This article features the East German stamp of the Silbermann organ in Rötha. It is the first (lowest denomination) in a set of four stamps from 1976 celebrating baroque organs by the famous German organ builder Gottfried Silbermann. Check out my articles featuring the other stamps in this set depicting organs from the cities of Frauereuth, Freiburg, and Dresden.
Organs on Stamps
Pipe organs are among the most prevalent specific instruments that appear on stamps. In other words, while other stamps might feature a generic violin, a generic guitar, or a generic piano, stamps with organs feature very specific instruments. Organs are usually very large and expensive and custom built for a specific church or cathedral. Large pipe organs can even be in use for several centuries (with regular maintenance and restoration work). Organs can become elements of pride for a parish, a community, or even a country.
You can read other posts about organs on stamps from Hamburg, Germany; Wasquehal, France; Oaxaca, Mexico; and from the Vatican City.
Silbermann Organ of St. George’s in Rötha
Rötha, Germany
The town of Rötha in Saxony is a mere 16 kilometers from the large city of Leipzig. The church of St. George’s has been a presence in the community since the Middle Ages, with the towers of the current church dating to the twelfth century. In 1718, the church hired Gottfried Silbermann to build a new organ for the church.
Silbermann (1683-1753) was the son of Michael Silbermann, a carpenter in Frauenstein. Beginning in 1702, Gottfried apprenticed with his older brother Andreas, learning organ building in Strasborg, in the Alsace region of France bordering Germany. There, Silbermann was able to study the organs of both the German and French schools. In 1711, Gottfried established his own workshop in the city of Freiburg. It is thought that he built around fifty organs, of which, incredibly, thirty-five survive. His instruments are known for their bright tone and for plentiful reed stops.
The instrument in St. George’s Church was completed in 1721. Of course, organs of this age typically undergo many rounds of restoration, some of which are detrimental. However, the Rötha organ is in famous for being in nearly original condition. While there have been modifications, such as changing from meantone temperament to equal temperament in the middle of the nineteenth century, it remains close to Silbermann’s original design. Even though there was damage to the church roof during World War II, the organ was mostly safe.
Organ Stops
Hauptwerk
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Bordun 16′
Principal 8′
Reed flute 8′
Eighth Pointed Flute 4′
Quinta 3′
Eight 2′
Comet 3
Mixture III
Cymbeln II
Oberwerk
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Gedackt 8′
Quintadena 8′
Principal 4′
Reed flute 4′
Nasat 3′
Eighth 2′
Third 1 3/5′
Quinta 1 1/2′
Whistle Mixtur III
Pedal
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Principal-Bass 16′
Bass trombone 16′
Drummed 8′
Coupling:
sliding coupler II / I
pedal coupler I / P
Secondary register:
tremulant
The Stamp
Scott Number DD 1707
The four stamps in the Silbermann organ series are rather simple. In each, the organ is drawn using bright colors and depicted with a straight on perspective. The instruments are set against a bright, strong color, for the 10 pfenning stamp featuring the Rötha organ, the stamp is green. The entire set is the design of Gerhard Voigt.
Hear this incredible instrument below:
