Pipe Organ MapBätz
| Founded/Born - Closed/Death | 1739 - 1903 |
|---|---|
| Still active? | no |
The Bätz organ-building tradition began in 1739 when Johann Bätz founded the company in Utrecht. Jonathan Bätz was born in 1787, the son of Christoffel Bätz (1755–1800), who, along with his brother Gideon Thomas Bätz (1751–1820), represented the second generation of the family business. Gideon took over the firm in 1772, and Christoffel opened his own workshop in 1778. Despite operating separately, they occasionally collaborated on projects, producing over 20 new organs, primarily single-manual instruments in the Rococo style.
After the death of his mother when Jonathan was eight, he and his siblings were raised by their uncle Gideon, even though their father was still alive. Jonathan attended boarding school in Gelderland for several years. At 16, he began learning organ building in his uncle’s workshop. His brother, Johan Martin Willem Bätz (1789–1836), initially worked as a piano maker in Amsterdam but joined the family business in 1818. After Gideon’s death in 1820, the brothers managed the firm together until Johan left in 1831 to build organs independently.
Pieter Maarschalkerweerd apprenticed under Jonathan Bätz before starting his own business in 1840. Another significant figure in the company’s history was Christian Gottlieb Friedrich Witte, who joined the firm in 1826 and married into the Bätz family in 1839. Witte became a partner in 1833 and took over the company after Jonathan’s death in 1849. Witte's son, Johan Frederik Witte (1840–1902), later led the company until its closure in 1903. From around 1830 until its dissolution, the company operated under the name "J. Bätz & Co."
The Bätz organs of the 19th century were primarily built to accompany congregational singing in Dutch Reformed and Lutheran churches, with many commissions coming from Lutheran communities due to the Bätz family's Lutheran background. Their work was concentrated in the western, central, and northern Netherlands.
During Jonathan Bätz's leadership from 1820 to 1849, the company built 21 new organs, including three-manual instruments in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Delft. They also exported organs to Suriname and Batavia (Jakarta). Bätz organs were known for their high craftsmanship and artistic quality, though they maintained a conservative approach. Jonathan used mechanical key and stop actions with slider chests and continued to build Rückpositiv divisions. Even in two-manual organs, the pedal was often simply coupled. The principal chorus formed the core sound, with the second manual usually comprising an Oberwerk with covered flute and string stops. Reeds and mixtures often had split bass and treble stops, with sesquialteras and cornets commonly built only for the treble.
Part of the company archive is preserved in the Utrecht Organ Archive, including color drawings of organs, prospect designs, construction plans, stoplist designs, technical calculations, contracts, correspondence, and newspaper and journal articles.
After the death of his mother when Jonathan was eight, he and his siblings were raised by their uncle Gideon, even though their father was still alive. Jonathan attended boarding school in Gelderland for several years. At 16, he began learning organ building in his uncle’s workshop. His brother, Johan Martin Willem Bätz (1789–1836), initially worked as a piano maker in Amsterdam but joined the family business in 1818. After Gideon’s death in 1820, the brothers managed the firm together until Johan left in 1831 to build organs independently.
Pieter Maarschalkerweerd apprenticed under Jonathan Bätz before starting his own business in 1840. Another significant figure in the company’s history was Christian Gottlieb Friedrich Witte, who joined the firm in 1826 and married into the Bätz family in 1839. Witte became a partner in 1833 and took over the company after Jonathan’s death in 1849. Witte's son, Johan Frederik Witte (1840–1902), later led the company until its closure in 1903. From around 1830 until its dissolution, the company operated under the name "J. Bätz & Co."
The Bätz organs of the 19th century were primarily built to accompany congregational singing in Dutch Reformed and Lutheran churches, with many commissions coming from Lutheran communities due to the Bätz family's Lutheran background. Their work was concentrated in the western, central, and northern Netherlands.
During Jonathan Bätz's leadership from 1820 to 1849, the company built 21 new organs, including three-manual instruments in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Delft. They also exported organs to Suriname and Batavia (Jakarta). Bätz organs were known for their high craftsmanship and artistic quality, though they maintained a conservative approach. Jonathan used mechanical key and stop actions with slider chests and continued to build Rückpositiv divisions. Even in two-manual organs, the pedal was often simply coupled. The principal chorus formed the core sound, with the second manual usually comprising an Oberwerk with covered flute and string stops. Reeds and mixtures often had split bass and treble stops, with sesquialteras and cornets commonly built only for the treble.
Part of the company archive is preserved in the Utrecht Organ Archive, including color drawings of organs, prospect designs, construction plans, stoplist designs, technical calculations, contracts, correspondence, and newspaper and journal articles.
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https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_B%C3%A4tz