Pipe organs are musical and technical wonders with a long and rich history, and have been an important part of church and secular musical life for centuries. The collection of archival material on historic organs is crucial to understanding the technical and musical aspects of these instruments. It gives us an insight into the past, understanding developments and changes over time.
In our research on pipe organs, we seek to acquire archival material, including old photographs, written material, plans, records of maintenance and repair, and historical information about each instrument and its builders. This allows us to study the unique characteristics of the instrument, the evolution of its design and manufacture, modifications, additions, and usage over time. We are interested in the tools used in the past and the techniques used to make them. The information gathered will give us a better understanding of the circumstances of the organ’s creation and subsequent alterations, as well as the reasons for its eventual destruction.
In addition to the instrument itself, we want to gain insight into the lives of the organ masters and their families, colleagues, and other organ makers with whom they came into contact or from whom they studied. Their experiences, values, and perceptions, what was beautiful and sacred to them… old photographs and postcards, personal objects and letters, publications in old newspapers, civil registry documents, licenses, and documents from land registries provide evidence of all this.
For a very old organ, any intervention in the instrument is a challenging task. Archival materials such as plans, technical records, and photographs help restoration practitioners to accurately preserve the original style, sound, and techniques of building. Ultimately, archival material can be an inspiration for modern organ builders, as it can serve as a source of inspiration to revive old building techniques and stylistic elements in new creations.
Collecting archival material on historic organs requires precision, care, and cooperation between various institutions: public and private or family archives, churches, museums, other researchers, and local communities – we visit and establish contacts both in Slovenia and abroad. Modern information technologies also help us.
Preserving archival material allows us to ensure that history is not lost. Important information about the past and culture becomes available to the public, which is especially important for all researchers who want to obtain reliable and trustworthy data.