Peter Breisiger
Encyclopedia
Peter Breisiger was a German
organ
builder. He was active in the first half of the 16th century, worked in Germany
and the Low Countries
. Breisiger continued the progressive German tradition of the previous century (represented by Stephan Kaschendorf
, Heinrich Traxdorf
and others), which dealt away with the old Blockwerk organ by introducing separate divisions. He went further than that and invented several types of stops
(including some compound ones). He also authored a number of writings on registration, which are considered today the most important such instructions of the 16th century and are still consulted.
Places Breisiger worked at include the Cathedral of Trier
, St. Mary Assumption Parish Church (Liebfrauenkirche) in Andernach
, several churches (Liebfrauenkirche, Florinskirche, the Dominican church) in Koblenz
, the Dominican church in Maastricht
(where Breisiger's organ was probably studied by Heinrich Niehoff), the Tongeren Basilica (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Basiliek) and St. Amor Church in Munsterbilzen.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
builder. He was active in the first half of the 16th century, worked in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
. Breisiger continued the progressive German tradition of the previous century (represented by Stephan Kaschendorf
Stephan Kaschendorf
Stephan Kaschendorf was an early German organ builder. He was born in Wrocław and at first was an apprentice to a carpenter. He only learnt organ building later and it is not known who his teachers were...
, Heinrich Traxdorf
Heinrich Traxdorf
Heinrich Traxdorf was an early German organ builder. He was born in Mainz, probably in the beginning of the 15th century. During the 1440s he built three organs in Nuremberg and one in Salzburg, for St...
and others), which dealt away with the old Blockwerk organ by introducing separate divisions. He went further than that and invented several types of stops
Organ stop
An organ stop is a component of a pipe organ that admits pressurized air to a set of organ pipes. Its name comes from the fact that stops can be used selectively by the organist; some can be "on" , while others can be "off" .The term can also refer...
(including some compound ones). He also authored a number of writings on registration, which are considered today the most important such instructions of the 16th century and are still consulted.
Places Breisiger worked at include the Cathedral of Trier
Cathedral of Trier
The Cathedral of Saint Peter is a church in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the oldest cathedral in the country. The edifice is notable for its extremely long life span under multiple different eras each contributing some elements to its design, including the center of the main chapel...
, St. Mary Assumption Parish Church (Liebfrauenkirche) in Andernach
Andernach
Andernach is a town in the district of Mayen-Koblenz, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, of currently about 30,000 inhabitants. It is situated towards the end of the Neuwied basin on the left bank of the Rhine between the former tiny fishing village of Fornich in the north and the mouth of the...
, several churches (Liebfrauenkirche, Florinskirche, the Dominican church) in Koblenz
Koblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
, the Dominican church in Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
(where Breisiger's organ was probably studied by Heinrich Niehoff), the Tongeren Basilica (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Basiliek) and St. Amor Church in Munsterbilzen.