Van Hagerbeer organ
The Pieterskerk has always been the setting for music. In the Middle Ages, choir activity flourished and high quality organ music was played. The earliest history is still unclear but we know that around 1446, a large organ was built against the west wall by an unknown builder. It is unique that a number of the pipes from this organ still exist; these pipes are therefore among the oldest pipes in the world that can still be heard.
After the collapse of the tower in 1512, the organ was renovated in 1518 by the famous Jan van Covelen. It consisted of three manuals and most likely one or two pedal registers. It is unclear as to if Van Covelen left the existing organ case unchanged.
In any case, the case and especially the Rugpositief was intensively renovated in 1541 and a new sofiet, the network under the Rugpositief, was also added. The Renaissance appearance that was given to the Rugwerk then may still be seen today.
Spurred on by the new idea of using organs to accompany congregational singing, the mayors of Leiden commissioned Galtus and Germer van Hagerbeer, the most famous organ makers of that time, to completely renovate the organ in 1638. The renovation took place between 1639 and 1643.
First, a new main case was built by the city architect Arent van 's-Gravensande. The impressive organ case is a 24-foot work (the length of the longest pipe) like the organs in Alkmaar and 's-Hertogenbosch. It was built in the main classical style of the Dutch Golden Age, with shutters on both the Great Organ and the Rugpositief.
The Van Hagerbeer brothers built an organ with many solo registers; in those days, the Vox Humana and the Sesquialtera were especially popular. The instrument must have been very powerful as it had both a Mixtuur, and a Groot Scherp and a small Scherp. For this renovation, the builders used many of the old pipes. Due to continuing changes in taste and musical appreciation, the organ was not preserved in its original state.
Until 1800, the modifications were limited in nature and degree but after that, the organ became increasingly austere in colour and sound. It started when the shutters were sold in 1807. The most drastic alterations, however, were the ones made by the Lohman brothers in 1843-1846. They adapted the colour of the sound and composition to the Romantic symphony orchestra. The entire internal structure was changed. The number of pipes was increased to approximately 3500. Most of the lades (which supply air to the pipes) were renewed. Also, the Hoofdwerk lades of the Great Organ were now positioned along the longitudinal axis of the church, which had an unfavourable effect on the sound. The Lohman brothers also built a pedal according to the views of that time and replaced a number of stops.
It is a fortunate that these organ makers, despite their not very successful changes, did preserve most of the old pipes.
Between 1943 and 1946, exactly one hundred years later, a thorough restoration was carried out by G. van Leeuwen. The historical pipes were preserved but again, the organ was drastically modified to adapt the sound to the then-current ideals. The mechanical system was expanded by using pneumatics and Barker levers.
Between 1994 and 1998, another large-scale restoration took place, done by the Verschueren firm in Heythuysen. Without compromises, the organ was brought back to its original 17th century condition. Thus, this is the only remaining 17th century Dutch town organ, a unique instrument and ideal for performing the organ music of its past.
The Pieterskerk has an organ blowers guild especially for the Van Hagerbeer organ.
Restoration and paintwork of the Van Hagerbeer organ
Disposition of the Van Hagerbeer organ after restoration
For performance of music from later centuries the Pieterskerk has the Thomas Hill organ.
