Carl August Buchholz

Carl August Buchholz (13 August 1796 – 7 August 1884) was a German organ builder.

Life Born in Berlin, Buchholz learned the organ builder's trade from his father Johann Simon Buchholz. He built his own first new organ in 1817 for the Prenzlau Sabinenkirche. From 1821 onwards, he was in charge of building organs with his father. The workshop was located in Kleine Hamburger Straße/corner of Auguststraße in Berlin-Mitte. His father gave him the opportunity to try out technical innovations in organ building.

Buchholz had been married to Christiane Wilhelmine Kunsemüller, the daughter of a doctor from Wittstock, since 9 September 1820. His son Carl Friedrich Buchholz (7 July 1821 in Berlin – 17 February 1885 idem) first learned from his father and worked as a journeyman for Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in Paris around 1847/48. From 1848, he worked again for his father.

Buchholz was appointed "Academic Artist" in 1853 by the Academy of Arts (or the Prussian government ?).

After his death in 1884, his son Carl Friedrich Buchholz continued to run the workshop for a short time and died himself about six months later.

Organ building

Buchholz built exclusively mechanical organs with slider chests. Characteristic of his construction method were wedge-shaped cut sliders, which were pressed into wedge-shaped slider bands. This made it possible to compensate for changes in the wood caused by climatic conditions, for example in humid regions. Buchholz also introduced barque valves and swells as an innovation. The action was made with waveboards, modelled on those of Joachim Wagner and Ernst Julius Marx. Some of the smaller organs were built with side-playing wave frames.

Buchholz usually had architects such as Karl Friedrich Schinkel design the fronts for larger organs. For smaller instruments, he designed the models himself. The facade design shows an astonishing variety. Buchholz collaborated with organists such as August Wilhelm Bach and Carl August Haupt in the design of the stoplist. In some of the larger organs, there are striking similarities between the dispositions in the main and Oberwerk and Joachim Wagner's organ in Berlin's Marienkirche, which Buchholz had restored in 1829.

Buchhol is considered the most important organ builder in the Mark Brandenburg in his time. His method of construction was characterised by the highest precision in craftsmanship. Buchholz was very modest and largely refrained from excessive self-promotion.

Students Buchholz influenced a number of young organ builders who went on to work independently in various regions.

Carl Friedrich Buchholz, his son Moritz Baumgarten, afterwards organ builder in Zahna Wilhelm Bergen, afterwards organ builder in Halberstadt Ferdinand Dinse, afterwards organ builder in Berlin Friedrich Friese III, afterwards important organ builder in Schwerin, Mecklenburg Barnim Grüneberg, his nephew, afterwards important organ builder in Stettin, Pomerania Ernst Hildebrand Johannes Kewitsch, from Berlin Friedrich Kienscherf, afterwards organ builder in Eberswalde Wilhelm Lang, afterwards organ builder in Berlin Ferdinand Lange, afterwards instrument maker in Berlin Friedrich Hermann Lütkemüller, afterwards important organ builder in Wittstock, Prignitz Wilhelm Meywald, afterwards organ builder in Transylvania Johann Rohn, afterwards organ builder in Wormditt, East Prussia Carl Schneider, afterwards organ builder in Kronstadt, Transylvania Christian Friedrich Voelkner, afterwards organ builder in Dünnow, Hinterpommern

Work Buchholz built a total of 140 new organs between 1817 and his death in 1884. In addition, there were 20 rebuilds and restorations. All of Buchholz's organs have purely mechanical slider chests with the wedge loops he invented.

Among Buchholz's most important works is the organ built in 1839 in the Transylvanian Kronstadt in the Protestant Biserica Neagră: with 63 stops on four manuals, the Buchholz Organ of the Black Church is the largest instrument built by Buchholz and still survives today.

In 1821, he still completed the organ in the Barther Marienkirche together with his father. This organ was almost revolutionary for its time, with a 42-voice disposition distributed over two manuals and pedal and a manual range up to the three-stroke G. It is today the Buchholz organ. Today it is the Buchholz organ with the largest original inventory in Germany. The early romantic organ is of European significance.

The largest Buchholz organ in Germany is in the Nikolaikirche (see Organ of the St. Nikolaikirche) and dates from 1841.

List of realisations New buildings The size of the instruments is indicated in the fifth column by the number of manuals and the number of sounding stops in the sixth column. A capital "P" stands for an independent pedal, a small "p" for an attached pedal. The last column contains information on the original and present condition. Italicisation indicates that the organ in question is no longer preserved or that only the casing is preserved.

