Schnitger Organ Zwolle: The Organ

The Organ

Builders Frans Caspar and Johann Georg Schnitger
Completed 30 September 1721

The first organ

The Schnitger organ was not the first instrument to be used in Great St Michael’s. The previous organ had been so damaged by the collapse of the tower in 1682 that it was no longer useable. The church therefore had no organ until the beginning of the 18th century. Read more ...

Schnitger

Organ; front view

The famous organ builder Arp Schnitger was contacted via a Zwolle merchant, which later led to his sons, Frans Caspar and Johann Georg Schnitger building in 1721 a very imposing instrument for that time. Read more ...

The organ case

The case of the organ is also very impressive, both in its design and for its baroque style onamentation. Read more ...

Maintenance and modifications

Over the centuries the organ was regularly maintained, but it was subject to changes in fashion and at certain times some rather far reaching alterations were made. Read more ...

Flentrop

After the Second World War it became obvious that a major restoration was necessary. The organ was entrusted to the care of Flentrop, the organ builder from Zaandam, and during 1953-1955 it was restored as far as was possible back to its original state. Read more ...

Recent maintenance and restoration

During the major cleaning operation in 2000-2001 it was seen that this splendid instrument still had many years of life left of first rate performance, but work would be needed to improve its condition. A scheme of work to restore the organ back to its best began in 2007, the work being implemented in phases. Read more ...