Arp-Schnitger-Festival

The most important European organ builder of his time

Since 2010, the Musikfest Bremen has been celebrating the legacy of the legendary organ builder Arp Schnitger (1648–1719) by staging unique concerts in the organ paradise surrounding Bremen. From the outset, the focus has not only been on Schnitger’s work. On the one hand, we take a close look at his contemporaries, including organ builders such as Christian Vater, Erasmus Bielfeldt, and Dietrich Christoph Gloger, who also left behind beautiful organs with a magnificent sound. On the other hand, the concert series also explores groundbreaking foreign influences, such as those from the Netherlands or Italy, which were important for the development of the North German organ school. This year's repertoire once again focuses on Johann Sebastian Bach, who not only held Schnitger’s instruments in very high regard but whose organ music was also significantly influenced by the work of numerous North German masters. This interplay highlights Schnitger’s unique position as an organ builder and his importance for the further development of European organ culture, breathing new life into his legacy for a contemporary audience.