1925 G.F. Steinmeyer Organ op. 1400

Short Introduction and History

The completely original surviving large 71-stop Steinmeyer post-romantic organ, op. 1400, built in 1925, is a worldwide unique instrument of this organ builder and this era.

It was designed by the Berlin concert organist Otto Dunkelberg, who later worked as an organist of the giant organ of the Passau cathedral, and and is considered the smaller sister and predecessor of what was then the world's largest church organ.

The organ, which survived WWII as one of the few Berlin instruments and the demolition or modification in the course of the neo-baroque phase, shows features of the Alsatian organ reform according to Rupp-Schweitzer and also, due to Steinmeyer's American contacts, has characteristics of these instruments, such as larger manual and pedal sizes, extensive sub- and supe- octave couplers, string choirs, etc.

The disposition allows the interpretation of German, French and Anglo-American music from the 19th century to modern, as well as older music in the taste of the early 20th century.

Until a few years ago, becoming almost unplayable due to wear and church climate influences, it was extensively restored during three years of work and was inaugurated again in 2018. One of the few surviving large Steinmeyer organs from this era has risen again.

Alongside the lost Passau cathedral organ, this instrument can certainly be described as the absolute highlight of Steinmeyer's late / post-romantic Opus.

The Ss. Corpus Christi Church has a reverberation time up to 6 s.

See Location in Googlemaps

Recording technique

The instrument was recorded in October 2019 with 48 kHz, 24 bit, using the multi-release technique introduced by OrganArt.
The stops were recorded with multiple releases for short, medium and long key attacks for optimal acoustical mapping.
All ranks were additionally recorded with the original tremulant sound.

Thanks

Many thanks to the Catholic parish Ss. Corpus Christi (Pater Jacinto Weizenmann scj) for recording permission, titular organist Martin Kondziella for tests and extensive comparative fine-adjustement of the virtual instrument, organist Kiessig and caretaker Müller for the local support.

Virtual Console

Specification

Organ Temperament: Equal (actually a1=438 Hz)

Manual I (C–c4)

01. Prinzipal (Prosp.) 16’
02. Großflöte 16’
03. Prinzipal major 8’
04. Violoncello 8’
05. Dolce 8’
06. Gedeckt 8’
07. Doppelflöte 8'
06. Oktav 4’
07. Viola 4’
09. Rohrflöte 4’
10. Oktav 2’
12. Kornett 3-5fach 8’
13. Rauschquinte 2f. 2 2/3’
14. Mixtur 4-6fach 2’
15. Cimbel 3fach 1’
16. Trompete 16’
17. Tuba 8’
18. Große Glocken E, G-g1

Couplers:
II-I
III-I
Super I
Super II-I
Super III-I
Sub II-I
Sub III-I
Melodie II-I
Melodie III-I

Manual II (C–c4/c5*)

01. Bordun 16’
02. Prinzipal minor 8’
03. Gamba 8’
04. Gedeckt 8’
05. Quintatön 8’
06. Wienerflöte 8’
07. Unda maris 8’
08. Kleinprinzipal 4’
09. Traversflöte 4’
10. Salizet 4’
11. Piccolo 2’
12. Sexquialter 2f. 2 2/3’
13. Progressio 3-5fach
14. Klarinette 8’
15. Waldhorn 8’
Tremulo

Couplers:
III-II
Super II
Super III-II
Sub III-II

Manual III (C–c4/c5*)

01. Stillgedeckt 16’
02. Hornprinzipal 8’
03. Gemshorn 8’
04. Aeoline 8’
05. Vox coelestis 8’
06. Lieblichgedeckt 8’
07. Konzertflöte 8’
08. Prestant 4’
09. Violine 4’
10. Fernflöte 4’
11. Flautino 2’
12. Nasard 2 2/3’
13. Terz 1 3/5’
14. Septime 1 1/7’
15. None 8/9’
16. Campanella 4fach 2’
17. Fagott 16’
18. Feldtrompete 8’
19. Oboe 8’
20. Klarine 4’
21. Vox humana 8’
Tremulo

Couplers:
Super III
Sub III

Pedal (C–g1)

