Main Organ of the City Church, CH-Biel
A new organ is intended to add a fresh musical and spatial dimension to the Stadtkirche, a late-Gothic basilica. Four organ cases, abstract and slender vertical forms, stand asymmetrically on a unifying base. On the one hand, this emphasizes the vertical spatial effect of the nave and the asymmetry of the west wall. On the other hand, the design eschews historicizing elements and instead — through a sensitive use of stained oak and white gold — establishes a connection to the sacred surroundings. The window rose, which had previously been concealed, is now revealed and bathes the instrument in colored light.
The design combines the understated simplicity of modern aesthetics with the requirements and materials of traditional organ building. The tonal repertoire also seeks to create a synthesis of the past, present, and future. The stop layout and voicing will be based primarily on the Baroque tradition of J.S. Bach. However, to meet today’s demands for the greatest possible diversity in performance and teaching practice, the organ also features the most important stops for Romantic music. Looking toward the future, the organ includes, for the first time, a section with dynamic voicing, which will allow for the creation of entirely new sounds and effects.
