Welcome
Welcome to the Internet pages of Europe’s oldest magazine on Organ Art: het ORGEL [i.e. the ORGAN]. het ORGEL is a magazine of Dutch origin. This Internet site contains English summaries of articles published in het ORGEL. Every second month we will add the newest summaries. The site also contains a survey of which festival is happening where in Europe, and an extensive collection of links to other interesting organ sites throughout the world.
In the most recent issue
In issue number 5 of the year 2019 Jan Smelik continues his series on organ playing in protestant church services between 1886 and 1938. He discusses the increasing attention given to the church modes and for ‘rhythmical singing’ of the Genevan psalm melodies. Opinions about these matters were strongly divided, and this provided for interesting discussions.
In his series on ‘Modern organ fronts’ Auke H. Vlagsma describes the swallows’-nest organ in the University Church St.-Pauli in Leipzig.
Lydia Vroegindeweij writes on her project ‘Orgelkids’, started 10 years ago. She relates experiences with Orgelkids in the Netherlands, and how the increasing interest abroad led to the adoption of Orgelkids in twelve countries with about 60 Do-organs.
Pieter van Dijk and Frank van Wijk report on the 13th International Schnitger organ competition, which took place in June in Alkmaar.
Organ consultant Peter van Dijk describes the history and the recent restoration of the Timpe organ in the Nieuwe Kerk in Groningen. Cees van der Poel and Sietze de Vries visited the instrument and give their opinions in a ‘sound impression’.
Johan Haaksma reviews three compositions by Kees van Eersel, published last year by Boeijenga Music Publications.
In the series ‘De Achterplaat’ {The Back Plate} Frits Zwart refers to the famous organist Cornelis de Wolf, pupil of Jean Baptiste de Pauw and Cornelis Pameijer. De Wolf was already mentioned earlier in the issue: the rubric ‘Een eeuw geleden’ {100 years ago} includes a reader’s contribution from September, 1919, in which De Wolf is praised not only for his playing but also for his hospitality
New articles
KVOK
Royal Dutch Association of Organists and churchmusicians
The publisher of het ORGEL
The paper edition as well as the Internet edition of het ORGEL are published by the “Koninklijke Vereniging van Organisten en Kerkmusici” (Dutch abbreviation: ‘KVOK’). This Association was founded on 16 January 1890, and later became the publisher of het ORGEL; the first issue of het ORGEL was published in 1886.
Do you want to support the work of het ORGEL?
You can support het ORGEL and the Royal Dutch Association of Organists and churchmusicians by becoming a member of the Association. Membership fee: EUR 70,- (Europe) and EUR 75,- (Outside Europe) a year in the Netherlands. Membership is for one year and will be automatically renewed if not terminated at least one month before the end of the calendar year.
Once you’re a member, you will receive the paper edition of het ORGEL 6 times a year and the organ newspaper de ORGELkrant 11 times a year. It is also possible to receive the publications without being a member of the society.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send an e-mail to the board of the Association
