Dordrecht (Bach-orgel)

Based on this trip, the decision was made to choose the Silbermann organ in Freiberg as the tonal model and, regarding the technical structure and some registers not present in the Freiberg Dom organ, to align with the Silbermann organs of the St. Petrikirche in Freiberg (1735) and Dresden (Hofkirche). The latter organ also provided points of reference for converting the mensuration of the Freiberg dom organ from choir pitch to the desired chamber pitch. As for the keyboard, the Silbermann organ in Reinhardtsgrimma (1739) served as a model. The plan was also discussed with the two honorary advisors, Gustav Leonhardt and Ton Koopman. Their additional comments were gratefully incorporated.

In consultation with the church council of the Grote Kerk in Dordrecht, the Rijks Dienst Monumenten Zorg in Zeist, and the Monumenten department of the Municipality of Dordrecht, the choir of Mary was chosen as the location for the organ to be built, where the instrument would need to be installed on the ground floor in the choir enclosure. Initially, various types of organs were considered, but a stylistic replica of the work of a Saxon organ builder, either Gottfried Silbermann, especially his organ in the Dom in Freiberg (1714), or Zacharias Hildebrandt, was chosen. Since 2007, the instrument has been located in the choir of Mary in the Grote Kerk, offering a unique opportunity, together with the Kam organ, to perform a large part of the organ repertoire on organs suitable for this purpose within one space.