Jürgen Ahrend (; 28 April 1930 – 1 August 2024) was a German organbuilder and technician. He restored instruments such as the Gothic Rysum organ and the Arp Schnitger organs of the Martinikerk in Groningen, Netherlands, and of St. Jacobi in Hamburg as well as building organs of his own creation. He presided over his eponymous firm, Jürgen Ahrend Orgelbau in Leer, from 1972 to 2004, operating internationally.

Life and career

Early and personal life Ahrend was born in Treuenhagen, a village near Göttingen, on 28 April 1930. His father, Heinrich Ahrend, was an administrative employee by profession; however, he maintained a stringent passion for music, being a singer and choir director who also played various instruments. Following the destructive events of World War II, his mother Elisabeth became a single mother to her five children (including Jürgen). His first marriage was to Margarete Bartels; following their divorce, she married the Dutch organist Klaas Bolt. They had five children: two of them have taken up musical professions, Seivert and Heiko (musicians, composers, and music producers). His most famous child, Henrik (born 11 August 1963), is the current head of the organbuilding firm he founded.

Organbuilding and workshops From 1946 to 1948, he held an apprenticeship in the firm of , a Neo-Baroque organbuilding firm in Göttingen. He then worked for the firm as an employee. He undertook study travel with , who had also been an apprentice of Ott, to European organ builders, Metzler Orgelbau in Switzerland, Flentrop in the Netherlands and Marcussen & Søn in Denmark. The two formed a partnership in Leer–Loga, Lower Saxony in 1954, which they called Ahrend und Brunzema. They produced 54 new organs and restored nineteen, until Brunzema left the firm in 1972 to work in Canada. They restored the original tuning of organs from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, beginning with the , the and the Gothic Rysum organ. When they built a new organ in Baroque style for the Zorgvlietkerk in Scheveningen in 1958, they received international recognition. They built a new transept organ for the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam and a new organ for the Doopsgezinde Kerk in Haarlem, and restored instruments of the Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam and the Hooglandse Kerk in Leiden.

The workshop operated as Jürgen Ahrend Orgelbau from 1972. Ahrend was also commissioned to restore the organs and their tuning for the Arp Schnitger organs in the Martinikerk in Groningen (including the main organ in the west gallery), the organ of St. Jacobi in Hamburg and organ of St. Ludgeri in Norden. In Hamburg, the organ pipes had been removed from the organ case for safety in 1942. The church was destroyed by bombing. In the restored church, Ahrend used the historic pipes in a new case to revive the sound he had in mind.

Ahrend used several historic building techniques in his restoration work. He devoted about half of the workshop's time to restoration. He restored internationally, such as the organ of Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød and the Martinikerk. He was interviewed extensively in the film Martinikerk Rondeau, released in 2009.

Since 2005 his son Hendrik Ahrend has run the workshop. Jürgen Ahrend became involved in the organ festival Orgelfrühling in Krummhörn from its beginning. The 2020 edition was dedicated to him to honour his 90th birthday, but it could not be held until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahrend died in Leer, Lower Saxony, on 1 August 2024, at the age of 94.Zum Tod von Orgelbaumeister Jürgen Ahrend

Awards 1962, Staatspreis für Kunsthandwerk Niedersachsen (State Prize for Craftsmanship in Lower Saxony) 1986, Lower Saxony State Prize for culture 2000, Honorary doctorate of law from the Monash University, Victoria, Australia 2007, The Buxtehude Prize from the city of Lübeck.

Works Roman number = number of manuals Arabian number = number of stops P = independent pedal p = pull down pedal R = restoration Rc = reconstruction NB = new built

Ahrend & Brunzema (1954–1971)

