In 1960, the St. Marien Church in Winsen saw the installation of a new organ built by the renowned organ manufacturer Paul Ott from Göttingen. This organ, housed within a church dating back to the 13th century, replaced previous instruments, including one from the 17th century by Magnus Grimm and another from the 19th century by Furtwängler. The decision for a new organ was driven by the existing one becoming too repair-prone. As part of a significant renovation of the church, all galleries were removed, and an asymmetrical facade was chosen for the organ on the north side, allowing for enhanced musical collaboration with choirs and brass ensembles. This design and mechanical setup from the 1960s reflected the Neobaroque revival in organ construction, emphasizing mechanical action which turned out to be fortuitous for its musical capabilities.

By 2004, however, the organ required substantial refurbishment to address issues like the detaching of wooden pipes and collapsing facade pipes. The renovation was undertaken by Schuke (Potsdam) focusing on preserving the existing sound while enhancing it where possible. This involved retuning noisy principals and in some cases, rebuilding them to maintain the narrow scaling that defines the organ's sound while introducing a more vocal quality. Technical adjustments made the organ's action significantly lighter and more sensitive. Changes to the disposition included replacing the Terzzimbel in the main work with a three-rank Cornett and slightly reducing the sharpness of the high mixtures, with a minor increase in wind pressure. These renovations ensured the organ not only maintained its historical integrity but also improved its functionality and sound for contemporary use.

Additionals: HW/BW, HW/RP, HW/Ped, RP/Ped, Tremulant RP, Tremulant BW

https://nomine.net/orgel/winsen-st-marien/