Den Haag, Lutherse Kerk [Hauptwerk]

Den Haag, Lutherse Kerk Bätz Organ

The history of the organ in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in The Hague begins with an organ built by Johannes Wolfgang Schonat in 1648. This instrument was expanded by Appolonius Bosch in 1668. On July 23, 1723, Rudolf Garrels began moving the organ from the north to the south side of the church. He also enlarged the instrument and modified the organ case designed by Daniël Marot. This work was finished on September 4, 1724. The organ now had two manuals and attached pedal, with a total of 14 stops. In 1751 Johann Heinrich Hartmann Bätz was commissioned to build a new organ with two manuals and attached pedal and 23 stops using parts of the existing instrument. The Garrelscase was retained. The Bätz organ was completed on September 18, 1753.

Beginning in 1988, a restoration started in phases performed by Flentrop Orgelbouw in Zaandam. In 1988, both wind chests of the pedal were repaired, along with pipes of the Bourdon 16. In 1995, those of the Rugwerk were repaired and a new Sexquialter II st. was built by Flentrop according to Bätz's scaling.

A major restoration of all remaining unrepaired parts of the organ was carried out in the period June 2006 - September 2007. This restoration included the wind chests of Hoofdwerk, Bovenwerk and Zwelwerk, the wind supply, playing and stop action, keyboards, pipes, and organ case. The basis for this restoration was the organ's composition in 1762/1837, with preservation of the Zwelwerk from 1921. During the restoration, the three stops (Octaaf 4', Nasard 3' and Scherp) placed on the Bovenwerk in 1948 were removed. A Nasard 2 2/3' was made according to Bätz's scaling. The Octaaf 4' was placed on the Zwelwerk. Also, the Zwelwerk was expanded with a Basson-Hobo 8' that was constructed around the time the Zwelwerk was first built. The pneumatic action of the Zwelwerk was replaced by an electric action. The main tremulant was changed from a pneumatic variety to a classic tremulant, and the windpressure of the entire instrument was reduced to 87mm to be more similar to other Bätz organs.