01. Principalbass 32'
02. Principalbass 16'
03. Violon 16'
04. Subbass 16'
05. Oktavbass 8’
06. Gedecktbass 8’
07. Choralbass 4’
08. Quintbass 10 2/3’
09. Pedalkornett 3 1/5’
10. Mixturbass 4f 2 2/3’
11. Bombarde 32’
12. Posaune 16'
Transmissions:
13. Echobass 16’
14. Gambenbass 8’
15. Fagottbass 16’
16. Trompete 8’
17. Bassklarine 4’

Couplers:
I-P
II-P
III-P
Super I-P
Super III-P
Super P

* Fully developed super octaves

All ranks are original 1925 Steinmeyer (voicing),
except missing three ranks, included up to 1943(!) by Steinmeyer

Membrane chests, electro-pneumatic tracker action

Requirements

Loaded Version (Surround)	Memory Requirements ³⁾	Processor Speed
16-bit, compressed¹⁾, all loops	19.8 GByte	≥ 3.4 GHz Quad to Octa Core ²⁾
20-bit, compressed, all loops	31.5 GByte	≥ 3.4 GHz Quad to Octa Core ²⁾
24-bit, compressed, all loops	38.5 GByte	≥ 3.4 GHz Quad to OctaCore ²⁾

¹⁾ Lossless compression (no loss of sound quality!)
²⁾ Recommended:
Minimal configuration: Quad Core, 32 GByte RAM
Optimal configuration: Six/Octa Core, 64 GByte RAM

³⁾ To load this organ into Hauptwerk you will need enough free memory in your computer, due to the amount of playable stops, not including the operating system or any other programs that may be running!

We recommend the professional audio card RME series and the AKG Reference Headphone K702/712 for optimal sound and room impression.

Demos

The following demo pieces were recorded with the Hauptwerk Advanced Edition software and the virtual organ sample set, with no additional effects processing.

J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

Fantasia BWV 542 | 07:12 min | Mix Front-Rear 100:100 | Edo Luynenburg, Netherlands/Spain

Max Reger (1873-1916)

Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933)

Arno Landmann (1887-1966)

Variationen über ein Thema von Georg Friedrich Händel (op. 29) | 17:36 min | Mix Front-Rear 80:40 | Markus Weyand, Germany

Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
Variationen und Finale über ein altflämisches Lied | 17:11 min | Mix Front-Rear 75:65 | Andreas Mattes, Germany

César Franck (1822-1890)

Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

Symphony No. 5,4: Adagio | 05:46 min | Mix Front-Rear 100:100 | Edo Luynenburg, Netherlands/Spain

Léon Boëllmann (1862-1897)

Suite Gothique op. 25 | 14:48 min | Mix Front-Rear 100:100 | P. L. , France

Marcel Dupré (1886-1971)

Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)

Fugue sur le thème du Carillon des Heures de la Cathédrale de Soissons op. 12 | 03:31 min | Mix Front-Rear 100:70 | Andreas Mattes, Germany

Jehan Alain (1911-1940)

Choral Dorien (1935) | 05:08 min | Edo Luynenburg, Netherlands/Spain

Edward Elgar (1821-1906)

Nimrod (Enigma Variations op 36, 9) | 04:44 min | Edo Luynenburg, Netherlands/Spain

James Healey Willan (1880-1968)

From 32 short Choral Preludes: # 10: St. Anne | 03:37 min | Mix Front-Rear 70:100 | Edo Luynenburg, Netherlands/Spain

Spezielle Transkriptionen und Arrangements:

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Pièce d' Orgue (in der Straube-Tradition) | 08:37 min | Mix Front-Rear 100:100 | Christian Brembeck, Germany

L.v. Beethoven (1770-1827)

Allegretto from Symphonie No. 7 (Transkription Wiliam Thomas Best) | 09:33 min | Martin Kondziella, Germany

Edward William Elgar (1857-1934)

Sursum Corda, op. 11 (Transkription Edwin H. Lemare ) | 08:15 min | Martin Kondziella, Germany

A large playlist is additionally available on Concert Hall-Website: (Search: 1925 G.F. Steinmeyer)

More Information, Media and Weblinks

Web Site Ss. Corpus Christi Berlin

Media:

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