Particular Features of the Transylvanian Organ Landscape
Particular Features of the Transylvanian Organ Landscape

Summary/Abstract: The organ is one of the most complex and expensive instruments. In the pre-industrial era, organs were made mostly by local craftsmen. This is why so-called organ landscapes have distinctive regional identities. The present article presents the Transylvanian organ landscape with its particular features, referring especially to influences between the Transylvanian Saxon and the Szekler organ building traditions. Recent research done in Reformed and Unitarian churches and archives has generated some interesting data about the activity of several organ builders. By merging these novelties with already published material, the article aims to offer an updated perspective on life and work of several 19th century organ builders, namely Thomas Boltres, Dávid Serester, Martin Schwab, Sámuel Szőcs, Mózes Balázs, Andreas Eitel and Petrus Gottlieb Schneider. The article finishes by granting an outlook on future research, a brief review over the present condition of the instruments as well as information about contemporary local organ builder’s activities regarding the construction of new instruments.

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