Sauer-Organ

The organ on the west choir loft of the St. Thomas Church was built in 1889 by Wilhelm Sauer. Already in 1908, the 63 organ pipes of the instrument were increased to 88. Granting the wish of the organist and later cantor Karl Straube, a new manual and bellows were added.

Between 1930 and 1960, 16 of the Romantic period organ pipes were replaced by neo-baroque pipes. The homogenous sonority of the instrument was heavily disturbed. On the initiative of organist Ulrich Böhme, the plans for a complete restoration were realized in 1988, 1992 and 1993.

Today, the Sauer-Organ is one of the rare original instruments of the late 19th century. For its size, quality, and history, it received the status of a world monument.

 

During the reconstruction of the St. Thomas Church until the year 2000, the Sauer-Organ had been the only usable instrument. The regular usage and the dust due to the renovation of the building affected the instrument badly.
That's why the cleaning of the organ cannot be postponed any longer. In order to clean the organ, about 6,000 pipes have to be taken off and be manually cleaned from dust. The reconstruction of the original bellows of 1889 and the final re-establishment of the historical state of the instrument are planned as well. Therefore, altogether 250,000 EUR are required.