Two organs, one history

The church of Harkstede houses two organs: a reconstructed Schnitger organ from 1696 and the Eertman organ from 1908. The reconstruction of the Schnitger organ was inaugurated on 15 October 2025. James L. Wallmann wrote the article below about this unique instrument in the Dutch organ world, which appeared in April 2026 in The Tracker: Journal of the Organ Historical Society and is published here in translation with the Society’s permission. Wallmann, who approved the translation, wrote for an audience generally unfamiliar with Dutch organ building; in consultation with him, a few passages have therefore been omitted.  [editor’s note].