Sonus Paradisi – Zwolle, St. Michael Surround V2

The Schnitger organ in the “Grote of St. Michaelskerk” in Zwolle (1721). 

The history and fate of the Zwolle St. Michaelskerk organ are fairly typical of almost all important European instruments: it was built by the prestigious Baroque organ-making family Schnitger, underwent modifications to reflect the changing fashions of different periods, and was eventually restored to its intended Baroque form.

At first, the Grote Church in Zwolle, also called St. Michael’s Church, had three organs: two small instruments and one larger one. The first mention of a main organ dates back to 1505. At that time, Johannes Jacobsz van Bilsteen of Rhenen built a large organ with 3 manuals and a pedal: the Hoofdwerk (Large) was built as a Blokwerk, with all 32–34 voices playing simultaneously, the Bovenwerk (Echo) with 4 or 5 voices and the Rugpositief (Positive) with 4 voices. In 1643, Jan Morlet III of Arnhem modernized this organ and made the main voices of the Blokwerk playable on the pedals. 

In 1669, the tower of St. Michael’s (which was the tallest in the Netherlands at 128 meters) burned down after being struck by lightning, also partially destroying the main organ. Due to a lack of funds for expensive repairs, the organ was dismantled and stored. For over 30 years, the congregation held services without an organ, until in 1718, Bernard Huthe, a physician and mayor of Zwolle, donated 12,000 guilders for the construction of a new organ. His brother Thomas added another 2,000 guilders.