Organ Art Media 1761-2005 Johann Andreas Silbermann Metzler Organ Arlesheim Cathedral Baselland Switzerland

The French style organ of Arlesheim – the only Silbermann instrument remaining in Switzerland – currently comprises 36 stops, divided over three manuals (Great, Choir, Echo) and Pedal. German influences include the full compass 16-foot Pedal and certain stops such as the Sifflet 1‘.

Silbermann‘s later works, which include this instrument, have Mixtures with a higher composition causing them to sound brighter and sharper. J. A. Silbermann expanded the concept of the French half-compass Echo division to include the full compass by adding a Fagott 8‘ to the bass along with a Prestant, Nazard and Doublette. The treble is comprised of a Cornet composé.

A landmark restoration and reconstruction of the instrument, along with additions to the Pedal division, took place in 1959-1962 by the Swiss Metzler company. Additional work followed in 1981-2005.

The Arlesheim organ is currently considered the most important work of Johann Andreas Silbermann and allows the interpretation of  most Baroque and early Romantic organ literature.

This famous organ is especially well-known by the complete Bach recordings of Lionel Rogg/CH in 1970.
The church has a wonderful warm and rich acoustics with up to 5 s reverberation.

See Location in Googlemaps

Recording technique

The organ was recorded in May 2008 with 48 kHz, 24 bit, multi-channel for Hauptwerk 3, using the multi-release technique introduced by OrganArt.
The stops were recorded with multiple releases for short, medium and long key attacks for optimal acoustical mapping.
All ranks were additionally recorded with the original tremulant sound (except Bourdon16, Fourniture and Cymbale)

Organ Temperament: Vallotti temperament, a1= 415 Hz  ("Italian chamber tone")

Positif (C–c3)*

01. Bourdon 8
02. Prestant 4
03. Flûte 4
04. Nazard 2 2/3
05. Doublette 2
06. Tierce 1 3/5
07. Larigot 1 1/3 (M)
08. Fourniture 3fach  (M)
09. Cromorne 8'  (M)

Hauptwerk (C–e3)*

01. Bourdon 16
02. Montre 8
03. Bourdon 8
04. Prestant 4
05. Nazard 2 2/3
06. Doublette 2
07. Tierce 1 3/5
08. Sifflet 1
09. Fourniture 3fach  (M)
10. Cymbale 2fach  (M)
11. Cornet 5fach **
12. Trompette 8 (M,W)
13. Voix humaine 8  (M)

** Cornet: c1- c3

Récit/Echo (C–c3)*

01. Bourdon 8
02. Prestant 4
03. Nazard 2 2/3
04. Doublette 2 (M)
05. Tierce 1 3/5 (c1)  (M)
06. Basson/Trompette 8  (W,M)

Pedal (C–d1)*

01. Subbass 16
02. Octavbass 8
03. Quinte 5 1/3  (M)
04. Prestant 4  (M)
05. Fourniture 3fach (M)
06. Bombarde 16 (M)
07. Trompette 8  (M)
08. Clairon 4  (M)

Couplers

RP-HW
HW-P

Accessories

Tremulant Hauptwerk + Echo
Tremulant Positif

* Extended Mode:
Manuals C–f3
Pedal C–f1

Pipework original by Johann Andreas Silbermann, except
M) Metzler 1962
W) Wegmann/Alsace 1840

Blower System
Two one-fold wedge bellows (Edskes 1998), electric blower
Wind pressure: 66 mm