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A Real Instrument or Historical Fantasy? The 'Old Organ' of Christian IV, and Michael Praetorius
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A Real Instrument or Historical Fantasy? The 'Old Organ' of Christian IV, and Michael Praetorius
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Journal Article
A Real Instrument or Historical Fantasy? The 'Old Organ' of Christian IV, and Michael Praetorius
2019
Overview
Michael Praetorius' book Syntagma Musicum, and the associated illustrative plates (published as Theatrum Instrumentorum in 1620) have long been studied by organologists, and it is generally considered one of the most important historical publications of its type. Of particular interest and importance to researchers, the plates often include rulers to enable accurate measurements to be taken directly from the plates themselves. The first of the plates shows a highly decorated, but quite extraordinary, small organ which Praetorius indicates had one set of pipes but three registers. When writing about the instrument in Syntagma Musicum Praetorius states that it belonged to King Christian IV of Denmark - even today considered Denmark's most important king. There is, however, no record of the instrument ever existing other than what is shown in the plate, and no reference of an instrument of that nature has been found in Danish court records. This article explores the relationship between Praetorius and the Danish court of Christian IV, and shows that the two figures were personally acquainted. It also takes an in-depth look at the illustration to determine if it could be designed to work as described by Praetorius, despite his own failure to understand the organ fully.
Publisher
The Galpin Society,Galpin Society
