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 Recent Issue
The latest issue of Volume 120 (2024) focuses on Austrian composers: Anton Bruckner, Franz Schmidt, and Augustine Franz Kopfreiter. Bruckner was born 200 years ago, while Schmidt was born 150 years ago. Dirk Luijmes writes about the role Johann Sebastian Bach's music played in Bruckner's life and the significance of the ‘Bachsen Sachen’ in the jubilarians' organ performances and lessons.
Tjeerd van der Ploeg discusses the life and work of Franz Schmidt. After providing a biographical sketch, the article elaborates on Schmidt's views regarding the type of organ that was popular in his time.
Jolanda Zwoferink reviews Klaus Sonnleitner's book on Augustinus Franz Kropfreiter, who was, among other things, the organist of the Bruckner organ in St. Florian and left behind an extensive oeuvre.
Under the title ‘...ein Meisterwerk höchsten Ranges,’ Albert Clement examines BWV 769, Bach's canonic variations on Luther's Christmas carol ‘Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her.’ In this first of two parts, he discusses, among other things, the structural similarities between the song and the composition.
Hans Steketee writes about the digitization of organ documentation, which offers unprecedented opportunities to provide both professionals and amateurs with information. This article also includes contributions from Marten Steketee and Peter van Kranenburg.
Forty years ago, Feike Asma died. In his column, Jos van der Kooy reminisces about this legendary organist.
Hans Fidom's contribution in the section Orgelpark covers a concert and colloquium on the harmonium, scheduled for Friday, November 22, and Saturday, November 23.
For the Backplate section, Auke Vlagsma writes about the 1629 organ case of the organ in the former Saint-Philibert Abbey in Tournus, France.
New articles
‘Bachsen Sachen’ at Bruckner
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Franz Schmidt: Born 150 Years Ago, Part 1
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Digitization of Organ Documentation
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‘… ein Meisterwerk höchsten Ranges’: Einige canonische Veraenderungen über das Weyhnacht-Lied: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her. Part 1: Structure of the Carol and of the Composition
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The organ works of Jacob Bijster
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The Fortunes of a Cabinet Organ: Mysteries Unveiled about the Gideon Thomas Bätz Organ in Utrecht’s Domkerk
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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 in 1937 became the publisher of Het ORGEL; the first issue of Het ORGEL was published in 1886.
Adress of the editorial staff
Dr. Jan Smelik, editor in chief
H. van Steenwijckstraat 10
8331 KK STEENWIJK
The Netherlands
E-mail:
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 subscriber. You can choose between a paper subscription (€101 per year in Europe, €103 per year outside Europe) or a digital subscription (€72 per year). The subscription is for one year and will be automatically renewed if not terminated at least one month before the end of the calendar year.
You will receive Het ORGEL 4 times a year and the digital newspaper NOTABENE 11 times a year.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send an e-mail to the board of the Association