The Walcker Organ, Opus 2150
How the largest concert hall organ from the Weimar Republic still in existence in Germany made its way from Gelsenkirchen to Papenburg.
1927–2001
Edification
The Walcker organ, built in Ludwigsburg in 1927, served as the concert hall organ at the Hans-Sachs-Haus in Gelsenkirchen until 2001. In the 1990s, the city of Gelsenkirchen hosted an organ competition three times, which quickly gained international renown. After its removal in 2001, the organ was restored to its original condition and initially placed in storage.
2019–2020
Installation
Installation on the organ platform and in the south aisle of St. Anthony’s Church in Papenburg began in 2019 by the firm Romanus Seifert of Kevelaer, and since its completion in 2020, it has been a valuable stylistic addition to the historic organ landscape of northwestern Germany.
2021
Opening
The opening concert and dedication ceremony for the newly installed organ took place on September 9, 2021, featuring Christian Schmitt from Stuttgart and German Brass from Munich. Since then, the organ has been heard not only during church services but also in a variety of concerts featuring internationally renowned organists and musicians from our diocese.
Brochure
Behind the modern façade, the two cases together contain 7,245 pipes in 99 stops. The artistic design by the architectural firm Ulrich Königs in Cologne references the organ’s original setting in the Hans-Sachs-Haus in Gelsenkirchen. The silver-colored slats, curved upward toward the sound openings, create an iridescent reflection of the incoming light and trace the pattern of sound waves.
Remote Control
The reconstructed remote organ is installed as a choir organ in the southern transept. The four-step platform in front of it provides ample space for the choir.
Game Table
The new console is mobile and can be connected to the organ at three different points. The computer-controlled system is operated via fiber optics. Depending on the occasion, the console can be set up at the very front, in the center by the baptismal font, to the side of the choir organ, or at the back near the main organ. Its design is inspired by historic Walcker consoles from the 1910s and 1920s.
Detailed Overview
You can find detailed information about the history, design, and layout of the Walcker organ in the flyer below and under " Interesting Facts."
Video Series
In our video series, you’ll learn interesting details about the construction, setup, layout, and voicing of the Walcker organ. You can also look forward to a four-part organ tour led by our organ expert and regional cantor, Ralf Stiewe.
Text: Ralf Stiewe, Photos: Jochen Stüber (brochure, remote control unit, game console), Anna Siebert (above), Video: AZ Media Gate