enEnglisch
Stade, St. Wilhadi
Erasmus Bielfeldt 1731-1736
State of preservation: Case of main organ and
24 stops (including many reed stops) original. Repairs in
1783, 1846 and 1875, in 1894 including a swell for the chest positive. In 1917 the front pipes were requisitioned.
In 1937 and 1961-63 first restorations in the styles of the age by Ott, in
1986-1990 by Jürgen Ahrend.
Erasmus Bielfeldt was one the organ makers to continue Schnitger's tradition in northern Germany. Before his instrument St. Wilhadi had an instrument by Arp Schnitger which was destroyed when a lightning hit the church tower in 1724.
The case still resembles the tradition of the „Hamburger Prospekt“ with a visible division into separate Hauptwerk, Brustwerk and Pedal and, in addition, a „Hinterwerk“ replacing the here impossible parapet organ. The rich ornaments show in comparison to Schnitger's modest style a growing interest in baroque design ideas even in sober protestant areas.