Build your own organ: Creative holiday services in Freiberg!

Build your own organ: Creative holiday services in Freiberg!

In picturesque Freiberg, where the tradition of organ building is deeply rooted, young and old now have the opportunity to become active themselves. The Gottfried-Silbermann-Gesellschaft e.V. invites you to the demonstration workshop in the Silbermann House every Tuesday at 3 p.m. Here participants can build their own small, functioning organs and experience the fascination of organ building up close. This event is not only suitable for children but also for adults and offers an educational insight into the art of organ building, which in Freiberg has been associated with the legendary master Gottfried Silbermann since the 18th century. According to a report from Blick.de, registration is required as the number of participants is limited.

The exact construction and individual components of the organ are explained in the demonstration workshop. Visitors get to know the casing, the bellows, the wind chest and the pipes and have the opportunity to try everything out for themselves. Dr. Juliane Schwarz-Bierschenk and Ingrid Lange guide the participants through the various steps of organ building. An example of those interested in enjoying this course are two sisters and two adults – Johanna and Michael.

Experience a piece of history

The Silbermann House is not only the stage for the demonstration workshop, but also houses an impressive exhibition about Gottfried Silbermann, the famous organ builder. Here visitors can immerse themselves in the world of the Baroque and admire the historical workbenches and the original tools from Silbermann's time. There is also the opportunity to test a playable organ model and find out how sounds are produced and the mechanics behind them. This exciting exhibition is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with entry costing 4 euros for adults - children and young people under 18 have free entry. The opportunity to build a wooden pipe during the summer holidays is also an exciting highlight for many children.

The story of Gottfried Silbermann himself is just as fascinating as the art of organ building. He was born in 1683 into a family that can be traced back to the early 17th century. After training in Strasbourg, where he studied French organ culture, he returned to Saxony in 1710 and founded his workshop in Freiberg. There he also created, among other things, the famous large organ in Freiberg's St. Marien Cathedral, which is now considered one of the most valuable baroque organs in Europe. Despite criticism from greats like Johann Sebastian Bach, Silbermann gained great respect in the art of organ building and built a total of around 50 organs, of which 31 have been preserved in Saxony.

Preserving a legacy

The Gottfried Silbermann Society is actively committed to preserving his legacy and promoting understanding of his work. Visitors can also attend lectures and small concerts in the Silbermann Room or learn about the various preserved instruments in the region. A highlight is the 360° tour through the Silbermann organ of Freiberg Cathedral.

At a time when culture and education are at the forefront, you can not only gain knowledge when visiting the Silbermann House, but also become creative yourself. Who knows, maybe there is a talented organ builder in you too?