With Johann Simon Buchholz Buchholz built the organs listed below between 1812 and 1825 together with his father Johann Simon. Year Location Building Picture Manual Casing Notes 1812 Altentreptow St. Petri II/P 23 Parts and stops integrated into an organ built in 1865 by Barnim Grüneberg, restored in 2002/2003 by the organ building and restoration workshop Scheffler; today II/P/31 1817 Berlin Oberpfarr- und Domkirche II/P 32 Extension by Gebr. Dinse (Berlin) in 1886, dismantled in 1893; cathedral replaced by new building with new organ in 1905 1817 Ev. Kirche I 2 Not preserved 1817 Neu Hardenberg Ev. Kirche II/P 21 The housing designed by Schinkel in 1817 has been preserved, with a new building by W. Sauer in 1924. (Opus 1284). 1818 Demmin II/P 40 Restored in 1999/2000 by the organ building and restoration workshop Scheffler (Sieversdorf) → Organ of St Bartholomaei Church 1819 Ahrensfelde Ev. Kirche I 5 Not preserved 1820 Baruth/Mark II/P 21 Not preserved 1820 Britz bei Eberswalde Ev. Dorfkirche I/P 7 Preserved 1820 Gristow I/P 13 Extended in the 19th century by Barnim Grüneberg; preserved 1821 Berlin-Schöneberg I/P 11 The instrument was destroyed on 26 February 1945 when the church burned down. 1821 Barth St. Marien II/P 42 Restored by the (Dresden) → Orgel der Marienkirche 1821 Greifswald St. Jakobi II/P 28 Instrument destroyed in a tower fire in 1955 1822 Wachow Ev. Kirche I/P 14 In 1911, repair and alteration of the disposition by A. Schuke, original substance largely preserved. 1822 Berlin Royal Music Institute of Berlin II/P 13 Built in 1888 1823 Rixdorf Bethlehemskirche 160x160px I/P 13 In the since 1895 1823 Seelübbe Ev. Kirche II/P Replaced in the 2nd half of the 19th century by a work by Albert Kienscherf (Eberswalde) 1823 Teltow St. Andreas I/P 17 Destroyed 1824 Stargard St. Marien III/P 32 Not preserved 1825 Osterburg St. Nikolai II/P 22 Several times converted.

Own new buildings From 1817 to 1847 he built alone the following organs.

