Strahov Organ

The Strahov Organ is located in the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. They were crafted by the Strahov Premonstratensian Johann Öeschlegl.

Strahov Organ

Music and art are inseparably linked with the Strahov Monastery. The organs in the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, both the small choir organ and the large organ, now require extensive restoration. Let us restore the beauty of these majestic instruments together.

Your support is crucial for us. We have launched a public collection and set up a transparent account where contributions can be made for their restoration.

We deeply appreciate every bit of support that brings us closer to our goal and helps preserve the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Strahov Monastery.

You can find more information about the project to restore the Strahov organs, updates, and restoration plans on the website (for now, in the Czech language) dedicated to their renewal.

Restoration of the Choir Organ

The project "Restoration of the Strahov Organ" will begin with the construction of a new instrument for the smaller choir organ in the workshop of organ builder Joachim Stade in Waltershausen, Germany, in collaboration with organ builder and restorer Boris Mettler. Here are some photographs from August, showing the removal of the old instrument, which had not been operational for a long time and was no longer in use.

The Baroque case is in relatively good condition but will undergo cleaning, treatment of the wooden structure from the inside, minor carpentry repairs, and restoration of missing decorative finishes. A new console will be built, designed to closely resemble the original Baroque instrument. Restorers are paying close attention to ensure that the new console and its finish form a harmonious whole.

History of the Choir Organ

After 1670, plans emerged to construct a new choir organ to "support the singing of Strahov canons." The archive holds unauthorized organ specifications dated to 1682. One proposal describes an instrument of Renaissance design, while the other, likely realized in 1687 during the abbacy of Hyacinth Hohmann, reflects Baroque trends. The organ-building work cost 300 gulden, while the carpentry and carving work—admired to this day—amounted to 414 gulden.

By comparing details of the organ case with surviving instruments by Prague masters from the last quarter of the 17th century, the Strahov organ is attributed to Hans Heinrich Mundt, the creator of the Týn Church organ. Its concept is similar to Mundt's organ in the Augustinian Church of St. Wenceslaus at Zderaz, now in Chlumín.

The development of the choir organ astonishingly mirrored the main instrument's evolution. To the original seven manual stops and two pedal stops, P. Öhlschlägel added three manual and two pedal stops. Subsequent repairs were carried out by masters who also worked on larger organs, including Roth, Reiss, Gartner, and K. Schiffner. In 1898, the old mechanical instrument was dismantled, and H. Schiffner installed a two-manual, 17-stop instrument with pneumatic action in the modified organ case, which had its rear sections removed. The console replaced the original Spielschrank.

In 1986, the Organa cooperative rebuilt the instrument, again using the original pipework. Today, behind the Baroque case, there is a one-manual pneumatic instrument with ten stops. However, technical issues, especially with the pneumatic action, have long made this instrument unusable.

Goal of the Restoration

The aim is to restore the heart of the choir organ and build an instrument for the small choir loft in the basilica, whose sound character will aesthetically align with the richly decorated Baroque case.

For more information on how to help, visit www.strahovskevarhany.cz

Photos by Martin Čech