Heinrich Andreas Contius

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Heinrich Andreas Contius, also Cuntius (1708 – 1795 in Valmiera, Livonia) is considered the most important organ builder in the Baltic States in the 18th century.[1]

Life[]

Contius was born in 1708 as the son of the organ builder in Halle an der Saale, Duchy of Magdeburg. In 1732 he is recorded as a journeyman of Joachim Wagner.[2] He initially had his own workshop in Altenburg. From 1736/37, Contius worked in Halle and the surrounding area. From 1748, a letter of recommendation from Johann Sebastian Bach in his favour for the planned new organ building in the  [de] is known, then a letter to Contius himself.[3][4] Den Auftrag erhielt er aber nicht.

In 1760, Contius moved to Riga in Courland, where he built an organ for the St. James's Cathedral, Riga.[5] He then worked in Tallinn in Estonia and became the leading organ builder there. In 1771, he returned to Riga and in 1773 was commissioned to build a in the great Holy Trinity Cathedral, Liepāja (Libau), which was completed in 1779.[5] In Valmiera, Contius opened a workshop together with (1752-1821) from Augsburg, who subsequently built further organs in Courland (1787 Cēsis, St. Johannis, 1788 Evele Wohlfahrtskirche).[6]

Works (selection)[]

Contius is known to have built several new organs, as well as repairs and a maintenance contract in the Duchy of Magdeburg, Courland and Estonia. Preserved are most of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Liepāja, as well as the casing in the St. James's Cathedral in Riga. A replica of the organ in Libau has been under construction since 2016 in Leuven, Belgium.

Year Location Church Picture Manual Casing Notes
1739 Halle (Saale) St. Ulrich Renovation of the organ
1743 Halle (Saale) II/P 22 New building.[7]
1750  [de] Annenkirche II/P 22 New building
1751 Wallwitz New building
1759 Merseburg St. Maximi Stop for repair with 120 Taler, not executed
1762 (?) Merseburg Cathedral Supervision and maintenance of the castle and cathedral organ.[8]
1760–1763 Riga, Kurland St. James's Cathedral
BM07192ABCDm.jpg
 II/P 25 Casing preserved, Neubau
1768 Tallinn, Estland St. Nicholas Church III Renovation of the organ from 1668
1773–1779 Liepāja Holy Trinity Cathedral
Baltu vienības dienas pasākumi Liepājā (29269903313).jpg
 II/P 38 New construction in facade and with parts of the organ by Johann Heinrich Joachim from about 1750, extended several times, lastly by in 1885 to become the largest organ in the world at that time, with IV/P, 131; preserved. → Organ of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Liepāja[9] seit 2016 Replik in in Leuven (Belgien).[10]
1780 Valmiera, Livland St. Simonis
1783 Riga II/P 14 New construction, not preserved

References[]

  1. ^ Alexander Fiseisky: Die Geschichte der Orgel und der Orgelmusik in Estland. In  [de], 29, 2006, 11–32.
  2. ^ Uwe Pape (ed.): Lexikon norddeutscher Orgelbauer. Vol. 1: Thüringen und Umgebung. 2009. p. 45.
  3. ^ Werner Neumann: Schriftstücke von der Hand Johann Sebastian Bachs. Vol. 2. Bärenreiter, Kassel 2012. p. 51, führt den undatierten Brief an Contius an
  4. ^ Christoph Wolff, Markus Zepf (2006). Die Orgeln J. S. Bachs. Ein Handbuch. Leipzig: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt. pp. ~XXV. ISBN 3-374-02407-6. (englisch The Organs of J. S. Bach. A Handbook. University of Illinois Press, 2012 S. XXV) Brief vom 12. Januar 1748 erwähnt
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Imants Lancmanis: Libau. Eine baltische Hafenstadt zwischen Barock und Klassizismus. Böhlau, Cologne 2007, ISBN 978-3-412-02806-0, p. 63.
  6. ^ Alexander Fiseisky: Die Geschichte der Orgel in Lettland. In Acta Organologica, 28, 2004. pp. 11–36. Summary
  7. ^ Holger Brülls / Thomas Dietzsch (2000). Dietrich Reimer Verlag (ed.). Architekturführer Halle an der Saale. Berlin. ISBN 3-496-01202-1.
  8. ^ Holger Brülls: Ladegast-Orgeln in Sachsen-Anhalt. Imhof, Petersberg 2005, ISBN 3-86568-020-8, p. 215.
  9. ^ Orgel Trisvienibasfonds.lv (deutsch)
  10. ^ Informationen Contiusfoundation, 2016 (Dutch, Englisch, French)

Further reading[]

  • Alexander Fiseisky: Die Geschichte der Orgel und der Orgelmusik in Estland. In  [de], 29, 2006, 11–32.
  • Alexander Fiselsky: Die Geschichte der Orgel in Lettland. In Acta Organologica, 28, 2004. pp. 11–36. Zusammenfassung
  • Elita Grosmane (2003). Lars Olof Larsson (ed.). Die Tätigkeit des Orgelbauers Heinrich Andreas Contius in Deutschland und Lettland. Studien zur Kunstgeschichte im Baltikum. Homburger Gespräche 1999–2001. Kiel. pp. 43–63.
  • Uwe Pape, ed. (2009). Lexikon norddeutscher Orgelbauer. Band 1: Thüringen und Umgebung. Berlin: Pape Verlag. ISBN 978-3-921140-86-4.
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