Why a new “old” organ for Haug church?

The year was 1622, a ship with a new organ from the Netherlands arrived in Stavanger. The master organ builder Albert Kiespenning himself came to Stavanger to construct the new organ. It stood in the cathedral until 1856 but was then considered “outdated” and unfortunately replaced. Kiespenning constructed more organs, and the sister-organ from Stavanger is still in use in Wijk bij Duurstede (NL) – a pearl without the likes of which can let us play older music authentically. All the organs from this period have been replaced in Norway, and we do not have anything left from this period in any of our churches.

With time, a new Dutchman came into the picture. In October 1997, Abram Bezuijen was hired as cantor/organist in Haugh church in Hokksund. There was a precarious need for a newer and larger organ in Eiker’s main church, and Abram would be the instigator for the organ project. The new organ was assembled in 2004, built by the German Jürgen Ahrend, with a tonal scheme and construction method from the 18th century. This organ is a privilege for many, and the instrument is in use almost daily for both church use and practice for concerts. Since 2004, many concerts have been held, as well as master classes in conjunction with Norway’s Music University, with professors both foreign and domestic. To be able to play music with a “timely” soundscape (sound appropriate to the time) is important in understanding the music.

Already in 2004 there was talk of an additional organ, but the time wasn’t ripe just yet. The time has now come to realize this project, to build an organ with the sound based upon the early 17th century tuning. In other words, the sound which had enriched the Stavanger cathedral for over two-hundred years and has since been absent for the last 150 years, can once again be experienced in Norway.

Why Hokksund? Haug church and Øvre Eiker found their place on the organ map in 2004, and since then organists/ organ professors from among others Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Russia, England, Japan and Korea have held concerts here. Additionally, all Norwegian cathedral organists have held concerts here. Aside from concerts and the education of new generations of organists, this new organ will be used in both church services and other religious events. It will be quite unique for Norway and Østlandet to have such an instrument available. We have received warm recommendations from some of the foremost teachers at Norway’s Music University.

Such an instrument costs approximately 300,000 Euro. This includes the instrument itself, painting of the organ font, goldleaf on the decorative woodcarving, transportation, as well as the room and board during construction.

Our neighbor to the east, Sweden, has an organ from 1604 which is preserved in Morlanda church, and they have also invested in new “17th century organs” in, for example, Haga church and Örgryte New church in Gothenburg. Denmark has, among others, Compenius organ from 1610 in Frederiksborg castle church as well as the Raphaëlis organ in Roskilde cathedral, where the Rückspositiv is from 1554.

We believe it would be an enrichment of experiencing music from the 17th century as well here in Norway and in Hokksund, and this will definitely put Hokksund on the map.