Andreas Werckmeister's Organum Gruningense Redivivum, 1705

The "Organum Gruningense Redivivum Oder kurtze Beschreibung des in der Grueningischen Schlos-Kirchen beruehmten Orgel-Wercks - Wie dasselbe anfangs erbauet und beschaffen gewesen: und wie es anitzo auf allergnaedisgten Befehl Sr. Koen. Preuss. Majestaet ist renoviret und merklich verbessert worden" is Werckmeister's application of his own principles and methods for organ examination in a report about the organ at the castle at Groening, near Halberstadt, Germany. The organ, built by David Beck in 1596 by commission of the Duke Heinrich Julius, bishop of Halberstadt, was the largest of its day, with fifty-nine stops. Under the patronage of Friedrich I, King of Prussia, Christoph Contius supervised the renovation of the instrument as described in Werckmeister's document. Though a remarkably important instrument, its facade is all that remains today. Therefore, Werckmeister's document is the most detailed information available about the characteristics of this organ. In addition, Werckmeister listed in this documents names of important musicians of the day. Hence, from the eighteenth century on, this report became a source document for music encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Autorentext

Marcos Krieger, DMA, is an active musician and musicologist who focuses his work on early keyboard repertoire and on early keyboard treatises. He is Assistant Professor of Music at Susquehanna University, Pennsylvania, USA, where he teaches organ, harpsichord, and music history.