Choir organ of Litomerice Cathedral

The **choir organ** of the **Katedrála sv. Štěpána** *(St. Stephen's Cathedral)* in Litoměřice is a historic early Renaissance organ and is the second oldest organ in the Czech Republic. Most likely built by David Däcker from the years 1624 to 1627 for the Kostel sv. Bartolomej in Doksy, the instrument was well maintained for multiple years until the communist Czechoslovak era, when vandals almost completely destroyed the instrument with the exception of a few pipes. Vladimír Šlajch restored it in 1994. It bears one manual and 11 stops, with 13 ranks and a permanently coupled pedalboard.

## History

### Doksy

A contract was signed in the 1620s between the administration of the Kostel sv. Bartolomej in Doksy (northeast of Prague) and an unknown builder (most likely David Däcker) for building an organ for the newly-constructed church. A single-manual instrument with a permanently coupled pedalboard was the subject of the contract.

In 1624, the construction of the instrument was started, and it finished in 1627, and was consecrated.

### Kruh

In 1787, a contract was signed for a new organ in Doksy and the parishioners were forced to bid farewell to their 200-year old organ. It was sold to the church of the nearby town of Kruh.

The 19th century greatly contributed to the organ and was thoroughly maintained, and an Octavbass 8' was added. It suffered no Romantic modifications (even during the 20th century). However, the citizens of the village were expelled due to their German origins (this was shortly after the Second World War), and as a result the organ and church started decaying a lot. The organ and the church were heavily vandalised and suffered huge damage. Almost the entire inventory of pipework was depleted (this was during the Czechoslovak era, communism).

### Return to Doksy

In 1994, organbuilder Vladimír Šlajch took notice of the deplorable state of the instrument and restored it, however not reconstructing its Octavbass 8' due to it being a later addition. Due to the disrepair of the Kruh Church, it was moved back to Doksy, where it was maintained for many years until 2016, when the church failed to keep the instrument in a good condition, instead maintaining their Rieger organ (op. 2533, 1932) which replaced its old Baroque organ. It functioned as a choir organ.

The organ was recorded by Jiri Zurek of the Sonus paradisi project for the Hauptwerk software during this period.

### Litomerice

The organ was moved to its current home in 2016 and functions as a choir organ. It replaced a 19th-century Rieger organ (I/P/8). As of 2021 it is in a bad condition and urgently needs restoration. It is located in the transept on a balcony.

## Description

The organ is perhaps the only surviving work of the early Czech builder David Däcker. It is also the second oldest organ in the Czech Republic (the oldest is in the Holy Trinity church in Smecno) and is the oldest in Bohemia. It is a renaissance organ, the reason of which being that the ideals of the organ are that of which are in the Czech Renaissance; even though this was built during the early Baroque era.

The organ case, with three towers symbolising the holy trinity immediately draws attention to its decorated façade pipes which belong to the bass of the Prinzipal 4' and the wooden case ornaments. In front of the Prinzipal is the *Regal* 8' which stands on its own windchest. All of the pipes are made of tin, and its voicing is generally very gentle (with the exception of the Regal). In the manual (which bears a short octave, same with the pedals), a chiffy *Copl* 8' (a gedackt) opens the disposition, which is stopped; followed by the *Prinzipal* (its basis) and a *Spitzflet* - which is also stopped. Immediately drawing attention are the 2 3' stops, a Quinta (tuned in a different temperament and presumably stopped) and a Nassat, both 8' harmonics.

Moving towards the aliquots, an *Octav* 2' is present. Next is a 1 1/2' which is a 4' harmonic. A bright 3-rank *Mixtur* (without tierces) is present.

Most famously, a snarling *Regal* stands on its own windchest on high pressure. The pedalboard does not couple to this stop (even if it is drawn).

The permanently coupled pedalboard has a wide 21-note compass up til c', for Cantus firmus purposes. Two high-pitched flute-aliquots, a *Bauernflet* 2' (Waldflöte) and *Sedecima* 1' (Sifflöte) exist for this purpose. A strong and fast tremulant affects the entire instrument.

The manual keyboard has swapped-accidentals-and-naturals. Two columns of six stop knobs flank the music stand. The stop labels date from 1994; and it bears mechanical tracker action and slider chests. It is tuned to a' = 465hz and meantone temperament according to Praetorius.

## Disposition

### Manual (CDEFGA-c''')

1. Copl 8'
2. Spitzflet 4'
3. Prinzipal 4' (façade, partly original)
4. Quinta 3'
5. Nassat 3'
6. Octav 2'
7. Quinta minor 1 1/2'
8. Mixtur III (3 ranks) 1'
9. Regal 8'

### Pedal (perm. coupled) (CDEFGA-c')

1. Bauernflet 2'
2. Sedecima 1'

Tremolant

### Stop layout

1627 Däcker, Litomerice
4 Fuß
 OCTAVA
2 Fuß
 QUINTA
3 Fuß
 NASSAT
3 Fuß
 BAUERNFLET
2 Fuß
 TREMOLANT
1 Fuß

## Read more

* http://www.vladimirslajch.cz/varhany/zobraz\_projekty.php?id=Doksy
* https://www.sonusparadisi.cz/en/organs/discontinued-organ-models/doky-kruh.html
* http://varhany.nomi.cz/setkani/bor%202003/Text/doksy.htm
* http://www.vladimirslajch.cz/varhany/zobraz\_projekty.php?id=Litomerice\_Stepan