Portrait of the organ scene

If you are only interested in the construction or history of the Langnauerli and Schwyzerörgeli, you are in the wrong place: this book is not a history or technology book - there is already one by Ernst Roth - but a lively cultural history of these amazingly diverse and widespread instruments. Although the glossary explains the most important basic terms and differences between the models, the emphasis is on documenting the scene with portraits of players, hand organ makers and restorers, tuners and dealers.

Journalist and publicist Beat Hugi and organ virtuoso Thomas Aeschbacher visited around 40 representatives of the Langnauerli, Stöpselbass and Schwyzerörgeli scene and give a vivid account of the conversations. As Thomas Aeschbacher is a proven connoisseur of the organ, the interviews get to the point very quickly and the reader gains an insight into the richness of the sound possibilities and differences between the various organs. The different approaches to and demands on the music of the players also become clear.

It is noticeable that, although there are plenty of young people playing the Örgeli, the number of Örgeli makers and restorers is clearly ageing. What this means for the future of the instrument remains to be seen. The richly illustrated and beautifully designed book gives a lively impression of the variety of concepts and playing styles and, thanks to the accompanying CDs, also of the diversity of the different tunings and sounds.

The reviewer was so fascinated by what he read that he bought a Langnauerli and has regularly enjoyed the beauty of the instrument's sound ever since.

Beat Hugi and Thomas Aeschbacher: Langnauerli. Stöpselbass. Schwyzerörgeli. - The game. The craft. The virtuosos, 440 p., 202 illustrations, 2 CDs, texts by Franz Hohler, Corin Curschellas, Pedro Lenz and others, Fr. 49.00, Weber-Verlag, Thun, 2021, ISBN 978-3-03818-296-2