Unique 18th Century Pipe Organs to Be Unveiled at the Archabbey of Pannonhalma

According to the Archabbey, the two restored baroque pipe organs will be presented to the public for the first time on May 18, writes Magyar Nemzet. One is the Zorkovský organ from the 1710s, which returned to the monastery a few weeks ago after restoration. The other one is the Corte organ, a few decades younger, dating from the 1770s, and was transported back to Pannonhalma (northwestern Hungary) yesterday.

The two instruments will be joined by the Podkonický organ, also from the 18th century, restored in 2022, and will be played at the concert on May 18. The centuries-old instruments are also special because of their sound, all three having been reconstructed as their original builder had envisioned them, bringing the Baroque sound of the period to life.

The press release quotes Konrád Dejcsics, cultural director of the Pannonhalma Archabbey, as saying that

it is a curiosity that three baroque pipe organs from the 18th century can be found in one place.

The cultural director described the unique fact that the three instruments can be played in a condition very similar to the original.

On May 18, the instruments will come to life under the hands of organist and international organ expert Dávid Homolya and organist Attila Vadász.

The concert will feature rarely played 17th century works, with a contemporary piece hidden among them.

According to Dávid Homolya, the Zorkovský organ is one of the oldest pipe organs in Hungary today. He added that the Podkonický one from around the 1750s is also a rare instrument in the country, and both come from Slovakia. He noted that most of the surviving instruments of similar age in Hungary are either from Slovakia or Transylvania in Romania. Slovakia is closer to Pannonhalma than Transylvania, which is why the two instruments may have been brought to the collection of the Archabbey from there.

According to Homolya, although all three instruments are small in size, they are of outstanding value both in terms of instrument history and music. They evoke and bring back the sound of 200-300 years ago with their historical authenticity.

The concert starts at 7 pm on May 18.

Via Világgazdaság; Featured image via Facebook/Országos Széchényi Könyvtár