Year Location Building Picture Manual Casing Notes 1817 Prenzlau Sabinenkirche First independent organ building by C. A. Buchholz in his father's workshop; destroyed 1824 Görzke Ev. Kirche I/P 14 Expansion with a second manual by Friedrich Lobbes in 1882; preserved 1826 Berlin-Britz I/P 9 Replaced in 1888 by a new building by Gebr. Dinse/Berlin (II+P/10), in which parts (wooden pipes) from 1826 are preserved. → Orgel 1826 Rolofshagen Ev. Dorfkirche I/P 7 Extended in the 19th century by Mehmel; destroyed: in 1986 the village church collapsed due to lack of roof renovation. 1827 Berlin-Kaulsdorf Jesus Church I/P Replaced in 1912 by a new building by Gebr. Dinse (Berlin) 1829 Pütte Ev. Dorfkirche II/P 14 Restored in 2014 by the company (Rostock) 1829 Stralsund II/P 17 Extension reconstruction by Schuke in 1969; Front and 8 stops preserved 1830 Grimmen St. Marien 160x160px II/P 26 New construction by Mitteldeutscher Orgelbau A. Voigt in 1992; casing preserved 1830 Merz Ev. Kirche I 5 Extension around 1875 by Wilhelm Remler; preserved 1829–1831 Berlin-Mitte Friedrichswerdersche Kirche III/P 33 New construction by Gebr. Dinse (Berlin) in 1891 using old pipes and the casing, destroyed in 1944/1945 1831 Gützkow St. Nikolai II/P 14 Extended by W. Sauer (Frankfurt/Oder) 1831 Tribsees II/P 24 Restoration in 1996 by 1832 Greifswald Dom St. Nikolai III/P 44 Rebuilt in 1988 by Jehmlich Orgelbau Dresden → Orgel 1832 Lassan St. Johannis 160x160px II/P 17 General overhaul in 1986 by Orgelbau- und Restaurierungswerkstatt Rainer Wolter (Dresden) 1833 Ev. Kirche I 5 New building in 1911 by Alexander Schuke 1833 Soest Reformed II/P 10 Transferred to Alt-St. Thomä in 1873, replaced there in 1913 1834 Berlin-Mitte St. Elisabeth II/P 18 Destroyed in 1945 1834 Berlin-Mitte Heilig-Geist-Kapelle I/P 10 Dismantling in 1906, whereabouts unknown 1834 Berlin-Moabit St. Johannis II/P 11 Not preserved 1834 Berlin-Wedding Nazarethkirche II/P 11 Replaced with new building by Walcker in 1896 1834 Berlin-Gesundbrunnen St. Paul II/P 11 Replaced by new building by Walcker in 1906 1834 Frankfurt (Oder) St. Marien III/P 54 Art treasures were removed during the Second World War; organ destroyed 1835 Liebenwalde Ev. Kirche II/P 20 Replaced by new building by Hollenbach in 1898 1836 I Damaged in 1945, replaced in 1954 1836 Elsey Ev. Collegiate Church Elsey Abbey Organ renovations 1953/1969/1994; not preserved 1836 Garz/Rügen St. Petri II/P 12 Reconstruction in 1914 by Barnim Grüneberg; restoration in 1995 by Orgelbau- und Restaurierungswerkstatt Rainer Wolter. 1838 Wolgast St. Petri II/P 12 Since 2000 in Falkenhagen (Mark), restored by Christian Scheffler 1838 Wotenick St. Nikolai I/P 8 Extension in 1874 by Friedrich Albert Mehmel (Stralsund), 2008 overhaul by the Mecklenburger Orgelbau company 1839 Hanshagen Kirche Hanshagen 160x160px I/P 8 In 1860 Friedrich Albert Mehmel added a second manual and in 1954 Barnim Grüneberg jr. from Greifswald redesigned the sound, from the 1980s unplayable, in 2010 S. Müller provisionally made some stops playable again, 2017/2018 repaired by the firm Historische Tasteninstrumente Schmidt (Rostock). 1839 Kronstadt, Siebenbürgen, heute Brașov Schwarze Kirche IV/PBrașov) 63 Restoration in 2001 by organ builder Stemmer (Zumikon/CH); largely preserved → Organs of the Black Church (Brașov) 1839 Stoltenhagen Ev. Kirche I/P 9 2001/2005 Part restoration by Orgelbau- und Restaurierungswerkstatt Rainer Wolter 1839/1840 Berlin-Mitte Workhouse Church Destroyed 1840 Altreetz Ev. Kirche II/P 18 largely preserved. 