Mailbag: “Netherland highlights…”

April 29, 2013

Dear Michael,

I look forward to listening to the show every Sunday on my way to church. I love the music and the background info on the organs, composers, etc.
I am going to the Netherlands in the spring. Are there any organs there that are must see or better yet hear?

Thank you,

Peggy Ewing

Peggy,

The Netherlands is rich with marvelous pipe organs, and you can do a bit of research on our Tour page from 2007:

http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/events/tours/netherlands_2007/

Some absolute 'must see' instruments are:

Martinikerk in Groningen
http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/gallery/the_netherlands/groningen_martinikerk_schnitger.shtml 

the Bavo Church in Haarlem
http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/gallery/the_netherlands/haarlem_st-bavokerk_muller.shtml 

the Nieuwekerk and Oudekerk in Amsterdam
http://www.nieuwekerk.nl/en/#/en/dnka/interieur/orgels.htm 
http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/gallery/the_netherlands/amsterdam_oude-kerk_christian-muller.shtml 

and the Laurenskerk in Alkmaar
http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/gallery/the_netherlands/alkmaar_st-laurenskerk_schnitger.shtml 

You will find that organ concerts happen all the time, though because Dutch churches are largely unheated, some many not be programming recitals when you are traveling (depends on your dates)…this website should provide you with good information (note that the dates are listed in typical European fashion, with day-month-year:  http://www.hetorgel.nl/nagconcert.htm 

Though many old Dutch churches are no longer used for religious service, some are and it is worth attending a service to hear the organ used in that context, too.

Too bad you cannot join us in Switzerland in May…:  http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/tour/ 

Happy travels!

JMB

 

 

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