Gottfried Heinrich Trost

Tobias Heinrich Gottfried Trost (born around 1680; died 12August1759 in Altenburg) was a leading Thuringian organ-builder. Johann Sebastian Bach held him in high regard. His organs in the city church of Waltershausen (1722–1730) and in the (1735–1739) are amongst the best-known Baroque organs of middle-Europe, and are largely preserved in their original state.

Life

Tobias Heinrich Gottfried Trost was son of the organ-builder and his wife, Anna Dorothea, née Thüm (died 1703). The first work that can be assigned to him was carried out between 1697 and 1706 in conjunction with his father, from whom he learned his craft. On 3November1704 he married Susanna Catharina Schweinefleisch (died 1749) in Tonna. By 1711 he was a master-builder in his own right.

In early 1718 Trost moved to the house of his brother-in-law in Mockern, and then again to Altenburg in 1722, after the death of his father. Following an argument with over organ-building privileges, he was chosen on 23November1723 as organ-builder to the court. The argument with Donati broke out again in 1726/1727.

In 1733 Trost found himself in financial difficulties and took out loans with his son-in-law and two widows. His health began to deteriorate in 1754; in the summer of 1756 he suffered a stroke, and he died in 1759 after three months' serious illness.

Career Five rebuilds and 21 new organs can be assigned to Trost. Amongst others, he built the organ of the evangelical church in Waltershausen, the largest baroque organ in Thuringia. Another of his important works is that in the chapel of the , which was much admired by Franz Liszt. Bach's pupil Johann Ludwig Krebs was organist of this organ from 1756 to 1780. A later organist at Altenburg, praised the organ in 1880 in his assessment:

While Gottfried Silbermann built fairly conventional organs following five basic standardised patterns, Trost was more experimental. He frequently tried new ideas, and favoured colour stops. His flute choirs were particularly strong, reaching up into the one-foot pitch range. On the other hand, he used mixtures only sparingly. Each division had only one mixture containing thirds, and he did not use the Scharf or Cymbale stops. He used reed pipes sparingly, mostly confined to the pedal, but he appreciated "toy" stops and effects. Trost divided his stops between Hauptwerk (Great), Brustwerk, and Pedal, sometimes with an Oberwerk. This was the only arrangement he ever used. data-sort-value="1730"|1730–1735 Stünzhain, in Altenburg I A new-build, of which some ranks remain data-sort-value="1735"|1735? Altenburg Chapel at the (a Positiv organ) A new-build, partly remaining in Thonhausen and in the , Altenburg data-sort-value="1735"|1735–1739 Altenburg (Main organ) II/P 36 A new-build, substantially remaining, restored 1974-1976 data-sort-value="1744"|1744–1746 Thonhausen I/P 11 A new-build, much rebuilt since data-sort-value="1745"|1745–1746 Nobitz I/P 10 A new-build, replaced in 1826 1746 Bocka (Windischleuba) Village church I/P 10 A new-build attributed to Trost, parts remaining data-sort-value="1747"|1747–1748 Lohma an der Leina, in Langenleuba-Niederhain I/P 10 A new-build that no longer exists; replaced in 1878 data-sort-value="1747"|1747–1750 Saara

I/P 15 A new-build, parts remain data-sort-value="1747"|1747–1752 Eisenberg II/P 24 A new-build of which nothing remains; replaced 1848

Literature