1840 Leplow St. Katharinen I/P 8 Rebuilt in 1971 by Groß Bünzow, restored in 2010/2011 by Orgelwerkstatt Scheffler 1840 Neuruppin St. Marien III/P 40 Gehäuse erhalten 1840 Tempelfelde Ev. Kirche II/P 10 with physharmonica in the upper work, church destroyed by fire in 1885. 1841 Schlemmin Ev. Dorfkirche I/P 8 Prospektpfeifen wurden 1917 für Kriegszwecke abgegeben, 2001–2002 restauriert durch Fa. Martin-Christian Schmidt 1841 Stralsund St. Nikolai III/P 56 → Orgel der St.-Nikolai-Kirche 1842 Abtshagen Heilgeistkirche 160x160px I/P 8 2001 restored by Orgelbau- und Restaurierungswerkstatt Rainer Wolter (Dresden) 1842 Bobbin St. Pauli I/p 4 1881 Umbau und Erweiterung auf I/P/6 durch Barnim Grüneberg; 2007 Restaurierung und Prospekteinbau durch Orgelbau- und Restaurierungswerkstatt Rainer Wolter; Wiedereinweihung am 31. August 2008 1842 Stralsund St. Annen und Brigitten I 4 Not preserved 1842 Wrechow, Neumark, today Orzechów Ev. Kirche 160x160px I/P 10 probably in poor condition or no longer preserved. 1842 Wusterhusen Johanneskirche II/P 15 Expansion by Heintze in 1923 1844 Berlin-Mitte Klosterkirche II/P 25 Destroyed in April 1945 1844 Koblenz-Stolzenfels St. Menas I Replaced by a Klais organ in 1942 1844 Velgast Ev. Christuskirche 160x160px I/P 8 Restoration in 1995 by Orgelbau- und Restaurierungswerkstatt Rainer Wolter 1845 Tribohm Ev. Dorfkirche 160x160px I/P 7 In 1917 the front pipes had to be given away for war purposes. Restored in 1994 by Hinrich Otto Paschen (Kiel) in accordance with the preservation order. 1845 Altmädewitz Ev. Kirche I/P 11 Built by Lang & Dinse gebaut 1845 Pelplin Domkirche 160x160px III/P 55 Extension by Bruno Goebel; preserved → Orgeln der Kathedrale Pelplin 1846 Berlin-Köpenick Schlosskirche 160x160px I/P Casing preserved, new construction in 1987 by A. Voigt (Bad Liebenwerda) 1846 Berlin-Lichtenberg Alte Pfarrkirche I/P 7 Replaced in 1887 by new construction by W. Sauer (Frankfurt/Oder), destroyed around 1944 1846 Berlin-Mitte St. Nikolai 160x160px III/P 50 New construction in 1902 by W. Sauer using the casing and old material; destroyed in 1944 1846 Berlin-Wilmersdorf Ev. Dorfkirche I/P Dismantled in 1898 in the course of the new church building 1846 Britz bnear Eberswalde Dorfkirche I/P 7 Restoration in 2017 by Schuke. 1846 Bönen Alte Kirche Not preserved 1846 Stralsund-Voigdehagen Kirche Voigdehagen 160x160px II/P 15 General overhaul/partial restoration in 2003/2006 by Orgelbau- und Restaurierungswerkstatt Rainer Wolter (Dresden), restoration by Scheffler (Sieversdorf) in 2020. 1846/47 Berlin-Mitte Deutscher Dom II/P 24 1882 Abbau, Teile nach Ueckermünde für die Stadtkirche verkauft 1847 Berlin-Mitte Gertraudenkirche 1881 Abbau (Kirche wurde abgerissen) 1847 Prenzlau St. Marien II/P 33 Destroyed in 1945 1847 Schmölln Ev. Kirche I/P 10 1897 Umsetzung nach Schenkenberg (Kreis Prenzlau), dort 1900 verbrannt 1848 Berlin Private Synagoge II/P 9 Not preserved 1848 Berlin-Kreuzberg Irvingianerkirche Preserved ?? 1848 Berlin-Mitte St. Georgen III/P 42 Not preserved 1848 Oranienburg Evangelisches Seminar Preserved ?? 1848 Damgarten St. Bartholomäus II/P 13 Replaced in 1971 by W. Sauer 1848 Görlsdorf, Uckermark Evangelische Kirche I/p 4 es fehlen viele Pfeifen 1848 Lüdershagen St. Georg I/P 9 Preserved 1848 Röpersdorf, Uckermark Evangelische Kirche 160x160px I/P 9 restauriert 2001; → Orgel 1848 Soldin, Neumark, heute Myślibórz Französisch-Reformierte Kirche II/P 12 1925 Umsetzung nach Wolgast; 2001 Restaurierung und Aufstellung in Falkenhagen bei Freienwalde. 1849 Blindow, Uckermark Evangelische Kirche II/P 11 1911 durch Barnim Grüneberg teilweise ersetzt, einige Register und Gehäuse erhalten 1849 Boitzenburg, Uckermark Pfarrkirche St. Marien auf dem Berge 160x160px II/P 14 Completed in 1850 by Carl Friedrich Buchholz.

