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
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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. As opposed to Each part of section B consists of four departments in which the chief restorer describes the report not only as an earlier methods, this new kind of docu- elements. was also responsible for the full docu- account of the work but also of the time mentation became a collection of data mentation of projects. A summary and circumstances under which the work subsets encompassing the entire 1. Project bid report on the entire restoration, supple- has been carried out. This report should restoration period. The first part of the restoration report mented by photographs and drawings, take into consideration the requirements begins with the project bid, because the became standard.10 Newer organ com- of the instrument’s period, e.g., the sense The Kuhn model investigation report for the bid is the panies have attached great importance of musical style, the materials available, From the beginning of the 1990s the first part of the overall report. Unfortu- to this documentation from their incep- certain demands of consultants or archi- Kuhn company ceased preparing final nately it is not possible to include the tion: Kristian Wegscheider (Dresden) is tects, the importance of a light action, or restoration reports, instead arranging competing project bids of the other well known for his careful reports, the aesthetic sense and approach of the the production plan and the information firms here also, even though this would which consist of a ‘condition report’ owner. If one can understand from the data simultaneously as total project doc- result in a more complete picture for before the restoration as well as a later documents the conditions under and umentation. In order to obtain a consis- later readers. ‘restoration report’ on the work done; materials with which organ builders had tent overview, this sequentially written both are indispensable components of to work at a certain time, one may better report always has a similar arrangement 2. Disassembly Report the process.11 understand the work they actually were of the individual parts. Thus if one looks The second part of the restoration able to accomplish. In fact, this under- for statements about, e.g., wind chests, report, the disassembly report, is defi- Procedure and arrangement standing may perhaps help to compre- one can easily find the inquiry results, nitely the most complex and most Wolfgang Rehn (of Th. Kuhn AG) hend and preserve a certain building sit- recommendations, resolutions, and all important part of the total documenta- reports his personal ideas as a restorer uation as the record of a great achieve- related remarks in a certain place in the tion. The following approach to invento- and the requirements for documentation ment of the time. contents of each report. Each report ry and description of pipes serves as an in a large restoration department.12 He Documentation should also be seen part is regularly provided with an example of the importance of this docu- developed a special model for documen- as a ‘process report’. Typically we see appendix of photographs. The arrange- mentation:
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DECEMBER, 2006 21 Copyright © THE DIAPASON. Used by permission. All pipes are noted in the account projects/orda/); GOArt, Göteborg University, Box 210, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden sheets prepared for the corresponding (www.goart.gu.se). organ with measurable and computable 2. Judit Angster, Fraunhofer-Institut für Bau- values—scalings of circumferences, physik, Nobelstr. 12, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany lengths of bodies and feet, widths of (www.ibp.fraunhofer.de); Martin Kuhnt, Waldstr. toe-holes, mouth widths, cut-ups and 65, D-74731 Walldürn, Germany (www.orgel dienstleistungen.de). number of nicks. If pipes are of differ- 3. F. Jakob: “Sinn und Zweck der Dokumenta- ent design, these are described exactly tion von Orgelrestauerungen.” In W. Rehn (Ed.): and illustrated by photographs. The Dokumentation von Orgelrestaurierungen. Berlin analysis of alloys may be provided by 2006, ISBN 3-921140-71-4, pp. 9–20. 14 4. Reports about the Wallis organs of Ernen companies for material testing. Very and Münster. important is the investigation of inscrip- 5. Museums of musical instruments like the tions [any markings on the pipes, e.g., Musikinstrumentenmuseum in Leipzig or the pitch indications, maker’s marks, etc., Germanische Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg also influenced restorers. Both institutions offered known as Signaturen]. These are copied workshops and worked as training centers. Here a by hand and transferred to special doc- completely different style of education in restora- umentation sheets with information tion was put into practice. It was mainly this sys- describing their placement on each tematic work and type of documentation that pipe. A specific or unusual Signatur impressed the visiting organ builders. 6. Fritz Schild: Denkmal-Orgeln: Dokumenta- characteristic may also be photographed tion der Restaurierung durch Orgelbau Führer, in all octaves. (See illustrations.) 1974–1991, Teile I und II, Wilhelmshaven, 2005. Of course this investigation and 7. This arrangement, used in the report of recording of information must have rea- Hohenkirchen (1974), became the model for fur- ther reports and was modified several times. ‘Key sonable limits. While it is clear that Signatur on front of C pipe (Photo credit Signatur on front of C-sharp pipe (Photo and Stop action’ became one grouping, and ‘Tem- there are still more possibilities con- Uwe Pape) credit Uwe Pape) perament and Voicing’ were included in the cerning pipe documentation, it is grouping ‘Pipe work’. important not to strive for accuracies 8. Evangelisch-lutherische Landeskirche Han- novers, Rote Reihe 6, 30169 Hannover, Germany; that are beyond reasonable measure- Evangelische Kirche der Kirchenprovinz Sachsen, ment. We apply the principle: better no Am Dom 2, 39104 Magdeburg, Germany. data than incomprehensible or incorrect 9. Th. Kuhn AG, Seestr. 141, CH-8708 data. Rehn gives several examples such Männedorf, Switzerland; Johannes Klais Orgel- bau, Kölnstr. 