The great four manual organ of Oscar Walcker was built as his opus 1855 for the church Nieuwe Zuiderkerk in Rotterdam in 1914-1916. The construction of the church and the organ was sponsored by brothers Bos who were organists themselves and who had certain predilection for the organbuilding techniques represented by the lastest achievements of German organbuilders. For this reason, the modern organ with an electro-pneumatic action was commissioned to the Walcker and Co. When the church had been demolished in 1968, the organ was sold to the Doesburg parish and transferred to the Martinikerk. This church lost its own organ during the bombardment of the 2nd World War when its spire was destroyed. Although different (neobaroque) organ fashion was governing at that time, the authorities of the church made the fortunate decision to acquire the Walcker organ which is now pride of the town and a true historical monument, because there are only few large Walcker organs preserved without major rebuilding.

The organs of the Walcker company bear many characteristics which we usually call "romantic" today: predominance of 8' stops carefully selected to provide the widest possible differeciation of the sound color as well as smooth dymanic layering, absence of aliquotes, lower number of reeds,use of darker mixtures, the contrast between the division based on dynamics rather than on timbre, tracker allowing comfortable and light touch and virtuoso playing technique, plenitude of couplers and other playing aids.

Nevertheless, the opus 1855 exhibits also the influence of the Alsace organ reform after Emil Rupp. The elements of this sound concept were: more reeds in the French fashion after Cavaillé-Coll, large swell divisions (there are three swell boxes available), brighter mixtures and cornets after Silbermann - the builder proudly engraved the name of the Freiberg master to the largest pipes of the stops made according to the Silbermann scales. An extraordinary feature of the organ which brings the idea of brighter sound color further is the treble rank extensions. Although the compass of manuals is already large - five full octaves, there is a sixth treble octave available for many stops and comes into use when the octave coupler is engaged.

Originally, the organ had an echo division positioned above the vault of the Rotterdam church while the sound was driven through 22 meters long channel into the church nave. This feature was not rebuilt in Doesburg, but the echo division is not lost. It is now seated on top of the organ case in a swell box.

The organ allows historically accurate reproduction of the organ music written during the Romantism and later.

Additionals: IV/I, III/I, II/I, III/II, IV/III, IV/P, III/P, II/P, I/P, Super III/I, Super II/I, Super couplers: III/II, IV/IV, II/P, Sub couplers: III/I, II/I, III/II, IV/IV, Melody couplers: II/I, I/II, III/II, II/III, IV/III, Bass-Melody couplers: P/I, P/II, P/III, P/IV, Leerlaufkoppel I, Generalkoppel, Swells II, III, IV, Crescendo roller, 4 free combinations, Auslöser, Automatic Piano Pedal, Cancel switches: Crescendo off, Hand register off, 16' off, Mixtures off, Reeds off, Tremulant II, Tremulant III, Tremulant IV

https://organindex.de/index.php?title=Doesburg,_Martinikerk_(Hauptorgel)
https://www.sonusparadisi.cz/en/organs/netherlands/doesburg-martinikerk-walcker-organ.html