Documentation of Restorations Uwe Pape*

Documentation of Restorations Uwe Pape* fter more than 50 years of organ instrument. If anything at all was docu- Arestoration activity in northern Ger- mented, at least the specifications and many, we have observed increasing perhaps rough drawings were pre- demands for pre-restoration planning, served, but in general scalings and process control, and submission of other significant details are not usually reports. Simultaneously, the scope of to be found. In many of these early pro- organ restoration expanded substantial- jects we would be glad if we could find ly, ranging today from the oldest exist- at least these data. ing instruments to electro-pneumatic After World War II, some companies organs of the 20th century. It is clearly began maintaining written documenta- not possible to create a uniform set of tion, sometimes accompanied by a set of rules or principles for documenting this black-and-white photographs. Friedrich whole range: We may document an Jakob of the Theodor Kuhn organ com- older instrument more carefully than pany (Männedorf, Switzerland) writes newer ones; different information is that the AGSO (working group for the desirable for different actions, etc. preservation of Swiss historic organs) The increased demands for proper was established in 1958.3 Subsequently, documentation result not only from the the first technical reports were devel- technical advances of recent years, but oped in cooperation with Jakob; these also from the interests of the research ‘internal inventory reports’ were, how- and educational institutions and scien- ever, substantially less detailed than the tists involved in this topic. In the begin- more developed restoration documents ning, research projects were carried out used today. The concepts compiled in by the institutions themselves,1 but these reports, which later provided the today these services are also available basic structure for full restoration docu- from professional or commercial mentation, were divided into the follow- sources.2 The research and documenta- ing sections: tion capabilities of these institutions and similar organizations usually go far A. Literature beyond those of organ builders, so that B. Sources many organ builders now perceive these C. Inscriptions research projects as a meaningful addi- D. Inventory tion to their own work and support 1. Specification these activities. 2. Case including pipe order Many consultants are aware of these 3. Console including stop order advances and interests, and have begun 4. Wind chests, with slider and to expect that the organ builder carry valve order out the needed research and provide 5. Key action the documentation. In practice, howev- 6. Stop action er, severe financial problems arise from 7. Wind system the costs involved in carrying out this 8. Pipe work, with scalings research with the required scholarly E. Restoration suggestions detail. Thus organ builders are encoun- tering a new and significant (as well as For the first time the relationships of expensive) requirement on the part of façade, pipes, sliders and pallets were both congregations and experts as a examined and recorded. This report for- result of this increased interest in docu- mat was expanded and refined in the Unrestored organ at Galenbeck, Mecklenburg, North Germany. The organ builder mentation by the professional world. At following years. With two publications is unknown, and the metal pipes have been stolen. No work has been done on this the same time, many organ builders are in 1965 and 1968,4 a level of standard- organ since 1945. (Photo credit Uwe Pape) also conscious of their obligation as ization was reached, which at that time restorers of historic instruments to meet was judged by German specialists as 2. Case and façade pipes tection for the restorer against possible at least some of these new require- exemplary and trailblazing. However, 3. Console later challenges. ments. The organ builder therefore these were still not true and complete 4. Wind chests The main problem in this ‘museum must tread a via media between these restoration reports, as they documented 5. Key action approach’ was quickly identified, how- new demands and reasonably pricing or only an exact inventory of the instru- 6. Stop action ever: In general, a state or not-for-prof- financing the project—a true dilemma. ment’s then-current state and provided 7. Wind system it enterprise such as a museum doesn’t only restoration suggestions. 