With Carl Friedrich Buchholz as assistant From 1850, the son Carl Friedrich Buchholz was named a few times as an assistant.

Year Location Building Picture Manual Casing Notes 1850 Alt Lietzow, today Berlin-Charlottenburg Dorfkirche Not preserved 1850 Berlin-Mitte Invalidenhaus, Evangelische Kapelle I/P 9 Not preserved 1850 Berlin-Mitte Invalidenhaus Berlin, katholische Kapelle Probably not preserved 1850 Potsdam Kadettenhaus I/P 10 wahrscheinlich nicht erhalten 1850 Grieben Dorfkirche II/P 9 probably preserved. 1851 Falkenwalde Village church I/P 14 Preserved. Marx-Orgel 1850 Soldin, Neumark Stadtkirche St. Johannes der Täufer 160x160px II/P 28 1851 , Uckermark Village church I/P 7 Attribution; later extended to I/P/8, preserved 1851 Berlin-Moabit Gefängniskirche Preserved ??? 1854 Ev. Dorfkirche I/P 8 Preserved 1853 Leppin, Mecklenburg Village church I/P 9 Preserved 1854 near Seelow Ev. Dorfkirche I/P 9 Replaced in 1999. 1854 Berlin-Mitte Reformierte Synagoge Johannisstraße II/P 18 Replaced in 1912 1855 Berlin-Friedrichshain St. Markus II/P 30 Probably not preserved 1855 Templin, Uckermark St. Maria und Magdalenen II/P 37 Casing by Gottlieb Scholtze from 1769, replaced in 1921 by Jehmlich with some pipes, baroque casings preserved 1856 Berlin-Friedrichshain St. Andreas II/P 27 Probably destroyed 1856 , Uckermark Village church 160x160px I/P 9 Preserved. 1856 Hennigsdorf near Berlin Martin-Luther-Kirche II/P Not preserved 1856 Schwedt/Oder, Uckermark St. Katharinen I/P Not preserved 1856 Dorfkirche I/P 10 Largely preserved. 1856 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg Elisabethstift Kapelle I/P 7 Builder unknown, assumption Buchholz, Lange or Dinse. 1857 Berlin-Kreuzberg Realschule II/P 9 Probably not preserved 1857 Königsberg St. Johannis Destroyed in 1945 1857 Memel, Ostpreußen St. Johannis III/P 42 Not preserved 1858 Berlin-Friedrichshain St. Bartholomäus II/P 17 Not preserved 1858 Berlin-Rosenthal Ev. Dorfkirche I/P 9 1858 Cumlosen Evangelische Kirche I/P 10 Preserved 1859 Berlin-Pankow Dorfkirche Zu den vier Evangelisten II/P 14 Not preserved 1859 Schippenbeil, Ostpreußen, heute Sępopol Stadtkirche, heute St. Michael II/P 23 Preserved. 1859 Stolpe bei Berlin Dorfkirche I/P 8 Preserved; with Ferdinand Lange 1860 Berlin-Kreuzberg St. Lukas II/P 28 Not preserved 1860 Berlin-Mitte St. Michael Not preserved 1860 Berlin-Mitte St. Petri IV/P 60 Later extended to 72 stops, destroyed in 1945. 1860 Village church II/P 11 1860 Schmatzin Village church I/P 6 1861 Bredow Village church II/P 11 Preserved ? 1862 Berlin-Mitte Königliche Oper Not preserved

As Carl August Buchholz & Sohn From around 1866, the company operated under the name Carl August Buchholz & Sohn.

Year Location Building Picture Manual Casing Notes 1866 Berlin-Mitte New Synagogue III/P 45 Destroyed in 1945 at the latest 1867 Grieben Evangelische Kirche II/P 9 1867 Lanke Evangelische Kirche I/P 9 1868 Flatow Evangelische Kirche II/P 12 1868 Neu Boltenhagen St. Marien II/P 8 1869 Diedersdorf Evangelische Kirche I/P 7 1869 Evangelische Kirche I/P 9 1869 Melkof 160x160px II/P 10 Restored in 2018 by the Plauer organ builder Andreas Arnold. 1869 Potsdam St. Peter and Paul II/P 25 Reconstruction in 1936 (including electrification) and addition of a third manual by Karl and Hans-Joachim Schuke (Potsdam), using Buchholz pipe material (11 stops complete and 10 stops partially preserved). →Orgel 1870 Netzelkow Evangelische Kirche 1872 Ev.-luth. Kirche 160x160px II/P 14 1876 Evangelische Kirche 1878 Potsdam Bethlehemkirche 1882 Hall of the Berlin-Mitte II/P 18 Erected in 1893 in St. Matthias, Berlin, replaced in 1914. 1884 Nossendorf Ev.-luth. St. Marien 1884 Alt Gaarz Ev. Kirche Rerik I/P 13 1884 Ribbeck Evangelische Kirche I/P 22 ? Brandenburg an der Havel II/P 18

Conversions and repairs Year Location Building Picture Manual Casing Notes 1826 Bad Wilsnack St. Nikolai 1828 Stralsund St. Marien → Stellwagen-Orgel 1829 Berlin-Mitte St. Mary's Church, Berlin 1833 Berlin 1833 Berlin-Mitte Friedrichswerdersche Kirche 1837 Zachow Village church (orgellandschaftbrandenburg.de) I/P 11 Instrument by Joachim Wagner 1840 Osterburg Martinskapelle 1845 Angermünde St. Marien 1851 Berlin-Mitte Parochialkirche With his son 1851 Berlin-Kreuzberg Jerusalemskirche 1851 Berlin-Spandau St. Nikolai With his son 1851 Boitzenburg St. Marien auf dem Berge With his son 1857 Nauen St. Jacobi 120x120px With his son 1861 Halberstadt Halberstadt Cathedral With his son: Orgel des Domes zu Halberstadt 1864 Brandenburg an der Havel St. Katharinen With his son 1865 Brandenburg an der Havel St. Gotthardt With his son 1877 Berlin-Mitte Sophienkirche With his son