INTRODUCTION

The organ is arguably the most complex, most expensive, and therefore longest-lasting of all musical instruments. Many church organs are several centuries old and are still played on a daily or weekly basis. They stand as remarkable examples of the ideal sound of bygone eras and of the craftsmanship of local masters. Before industrialisation, communities rarely commissioned organs from distant places, as communication and transportation were far more difficult. As a result, the organs within a given region typically bore the distinctive mark of a single master craftsman.

The architectural style of organs in different regions was also strongly influenced by the migration of organ builders. In Transylvania, for instance, several masters from present-day Austria or Slovakia settled and left their artistic imprint.

Research into the history of organs in Romania remains in its early stages, and no complete inventory of the country’s organs has yet been compiled. Approximately ninety-five percent of the more than 1,000 known instruments are located in the Transylvanian, Crișana, and Banat regions.

Most were built before 1945 and are now listed as historical monuments. However, the value of many is at risk due to damage and inappropriate interventions (repairs, modifications), a common problem in Eastern Europe. In many cases, the identity of an organ’s builder remains unknown, and even when the master is identified, often little is known about their life and work.

Erich Türk