Schnitger, Arp

views updated

Schnitger, Arp

Schnitger, Arp, esteemed German organ builder; b. Schmalenfleth, Golzwarden, Oldenburg, July 2, 1648; d. Neuenfelde, July 24, 1719. He was apprenticed to his cousin, Berendt Huess, in Glückstadt, Holstein, whom he assisted in building the organ for St. Cosmae in Stade (1669–73), which he later augmented; his finest instrument is at St. Nicolai in Hamburg (1682–87). Two of his sons followed in his profession: Johann Georg (Jürgen) Schnitger (b. [baptized] Sept. 4, 1690; d. after 1733) and Franz Caspar Schnitger (b. [baptized] Oct. 15, 1693; d. in the Netherlands, 1729). They completed their father’s work at the Grote Kerk in Zwolle, and also rebuilt the large organ at St. Laurents in Alkmaar.

Bibliography

P. Rubardt, A. S. (Freiberg, 1928); G. Fock, S. und seine Schule (Kiel, 1931); G. Fock, A. S. und seine Schule (Kassel, 1975).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

More From encyclopedia.com