, which the former organist and cantor at St. Ludgeri, Reinhard Ruge (*1934) developed for this restoration.[12] It achieves a great purity of organ sound without a wolf fifth in the keys with few accidentals, but also allows playing in more keys than is generally considered acceptable in a strictly meantone temperament.