Dirk Andries Flentrop
Encyclopedia
Dirk Andries Flentrop was a Dutch organ builder. He built or restored many major organs in the United States and in Europe. He was noted for his 1977 restoration of two organs from the 17th and 18th centuries in the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
.
in 1903, and Dirk Flentrop learnt the art of organ building in his father's workshop and at the firm of Frobenius
in Denmark.
He shared his father's interest in classical organ design, assisting in restoration of old organs, and decided to devote his career to construction and renovation of organs built following these principles.
He became involved in the Organ Reform Movement
at an early age.
In 1927 he gave a lecture to the Dutch Organist Society in which he advocated tracker action, slider chests, and the Rugpositief.
Dirk Flentrop assumed direction of the family firm in 1940.
This company, which is known throughout the world, operates in Europe, the United States and South America and now also sells organs to Taiwan and Japan.
To honor his achievements, in 1968 Flentrop was awarded an honorary doctorate in musicology by the American Oberlin College
, Ohio
for his "pioneering work in classic organ building".
Later he received another honorary degree from Duke University
in North Carolina
.
In 1982 he was the subject of a book written by the American organist John T. Fesperman
.
Flentrop died at the age of 93 at his home in Santpoort-Zuid
.
Between 1953 and 1955 Flentrop undertook a major reconstruction on the 1721 Schnitger organ of the "Grote of St. Michaelskerk" in Zwolle
, Netherlands in an effort to restore the organ to its original quality. He returned to this task later, with new information about restoration of classical organs, making a series of adjustments over a period of two decades.
Flentrop had an important influence on American organ building in the classical style.
His first tracker-action pipe organ in America was ordered by the Anglo-American virtuoso organist E. Power Biggs
and installed in the Busch-Reinsinger Museum at Harvard University
in 1958. That organ (III/27) was then heard numerous times in recitals, recordings and radio broadcasts.
The tracker-action pipe organ at First Congregational Church, Branford, Connecticut
, installed in 1969, is one of the largest organs in the northeast United States with more than 3400 pipes.
The organ's design follows classical 17th and 18th century organ building principles.
Flentrop designed the 5,000-pipe organ in the Duke University chapel, based on a classically designed 18th century organ. The organ was built in Holland of solid wood, using electricity only to power the blower, and was played there before being dismantled and shipped to the United States. It was first officially played there on Christmas Day, 1976.
His company built the pipe organ in Messiah Lutheran Church in Germantown, Maryland, dedicated on 21 April 1991.
The organ is encased in French Oak, with cedar and mahogany used for some of the interior mechanical parts.
The organ uses electricity only to supply air, with the keyboards mechanically connected to the pipes.
Apart from its excellent acoustical qualities, the instrument is a fine example of woodworking and cabinet making.
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary of Mexico City is the largest and oldest cathedral in the Americas and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. It is situated atop the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la...
.
Life
Flentrop was born in Zaandam on 1 May 1903. His father Hendrik Wichert Flentrop (1866–1950) founded the Zaandam organ building company Flentrop OrgelbouwFlentrop
Flentrop is a Dutch company based in Zaandam that builds and restores organs.-History:It was established in 1903 by Hendrik Wicher Flentrop from Koog aan de Zaan. Hendrik, originally a house painter by trade, was an organist at the church at Zaandam, and started a piano - and organ trade...
in 1903, and Dirk Flentrop learnt the art of organ building in his father's workshop and at the firm of Frobenius
Frobenius Orgelbyggeri
-History:Frobenius Orgelbyggeri was founded in Copenhagen by Theodor Frobenius in 1909. The firm moved to Lyngby in 1925. Theodor's sons Walther and Erik joined the company in 1944, at the same time that they began to build organs in the classical tradition, with mechanical actions and slider...
in Denmark.
He shared his father's interest in classical organ design, assisting in restoration of old organs, and decided to devote his career to construction and renovation of organs built following these principles.
He became involved in the Organ Reform Movement
Organ reform movement
The Organ Reform Movement or Orgelbewegung was an early 20th century trend in pipe organ building, originating in Germany and already influential in the United States in the 1940s, waning only in the 1980s...
at an early age.
In 1927 he gave a lecture to the Dutch Organist Society in which he advocated tracker action, slider chests, and the Rugpositief.
Dirk Flentrop assumed direction of the family firm in 1940.
This company, which is known throughout the world, operates in Europe, the United States and South America and now also sells organs to Taiwan and Japan.
To honor his achievements, in 1968 Flentrop was awarded an honorary doctorate in musicology by the American Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
for his "pioneering work in classic organ building".
Later he received another honorary degree from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
In 1982 he was the subject of a book written by the American organist John T. Fesperman
John T. Fesperman
John T. Fesperman was an American conductor, organist and author of several books on organs....
.
Flentrop died at the age of 93 at his home in Santpoort-Zuid
Santpoort-Zuid
Santpoort-Zuid is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Velsen, and lies to the west of North-Haarlem . Santpoort-Zuid is bordered by the village of Bloemendaal to the south and the village of Santpoort-Noord to the north. There is a railway station...
.
Work
Flentrop was responsible for more than 250 new instruments, and over 100 restorations, typically showing unusual respect for existing material.Between 1953 and 1955 Flentrop undertook a major reconstruction on the 1721 Schnitger organ of the "Grote of St. Michaelskerk" in Zwolle
Zwolle
Zwolle is a municipality and the capital city of the province of Overijssel, Netherlands, 120 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam. Zwolle has about 120,000 citizens.-History:...
, Netherlands in an effort to restore the organ to its original quality. He returned to this task later, with new information about restoration of classical organs, making a series of adjustments over a period of two decades.
Flentrop had an important influence on American organ building in the classical style.
His first tracker-action pipe organ in America was ordered by the Anglo-American virtuoso organist E. Power Biggs
E. Power Biggs
Edward George Power Biggs , more familiarly known as E. Power Biggs, was a British-born American concert organist and recording artist.-Biography:...
and installed in the Busch-Reinsinger Museum at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1958. That organ (III/27) was then heard numerous times in recitals, recordings and radio broadcasts.
The tracker-action pipe organ at First Congregational Church, Branford, Connecticut
Branford, Connecticut
-Landmarks and attractions:Branford has six historic districts that are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places . These include buildings in Federal, Arts and Crafts, and Queen Anne styles of architecture...
, installed in 1969, is one of the largest organs in the northeast United States with more than 3400 pipes.
The organ's design follows classical 17th and 18th century organ building principles.
Flentrop designed the 5,000-pipe organ in the Duke University chapel, based on a classically designed 18th century organ. The organ was built in Holland of solid wood, using electricity only to power the blower, and was played there before being dismantled and shipped to the United States. It was first officially played there on Christmas Day, 1976.
His company built the pipe organ in Messiah Lutheran Church in Germantown, Maryland, dedicated on 21 April 1991.
The organ is encased in French Oak, with cedar and mahogany used for some of the interior mechanical parts.
The organ uses electricity only to supply air, with the keyboards mechanically connected to the pipes.
Apart from its excellent acoustical qualities, the instrument is a fine example of woodworking and cabinet making.
External links
- Harvard Organs The Flentrop «Biggs» organ (1958) at Harvard University.