year opus town church picture kind manuals stops information 1954/88 1 Larrelt (D) Larrelt church R I/p 11 1955 4 Westerhusen (D) R I/p 7 1957 9 Uttum (D) R I 9 1957 (1997) 10 Veldhausen (D) Altreformierte Kirche NB I (II/P) 6 (13) Organ in Veldhausen . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1959/2002 18 Scheveningen (NL) Zorgvlietkerk NB III/P 26 Organ in Scheveningen. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1961 25 Rysum (D) Rysum Church R I 7 organ 1961 27 Aurich (D) NB II/P 25 1962 29 Espel (NL) Ref. Church NB I 7 Organ in Espel . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1962 30 Bremen (D) St. Martini NB III/P 33 1963 34 Wassenaar (NL) Kivietkerk NB II/P 21 1965 41 Amsterdam (NL) Oude Kerk (transept organ) NB II/P 17 Organ in Amsterdam, Oude Kerk . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1965 43 Amsterdam (NL) Waalse Kerk R II/P 26 Organ in Amsterdam, Oude Waalse Kerk. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1965 40 Groningen (NL) Magnaliakerk NB II 13 Organ in Groningen, Magnaliakerk . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1965 42 The Hague (NL) Johanneskapel NB II/P 14 Organ in Den Haag, Johanneskapel. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1966 45 Bremen (D) Protestant Church Oberneuland NB II/P 22 Organ in Bremen-Oberneuland . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1967 49 Castrop-Rauxel (D) Johanneskirche Schwerin-Frohlinde NB III/P 27 1968 51 Aalten (NL) Gereformeerde Zuiderkerk NB II/P 16 Organ in Aalten . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1968 58 Haarlem (NL) Mennonite Church NB III/P 24 Organ in Haarlem, Mennonite Church . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1969 62 Hamburg (D) Reformed Church, Altona NB II/P 15 Organ in Hamburg-Altona. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1966/69/87 65 Marienhafe (D) Marienkirche R II/p 20 1970 68 Frankfurt am Main (D) Cantate Domino NB III/P 33 Organ in Frankfurt, Cantate Domino , p. 162f. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1970 69 Uelsen (D) Reformed Church NB II/P 20 Organ in Uelsen . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1970/76 70 Innsbruck (A) Hofkirche R II/p 15 1963–71 74 Leer (D) Große Kirche R III/P 37

Jürgen Ahrend (1972–2004)

year opus town church picture kind manuals stops information 1972 76 Eugene MarAbel B. Frohnmayer Music Building of the University of Oregon NB IV/P 38 Organ in Eugene . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1966–73 79 Ochtersum (D) R I/p 9 Organ in Ochtersum. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1972–75, 1993/94 81 Stade (D) St. Cosmae et Damiani R III/P 42 1974 83 Taizé (F) (now in Lyon) NB III/P 28 Organ in Taizé. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1975 84 Hamburg (D) Christengemeinschaft Johnsallee NB II/P 18 1975 90 Frankfurt am Main (D) NB II/P 18 1975 92 Sloten (NL) Reformed Church R II/p 16 Organ in Sloten. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1977 97 Duderstadt (D) NB III/P 28 1978 98 Edinburgh (GB) Reid Concert Hall NB II/P 21 1978 100 Joure (NL) Reformed Church NB III/P 27 Organ in Joure. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1979 103 Melbourne (AUS) Monash University NB IV/P 45 Organ in Melbourne. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1980 104 Leiden (NL) Hooglandse Kerk R II/P 24 Organ in Leiden. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1981 105 Toulouse (F) Musée des Augustins NB III/P 33 Organ in Toulouse. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1982/99 107 Lüdingworth (D) R III/P 35 Organ in Lüdingworth. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1978–83 108 Weener (D) R II/P 29 1976/77/83/84 111 Groningen Martinikerk R III/P 52 Organ in Groningen, Martinikerk. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1985 115 Porrentruy (CH) Lycée Cantonale NB II/P 30 Organ in Porrentruy . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1981–85 116 Norden (D) R III/P 46 organOrgan in Norden . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1985 118 Stellichte (D) Rc II/p 12 Organ in Stellichte. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1986 120 Tokyo (Japan) St. Gregory House NB II/p 13 1986/2007 121/178 Kantens (NL) Ref. Church R/Rc II/p 15 Organ in Kantens. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1986/87 127 Vienna (A) Michaelerkirche R III/P 40 Organ in Vienna . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1987–90 128 Stade (D) R III/P 40 Organ in Stadem St. Wilhadi . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1989 130 Tsukuba (Japan) Bach-Grove NB II/P 19 1989 131 Wetzlar (D) NB II/P 22 1990 134 Milan (I) San Simpliciano NB III/P 35 Organ in Milan. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1991 135 Pilsum (D) R II/p 16 1991 138 Zwettl (A) Zwettl Abbey R III/P 35 1990–93 139 Hamburg (D) St. Jacobi R IV/P 60 organ 1993 140 Payerne (CH) Payerne Priory Rk II/P 22 Organ in Payerne. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1993/94 143 Trondheim (N) Nidaros Cathedrale R II/P 30 Organ in Trondheim . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1994/95 144 Osteel (D) R II/p 13 1995 145 München (D) Deutsches Museum NB II/P 17 1997 147 Landshut (D) NB II/P 15 1997 149 Tokyo (Japan) Casals Hall, Nihon University NB III/P 41 Organ in Tokyo, Casals Hall. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1997 150 Stuttgart (D) Musikhochschule Stuttgart NB II/P 15 Organ in Stuttgart. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1998 151 Logabirum (D) NB I/P 10 Organ in Logabirum. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 1997/98 153 Dornum (D) R III/P 32 2000 157 Lübeck (D) Lübeck Cathedral (little organ) R I/p 10 Organ in Lübeck Cathedral . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2000 158 Kongsberg (N) Kongsberg Church R III/P 42 organOrgan in Kongsberg . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2001 159 Trebel (D) R II/P 19 Organ in Trebel . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2002 160 Leer (D) NB III/P 39 Organ in Leer, Lutherkirche. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2002 161 Köln (D) NB II/P 19 Organ in Köln, Ursulinenkirche , p. 10f. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2002/03 162 Wilten (A) R I/P 4 (10) Organ in Wilten . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2003/04 163 Altenbruch (D) R III/P 35 2004 164 Hokksund (N) Haug, Norway kirke NB II/P 22 Organ in Hokksund. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2004 165/183 Oldersum (D) NB II/P 16 Organ in Oldersum. Retrieved 5 December 2017.

