A Survey Attempt of the Organ Situation in Europe

[organforumadmin]

On the Publication of Reports Addressing the Organ Situation in All European Countries
Dr. Markus T. Funck
Situation in the Baltic States, Külli Erikson
Situation in Portugal, Prof. Dr. João Vaz
Situation in Belgium, Prof. Dr. Jean Ferrard



The Zurich Symposium focuses on the present and the future of the organ
in Europe. Since the situation of the organ as an instrument is determined
by numerous regional and local factors, it has been our intention to record
the actual condition in the different European countries with the national
reports. For this, many authors have been attracted to descibe the situation
in their countries. This has been done with a text touching a number
of questions : The equipment of the churches with organs, the organ making
and the practice of organ restoration, the translocation of organs,
the organ playing in general and the training of organists and their professional
prospects. Furthermore, the situation of the conservatories and
music academies has been recorded, the concert business described and
child and youth development issues questioned.
For some countries, statistical data – if available and/or determinable –
was compiled in a spreadsheet. The result is a national report brochure
about the current organ situation in Europe.

[organforumadmin]

In preparation for the Symposium 35 national organisations and private
individuals were asked to compile a report on the situation of the organ
in their country. These reports had two objectives: one, as a tabular survey
(at least for those countries where concrete numbers existed), the
other, as documentation on the organs in churches, organ building and
restoration practices, the translocation of organs, organ-playing in general
and the schooling of organists, as well as their future perspectives
in the profession. In addition, the university situation was taken into account,
the concert scene described and questions concerning the advancement
and support for organ instruction for children and teens discussed.
Individual national reports will be presented at the Symposium.


The following authors have made contributions for their countries:


Austria Prof. Mag. Dr. Wolfgang Kreuzhuber
Belgium Prof. Dr. Jean Ferrard
Bulgaria Prof. Ulrich Theißen
Croatia Mag. Art Zdenko Kuscer
Czechia Jan Dolezel, Adam Viktora
Denmark Prof. Bine Bryndorf, Ole Olesen
Estonia Külli Erikson, Alexander Eckert
France Dr. Kurt Luders
Germany Prof. Dr. Michael Gerhard Kaufmann,
KMD Prof. Dr. h.c. Christoph Bossert
Great Britain John Norman, Simon Williams
Hungary Balázs Szabo
Iceland Hörður Áskelsson
Ireland Prof. Dr. Gerard Gillen
Italy Vincenzo De Gregorio
Latvia Alvis Melbardis, Külli Erikson
Lithuania Rimantas Gučas
Luxembourg Laurent Felten
Montenegro Mag. Art Zdenko Kuscer
Norway Prof. Bjørn F. Boysen
Poland Krzysztof Urbaniak
Portugal Prof. Dr. João Vaz
Romania David Homolya
Russia Prof. Eugenia Krivitskaia
Serbia Mag. Art Zdenko Kuscer
Slovakia Prof. Dr. Jan Michalko
Slovenia Dr. Edo Skulj
Spain OBM Gerhard Grenzing
Sweden Niclas Fredriksson, Göran Grahn, Johan Norrback,
Henrik Tobin
Switzerland Dr. Bernhard Billeter, Dr. Marco Brandazza
The Netherlands Bert Wisgerhof
Ukraine Dmytro Tytenko

[David Pinnegar]

In writing a precis of these reports, I'd like to present the statistics of numbers of instruments also as a proportion of organs per head of population. Would anyone with the time be kind enough to look up and send to me antespam at googlemail.com or post here the population numbers of each of the countries above?

Many thanks

David P