The Schnitger organ of the Martini Church is at the top of a list of 15 organs throughout the Netherlands that you should hear at least once in your life, according to the Volkskrant. “The word ‘masterpiece’ is not sufficient to do justice to this organ”, says the newspaper.
Two more organs within the province of Groningen made the list, as well as one in Friesland:
# 13 – Krewerd
The organ in Mariakerk in Krewerd in the northernmost part of Groningen, whose builder is unknown, is in 13th place. “It is certainly the roughest and rawest in our country,” says the Volkskrant. “Krewerd only has one keyboard and seven registers, but enough power to blow you away. Listen to this original organ and imagine yourself in a different time.”
# 11 – Jacobijnerkerk
Friesland’s representative on the list is the Müller organ in the Jacobijnerkerk in Leeuwarden, in eleventh place. “It may sound very powerful, but the more modest voices it can make are so beautiful”, surmised the newspaper
# 4 – Noordbroek
“Point to any small village in Groningen and there is a 95 percent chance that there is a grandiose organ,” the newspaper says. The Schnitger organ in the church of Noordbroek is in fourth place, thanks to its typically “searing” sound when the organist “goes full on”.
# 1 – Martini Church
The organ in the Martini church was built in 1691 by Schnitger. However, the organ has been repeatedly adapted and expanded, and was fully restored in 1984. The Volkskrant: “Very suitable for starting your organ discovery tour. There is a chance that you will not want anything else after this organ.”
The newspaper is lyrical about the organ within the city of Groningen: “The word” masterpiece “is not sufficient to do justice to this organ. The plenum – the full sound – makes everything vibrate and tingle. The flute voices are majestic. In the broad hall church, the tones are reflected in space in an inimitable way. Wonderfully disorienting – no: divine. I can’t believe this was made by people. ”
