Details
Image(s)
TitleChamber Barrel Organ ‘the Douairière’
Creator Diederich Nicolaus Winkel (orchestrionbouwer)
PlaceAmsterdam (The Netherlands)
Year ca. 1826
Object number0026
Object categorymechanical instruments with organ pipes
Object namechamber organ, organ with cylinder
DescriptionThis organ possesses an ingenious mechanism that allows the wind pressure to be varied, resembling a particular aspect of expressive playing. This mechanism works only for the free reeds. Flue pipes would sound out of tune with such a system, but free reeds can work on lower air pressure and produce the same note. The drive is provided by a weight, which for protection is guided through a special channel in the back of the case. The tempo is determined by a self-regulating wind wing.
Register switching is also determined by Winkel's own system. For example, the register here can be switched both off and on by the same key. The difference is determined by the depth of the pin on the cylinder. The oak case, veneered with mahogany and finished with wax, has fabric in the doors and in the cover. This allows the sound when the doors are closed to still sound freely outside. Both sides and back panel are completely removable when the top cover is taken off.
Accompanying textsTo make playing long pieces of music possible, a stepped spiral notation has been used, with the rotating cylinder sliding incrementally sideways after half a revolution. The keyboard has 71 keys, two of which are for expression, two for the drum, one for the triangle and three for register changes.
Included with the organ are the four original cylinders, three of which have a music programme. The fourth is left empty, apart from some notes like 'keyboard lights up' and 'rest'. The original cylinders perform the music mainly on the reeds, with the flue pipes providing solos and embellishments.
cylinder 1: Variations by Henri Herz (1803-1888)
cylinder 2: Der Freischütz Ouverture, C.M. von Weber (first performance 1821)
cylinder 3: Alexander Mars. Cylinder completely blank.
cylinder 4: made in museum Speelklok: Andante KV 616 W.A. Mozart, without use of reeds.
This chamber organ remained in Winkel’s house until the end of his life. After his death in September 1826, it was described in his estate inventory. The name 'Douairière' is an (internal) museum name, referring to the donor of the salon organ to Museum Speelklok. After the death of the last owner (Jonkheer J.F. de Beaufort), his widow the douairière C.E. de Beaufort-Miseroy donated the instrument to Museum Speelklok in 1963, in accordance with his own wishes.
When the instrument was restored in 2007, a new cylinder was made with the Andante KV 616 (Ein Andante für eine Walze in eine kleine Orgel) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart programmed on it. The latter had composed this piece for an automatic organ, but this instrument was lost. Based on Mozart's score and thanks to the knowledge of early music specialist Ton Koopman, the new cylinder was produced.
Included with the organ are the four original cylinders, three of which have a music programme. The fourth is left empty, apart from some notes like 'keyboard lights up' and 'rest'. The original cylinders perform the music mainly on the reeds, with the flue pipes providing solos and embellishments.
cylinder 1: Variations by Henri Herz (1803-1888)
cylinder 2: Der Freischütz Ouverture, C.M. von Weber (first performance 1821)
cylinder 3: Alexander Mars. Cylinder completely blank.
cylinder 4: made in museum Speelklok: Andante KV 616 W.A. Mozart, without use of reeds.
This chamber organ remained in Winkel’s house until the end of his life. After his death in September 1826, it was described in his estate inventory. The name 'Douairière' is an (internal) museum name, referring to the donor of the salon organ to Museum Speelklok. After the death of the last owner (Jonkheer J.F. de Beaufort), his widow the douairière C.E. de Beaufort-Miseroy donated the instrument to Museum Speelklok in 1963, in accordance with his own wishes.
When the instrument was restored in 2007, a new cylinder was made with the Andante KV 616 (Ein Andante für eine Walze in eine kleine Orgel) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart programmed on it. The latter had composed this piece for an automatic organ, but this instrument was lost. Based on Mozart's score and thanks to the knowledge of early music specialist Ton Koopman, the new cylinder was produced.
Dimensions
geheel height: 239 cm
geheel width: 158 cm
geheel depth: 75 cm
geheel width: 238 cm
geheel width: 158 cm
geheel depth: 75 cm
geheel width: 238 cm
Keywordsprogrammadrager: cylinder
geluidsbron: organ pipes
aandrijving: gewicht
cilinder schroefnotatie
geluidsbron: organ pipes
aandrijving: gewicht
cilinder schroefnotatie
Digital references