Arp Schnitger

Who was Arp Schnitger?

Arp Schnitger was a highly influential German organ builder. He was primarily active in Northern Europe, especially the Netherlands and Germany, where a number of his instruments survive to the present day; his organs can also be found as far away as Portugal and Brazil.

Notable examples still in use include the organ at St. Pancratiuskirche, Neuenfelde, Hamburg; St. Jacobikirche, Hamburg; St. Martinikerk, Groningen, the Netherlands; St. Ludgerikirche, Norden; St. Cosmae und Damianikirche, Stade; St. Peter und Paulkirche, Cappel; and St. Michaeliskerk, Zwolle, the Netherlands. Organs like this are credited with inspiring the renaissance in organ building during the early twentieth century, with a return to tracker action and smaller, more cohesive instruments, as distinct from the late-Romantic trend of extremely large symphonic organs. In particular, the organ at the Jacobikirche, Hamburg, played a pivotal role in the organ reform movement beginning in 1925, as a series of conferences taking place at historical organ sites in Germany and Alsace was inaugurated there.