Manual: (C - f ³):
Prestant 8vt
Roerfluit 8v
Octaaf 4vt
Fluit 4vt
Octaaf 2vt
Cornet III from c¹ 3 ranks: 2 2/3', 2', 1 3/5
Hobo 8vt
Pedal: (C - d¹):
Subbas 16vt
(constantly coupled to the manual)

Manufactered in 1996 by
Orgelmakerij Steendam,
The Netherlands

• Windchest, keys of the manual and the lower octave of the Fluit 4': made by Piet Van Dam, (Hoogeveen, Netherlands, about 1900)
• All other pipes, bellows: made by De Koff, 1923 (for the organ in the demolished Paasberg-church, Arnhem, Netherlands)
• Windchest for the pedals, new, made of oak in 19th-century-style
• Tracker action: new, made of oak in 19th-century-style
• Organhouse: new, pinewood, painted  with colours of the church.
• Console: new, oak
• Woodcarvings: new, lime, painted.
• Windpressure: 76 mm water
• Tuned in equal temperament, a¹ = 440 Hertz. (16º Celsius.)

Olsen & Jørgensen-organ in Eikefjord (Norwegian, 1898)
photo © Wim Kamp

Hollenbach-organ in Selje (German, 1882) 
photo © Wim Kamp

The Steendam-organ in Totland Church, Nordfjord, Norway

Recycling
As you can see, most parts of this organ, built in 1996, are more than 75 -100 years old. The philosophy behind this is not of economical character in the first place. It is primarily the idealism to preserve and "recycle" fine old pipework and other parts, solidly made after skilled traditional craftsmanship. It would be a sin to throw away valuable remains of the past.

19th century stile in the interior
The old parts in this organ are all made in a late 19th century German/Dutch romantic style. Although De Koff made the pipes in 1923, a time of decay in organbuilding in Europe, he was rather conservative and kept to the traditions of Witte, who learned the craft from Bätz. He and Witte both were famous organ builders in Holland in their days. The newer parts are also copied by Steendam in the same late 19th century stile. The reïntonation of the pipes also reflects this

19th century stile in the exterior
The outer looks - the organ front - also shows this stylistic coherence. The façade designed for this organ has many of the characteristic elements of German-Dutch organfronts of that time. Norway imported many German organs at the end of the 19th century, and the important Norwegian builder Olsen & Jörgensen also built in German style at that time. Look at the pictures of the organs in Selje (German, Hollenbach 1882) and Eikefjord (Norwegian, Olsen & Jörgensen, 1898). Note the many similarities between the fronts of those organs and the Steendam-organ.

No conflict with Norwegian hymn tradition
In both interior and exterior, the Steendam-organ respects the geographical, historical and cultural context it is placed in. In addition, there is another important aspect about this organ: it fits very well to the Norwegian hymn tradition, in which romanticism has been very dominant (composers like Lindeman and others before him). Some newer melodies of for example Trond Kverno, also clearly have their roots in English-Anglican traditions. I must say that the broad, warm and melodic sound of the Steendam-organ fits better to Norwegian hymns than the sharp and rather aggressive neo baroque sound you so often find in the organs built in Norway in the past 40-50 years.

Read more about Norwegian hymnology here.

Clip 1       More Info / download clip

• You can hear this organ in various sound combinations in clip 1. You hear me playing an improvisation on a Norwegian hymn  melody that is also in use in Holland and the UK:

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