page_title: Orgelbau Vleugels
section_title: Works
hierarchical_section_title: Orgelbau Vleugels / Works
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Ansicht der Vleugels-Orgel in der Herz-Jesu-Kirche in Aschaffenburg
context_page_description: Orgelbau Vleugels is a pipe organ company producing organs in modern design and restoring historic instruments. The workshop is located in Hardheim, Germany. The owner is master pipe organ builder Hans-Georg Vleugels. The company has a history spanning over 150 years.
context_section_description: Initially, the majority of Hans Theodor Vleugels Organs were produced for the Southern German and Swedish markets. In addition to the production of instruments in accordance with classical principals, organ building in Hardheim stepped into new territories and established new accents in the field of organ building. Milestones include organs with electric action, the organ from Cologne-Gremberg, which set on a concrete mushroom shaped pedestal; a new smaller console (i.e. in Sinsheim III/36); and stops set on the side of the console which can be moved around (i.e. in Stuttgart-Möhringen III/37). Another highlight was the restoration of a decaying, but priceless baroque organ case (Walldürn, Basilika III/40). The positioning of a free-hanging organ in a steel frame, the use of Plexiglas for a swell box (expansion chamber), roller boards, and a transparent console were only a few of the features that often caused surprised and sometimes shocked reactions.
  In the 1970s the company returned to the use of solid local woods and thus greatly reduced the use of tropical woods and laminates. The use of electric actions was also reduced. In Assamstadt (III/28), the artistic side of the company was further developed with creative pipe placement and paintings.
  The 1980s followed with a specialization in the restoration sector. Ever since the end of the 1970s, restoring valve chest organs and pneumatic actions had become fashionable again. In the fight against timber worm and other natural enemies more environmental friendly and material safe techniques, such as gassing, were being used.
  Also in the 1980s, the company concentrated in voicing in the Southern German baroque style. This characteristic of the instruments was enhanced by restoring old baroque organ pipes. However, organs with a strong, "romantic"-like sound were also inherited.
  In 1988 the company moved to a larger and more modern workshop and prepared to change leadership. Positive developments under master organ builder Hans-Georg Vleugels (born in Stuttgart 1958) shaped organ building in Hardheim in the 1990s and into the 21st century:
  Restoration of the Europe's most important concert hall organs (Görlitz city hall, IV/71; Heidelberg city hall, IV/56; Prague Smetana Hall, III/70).
  Restoration of the electric action at the Voit organ in the Heidelberg city hall set new standards in restoration of pipe organs from that period.
  New construction of large modern organs modeled after the style of the 19th century. (Aschaffenburg Herz-Jesu Kirche, IV/63; Munich Bürgersaalkirche, III/50; Jülich Probsteikirche, III,45).
  New construction of southern German baroque style organs with historical cases (Würzburg chapel, II/31; Schäftlarn Benediktinerabtei, II/31).
  Ground breaking contemporary organ case design through the use of special materials (i.e. glass case for the chapel of the Munich airport) and colour (Kitzingen St. Johannes III/54, Runding St. Andreas II/36, Bad Tölz Franziskanerkloster II/35, Schifferstadt St. Jakobus III/45, Krefeld Alte Kirche III/42, Geigant St. Bartholomäus II/29).
  The restoration of several of the oldest organs in southern Germany: (Gaibach, Franken, Hl. Kreuzkapelle, Schleich/1699; Gaibach Pfarrkirche, Seuffert/1748; Mainz Budenheim, Kohlhaas/1747; Laumersheim, Pfalz, Hoffmann/1717; Sulzbach, Main, 1710; Bartenstein, Schloßkirche, 1717).
  Experience in restoration of the most famous pipe organs of the romantic period, built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll and E. F. Walcker Orgelbau
  The company currently operates out of a contemporary workshop and uses optimized work-processes consisting of modern machines and CAD. Employees in the design and construction departments produce designs with the latest 3D-software. Special construction techniques allows for quick disassembly in order to save expenses later on.
caption: Herz Jesu, Aschaffenburg
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