148, D-53111 Bonn; Hermann Eule as wall thickness of small pipes and Orgelbau, Wilthener Str. 6, D-02625 Bautzen; pipes with coned-in feet. How many Alexander Schuke Potsdam Orgelbau, Otto- measurements are reasonable? Another Lilienthal-Str. 33, D-14542 Werder/Havel. example is the measurement of the 10. Wolfgang Rehn gives an extensive insight windway and the languid bevel. Here into his documentary work in the company of Theodor Kuhn Orgelbau: W. Rehn: “Dokumenta- one could demand a multiplicity of val- tion von Orgelrestaurierungen.” In W. Rehn ues at each languid. Further examples (Ed.): Dokumentation von Orgelrestaurierungen. are also the depth and placement of Berlin 2006, ISBN 3-921140-71-4, pp. 89–102. nicks, or which file profile has been used 11. Kristian Wegscheider, Bauernweg 61, D- 01109 Dresden. in the nicking process. These character- 12. See footnote 10. istics are much more relevant to a pipe’s 13. Examples for database systems to receive a sound than the second decimal place of biography of instruments in Northern Germany a scale’s diameter. Another example are ORDA (aedv.cs.tu-berlin.de/projects/orda/) and ORDA 2015 (www.orda2015.de). may be the analysis of the partials pro- Signatur on back of C pipe (Photo credit Signatur on back of C-sharp pipe (Photo 14. Examples are BAM = Bundesamt für Mate- duced by each pipe of an organ. Thus Uwe Pape) credit Uwe Pape) rialprüfung (Berlin) or EMPA = Eidgenössisches the actual tonal condition can be exactly Materialprüfungsamt (Zürich). These are state documented. But what is the use of a becomes a tool in the workshop: Deci- Summary owned agencies, but there are also private firms. documentation of the sound of dirty sions concerning allocation of and actu- Restoration reports should compile pipe work? We would have to measure al work on the pipes follow the descrip- and obtain as much meaningful infor- Prof. Dr. Uwe Pape studied mathematics the sound characteristics again after tion of the registers from the investiga- mation as possible. Rehn emphasizes and physics in Göttingen. He was a professor cleaning. And we have to do this yet tion in accordance with their manufac- that details should be written to explain of information systems at the Technical Uni- again after the restoration in order to turing method and Signaturen. Along that “We implemented the following— versity of Berlin from 1971–2001, also serv- document the result and any changes. with this process a classification table and these are our reasons.” Although ing as visiting professor at MIT in 1974 and Does this make sense? If we recognize may be provided to ensure an overview including such details may be viewed as 1984–85. His interest in organbuilding began that the third partial tone is weaker than during work on the project while also ‘make-work’ in connection with organ in the 1950s, during his student days in Göt- it was in the second measurement, what allowing a later comprehensive repre- restorations, one must admit that there tingen, when he encountered Paul Ott and his workshop. In 1959 he began an inventory do we do then? sentation of the project. may be a real need for such remarks in of the organs of Braunschweig. In 1962 he Demands and expenditure can This example shows how the docu- individual cases, and that how and why established an organbuilding history publish- become limitless in light of the possible mentation becomes to a certain extent a actions were undertaken should be ing house. He is the author of many mono- scientific measurements. The costs of by-product of the work. The other parts made clear in a report. Glossing over graphs in the field of north German organ the documentation of the pipe work of the organ are documented in the facts, rationales, and ideologies should construction. Since 1985 he has directed a alone in a large organ can thus easily same way during the restoration not be allowed. research group for the documentation of reach five- to six-digit Euro or dollar process. Apart from these remarks all As the financial support available for organs and organ restoration projects. He is a amounts. Therefore, in practice we minutes of meetings and the resolutions the documentation of a restoration is consultant for institutions in Berlin, Bremen, must limit ourselves to the values speci- of issues raised are also attached in this usually very limited, the organ builder Niedersachsen and Sachsen. fied above. These permit us to make an section of the report. must work as efficiently as possible. The G. Nicholas Bullat, D.Mus.A., J.D., exact copy if necessary. From these data approach described above provides a F.A.G.O., F.R.C.C.O., L.T.C.L, a former later substantial changes, e.g., changes 4. Implementation useful method and reasonable result. I Dean of the Chicago AGO Chapter, served as of cut-ups and toe-hole openings, are The last part of the restoration report chairman of the graduate studies division readily understandable. summarizes briefly which portions of *This article was edited by Dr. G. and organ and theory departments of the the plan were definitely implemented. Nicholas Bullat. American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, 3. Project Elaboration This part is deliberately brief because and for many years was minister of music at First United Church of Oak Park, Illinois. In this section of the report the more detailed reporting would result in Notes After retiring from performing and teaching results of the investigation process are additional expenditure that has no real 1. International Association for Organ Docu- in the early 1990s, he practiced securities law converted into a work program and its relation to the craftsmanship. It consists mentation e.V., Peer Schlechta, Postfach 103511, D-34035 Kassel, Germany; Technische at a large Chicago firm and was Vice Presi- documentation. Continuing the exam- mainly of references to necessary parts Universität Berlin, Fakultät IV, Forschungsstelle dent and Counsel at Harris Trust and Sav- ple of the pipe work, we can see how the of sections 2 and 3, and, if necessary, für Orgeldokumentation, Franklinstr. 28-29, D- ings Bank, Chicago, until his retirement in documentation at the same time supplements any deviations from plan. 10587 Berlin, Germany (aedv.cs.tu-berlin.de/ mid-2005. 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22 THE DIAPASON Copyright © THE DIAPASON. Used by permission.