8. Pipe work, including scales work under time pressure, and the Development of restoration In the 1970s, the expansion of this 9. Temperament costs of the documentation and scien- documentation in organ building earlier form of report to real restoration 10. Voicing7 tific research are covered by an institu- If we look at early restorations, we reports that included detailed accounts tional budget. The situation in organ find that no actual reports were pre- of the work done, became standard in German experts in church adminis- building is quite different: The costs of pared until the 1940s, and find only rel- many large companies, as organ tration also developed large archives for a report must be covered by the price atively primitive attempts at documen- builders perceived and understood the organ documentation, of which the of the restoration and, perhaps, by a tation in correspondence and record- need for comprehensive restoration churches in Hannover and Magdeburg special budget item or contribution of ings in archives. If something was doc- information.5 In Germany, the Alfred are well-known examples.8 It also the congregation. umented and, above all, photographed, Führer organ company of Wil- became evident that extensive restora- In some firms a combination of it was usually the expert or consultant helmshaven6 was one of the first enter- tion reports, such as those provided par- increased personal efforts and internal who did the work. Archives of organ prises to provide more extensive ticularly by the staff experts in museums company restructuring made these builders may provide, from their pro- reports, including: of musical instruments, could be in the more extensive reports feasible. Firms ject bids and invoices, some hints of the organ builders’ own best interests, by such as Theodor Kuhn (Männedorf), scope and nature of the work proposed 1. History, with pertinent literature providing both a record of the work Johannes Klais (Bonn), Hermann Eule and eventually carried out on a given and sources undertaken and a certain level of pro- (Bautzen), and Alexander Schuke (Pots- A.E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Co. Current Projects for 2006-2007 New Organs: Atlanta First United Methodist Church: 5-manual, 120 stops New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Leavell Chapel: 4-manual, 78 ranks Midway Presbyterian Church, Powder Springs, GA: 3-manual, 55 ranks First United Methodist Church, Carrollton, GA: 3-manual, 42 ranks New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Recital Hall: 3-manual, 33 ranks (new & existing pipes) Newberry A.R.P., Newberry, SC: 2-manual, 13 ranks (new & existing pipes) Rebuilds: St. John’s Church, Savannah, GA: 4-manual, 76 rank Wicks - additions, tonal revisions & revoicing First Baptist Church, Orangeburg, SC: 3-manual, 31 rank M.P. Moller - complete rebuild with additions Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC: 3-manual, 22 rank M.P. Moller - complete rebuild with additions First United Methodist Church, Jackson, GA: 2-manaul, 20 rank Austin - complete rebuild with major additions Cumberland United Methodist Church, Florence, SC: 2-manual, 10 rank M.P. Moller - complete rebuild with additions First United Methodist Church, Tennille, GA: 2-manual, 8 rank Tellers, complete restoration 800-836-2726 www.pipe-organ.com 20 THE DIAPASON Copyright © THE DIAPASON. Used by permission. only the finished picture, not how it ment used by Kuhn is as follows and came to be, whereas we want to com- may be taken as a model for documen- prehend more thoroughly the work tation reports in general: itself and the various influences on it. Until a few years ago a project was usu- A. Initial situation ally documented and presented only in 1. Basis summary fashion, perhaps even some- 2. Problem what favorably colored or highlighted. 3. Historical outline No one would mention errors, misjudg- 4. Specification (existing) ments, and false estimates. Many mat- B. Report ters and decisions later criticized or 1. General condition even condemned may be much better 2. Pipe work understood if we knew why or how they 3. Key action were done or reached. We may even 4. Stop action discover a level of respect for what may 5. Wind chests be an inadequate execution when work- 6. Console ing conditions are better known. For 7. Wind system these reasons we should try to find a way 8. Case and framework to utilize the technical achievements of C. List of requirements our times, thus responding to modern demands while at the same time holding Sections A1 and A2 describe the ini- the expenditure of time (and money) to tial state of the instrument and terms of reasonable orders of magnitude. reference. Sections A3 and A4 discuss The Kuhn company sought to merge the historical development of the the documentation process as far as pos- instrument and list the specification(s) sible with the regular work routine, see- with all major changes. It is in general Unrestored organ at Badresch, Mecklenburg, North Germany. The organ builder ing it to a certain extent as a by-product an excerpt of documents from church was Ernst Sauer, the father of Wilhelm Sauer. No work has been done on this of its work planning. The adjustment of archives and may be supplemented by organ since 1945. (Photo credit Uwe Pape) the documentation process to the work facsimiles of bids, contracts, and/or cer- schedule also led to another and more tificates.13 dam)9 set up their own restoration tation of restorations, in which he objective overall report.

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