Hendrik Ahrend (from 2005)

year opus town church picture kind manuals stops information 2005 170 Notre Dame/Indiana University of Notre Dame NB I 5 2005 171 Pernegg (A) R II/P 18 2006 172 Calgary (CA) University of Calgary NB II/P 21 Organ in Calgary . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2007 176 Herzogenaurach (D) NB II/P 26 Organ in Herzogenaurach . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2007 177 Vaison-la-Romaine (F) Vaison Cathedral NB II/P 20 Organ in Vaison-la-Romaine . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2007 178 Kantens (NL) Antoniuskerk Rk II/p 15 2007 179 Våler, Hedmark (N) Våler kirkelige fellesråd R I 8 Organ in Våler, Hedmark , p. 10. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2007/08 180 Leer (D) Catholic-Apostolic Church NB II/P 10 2009 187 Venice (I) Chiesa di San Salvador NB I 8 Organ in Venice . Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2009 188 Melle (D) R II/P 23 Organ in Melle. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2009 189 Königs Wusterhausen (D) NB II/P 19 Organ in Lönigs Wusterhausen. Retrieved 5 December 2017. 2010 194 Brixen (I) R I/P 2010/11 195 Hollern (D) R II/P 24 2011/12 199 Worpswede (D) Zions's Church NB II/P 24 2011/12 200 Buttforde (D) R I/p 9 2012/13 202 Badia, South Tyrol (I) NB III/P about 35 2013 203 Sankt Peter (D) NB II/P 17 2013/14 204 Rinteln (D) R II/P 20 2015 207 NB II/P 21 2015–16 210 Heidelberg N II/P 32 2017 213 Tokyo (J) Concert Hall NB II/P 21 2014–18 206/215 Leer (D) R III/P 48 2018–20 217 Regensburg NB II/P 30

References

Cited sources

Further reading 25 Jahre Orgelbau Jürgen Ahrend 1954–1979. Leer-Loga 1979. Fiori gratulatorii Jürgen Ahrend – Organopoeius. Zum 50jährigen Bestehen der Orgelwerkstatt in Leer und Loga dagli amici e ammiratori. Ed. Peter Golon and Harald Vogel. CSW Druckservice, Grasberg 2004. Pape, Uwe: Jürgen Ahrend and Gerhard Brunzema. In: Organ Yearbook. No. 3, 1972, p. 24–35.

External links

Ahrend, Jürgen Bayerischer Musiker Lexicon Online Jürgen Ahrend, facteur d'orgues de génie (in French) orgues-et-vitraux.ch Organ index: Ahrend, Jürgen (in German) organindex.de