Back to Europe: The Silbermann Museum in Frauenstein

I return to the north European odyssey where I left off, following organ-builder Gottfried Silbermann in Saxony.

Gottfried Silbermann was born in Kleinbobritzsch, a hamlet not far from Frauenstein, where he had his first workshop in 1710-1711. On 30th May 2008 I drove the 20km from Freiberg to see the Silbermann museum, which is in the Schloss Frauenstein, an elegant old chateau in the village; the town's museum is housed in the same building. Frauenstein is a pretty little place with a large open square and a church in the centre. It is a bit of a Sleepy Hollow, as I found when I tried to get some coffee and cake -- most of the shops and cafès opened at about 11 to 12 o'clock, and there weren't many visitors around.

The museum attendant was thrilled to have a visitor from Zud Afrika, and couldn't do enough for me; she gave me a brochure and a lot of information, and allowed me to take photos with flash, which most museums don't allow. There are some fascinating models of organ-builders' workshops, and a toolkit. A scale model of an organ mechanism, made by a Dresden firm, shows the internal workings of a traditional organ. In one corner was a beautifully-crafted model organ with wooden pipes, made by a local hobbyist.

18th Century Organ Workshop

Wood model organ

There is a small original Silbermann organ in the museum, where regular recitals are given. As you can see, it has been lovingly restored and must be a joy to hear.

There are many original or restored Silbermann organs around this part of Saxony, every village church seems have one, and a couple of elegant ones in Castles or Schlosses that are carefully maintained. A set of seven CD's of Silbermann organ recordings are available from the Braruque Music website (http://www.baroquemusic.org/): look under the Baroque Music Club link, they are (or were) obtainable for $14.95 post-free. I can recommend the volume of Trio Sonatas for starters.

Silbermann left Frauenstein to work in Freiberg from 1711-1714; his studio, or workshop, was at Schossplatz 6 (Castle square), in a building which now houses a bank and the Gottfried-Sibermann-Gsellschaft e.V, or Gottfried Silbermann Registered Society.

At some stage he moved to Dresden, and was appointed "Honorary Court and State Organ Builder" by Elector Frederick Augustus of Saxony. In Dresden he concluded a contract for the organ of the Catholic Hofkirche (Court Church), assisted by one Hildebandt. During the years 1710-1753 forty-six organs were built in Silbermann's studio, along with harpsichords, fortepianos and clavichords*.

There were a lot of organ-builders around Saxony, centred on Dresden; some of them old family businesses dating from the 18th & 19th centuries. They were taken over by the state under the DDR communist regime, but sold back to the original families after reunification. The firm of Jehmlich Orgelbau is still extant.

*Reference: Gottfried Silbermann in Saxony ; Gottfried-Silbermann-Gesellschaft, Freiberg.