kropf Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Hello together! One of our members asked me, what has happened in Neuenfelde, where the Hamburg Airbus factory wanted to extend its runway into Arp Schnitger' home village? The runway extension is nearly completed. Airbus was ordered to pay a reinforcement of the church's roof tiles (to happen later this year) in expectation of increased aerodynamic loads due to A380 operations. But if those flights will ever happen, is an open question again, since Airbus has announced plans for major restructuration of their production flow. Surely, the City of Hamburg is fighting to keep everything as arranged, but we will not know, if the A380 delivery centre for Hamburg really is going to be built one day. However, the A380 freighter version programme, always used as main* argument for the runway extension, has been paused because the few placed orders meanwhile have been cancelled completely! Airbus stresses that this does not mean the complete stop of the freighter version programme - but who knows... *) but it was a false one - the very reasons are: 1) Full compatibility of all Airbus sites with all Aircraft types was internally announced already 10 years ago 2) The now former runway was no more compatible with updates safety requirements (issues were the RESA Runway End Safety Area and too little open space between the parallel road and the runway) Summary: 1) Very much money has been spent by Hamburg (850 billion EUR for the A380 project, including 88 million EUR for the runway extension) 2) With its current programme "Power8", Airbus showed that spending money on aircraft industry today is even more risky than decades before 3) The Neuenfelde church is saved for one and a half reasons: First one is the missing of A380 operations to date, and maybe in future, the second are technical measures at the church building 4) The village and parish of Neuenfelde have suffered noticeably, since the City of Hamburg bought 50 houses to prevent owners of taking legal action against the City, but has left these houses empty or filled them (via sub entrepeneurs) with polish workers for the local shipyard (The guys are OK and are working really hard, but are no real neighbours, as you can't talk to them...)... For illustration, see first the situation around 2000: then my simulation of the original design of the extension: and the now nearly-completed version - note the curve at the right side of the project: To prevent loosing the expropriation lawsuit at court, the City tried to BUY all required land. The parish and one farmer refused to sell their's, and so the City built the project AROUND those sections of land...(The aeral view will tell generations about the conflict ) This picture dates from last summer. Now, in may, they have already casted first concrete of the runway floor, the surrounding road is open (and very busy), the blast fences are erected... Again thanks go to all supporters of the INZENSO campaign, which showed us, that the world - and certainly the english-speaking world - is still connected very much to the area, since the days of 1949 when Geraint Jones made his first recordings in the neighbouring Steinkirchen... And the future of the organ? The parish has just ordered a complete scientific investigation of the instrument to prepare the considerations of the restoration, which hopefully shall happen in the form of a public symposium. This investigation will coust around 80.000 EUR. The restoration itself will be around 600.000 to 1.000.000 EUR, depending on the time of start and the amount of work. No big sponsor visible, but we continue to be optimistic! Why? It happens around us - still parishes and fundraising societies succeed in restoring and building fine organs! And so I'm optimistic, too, to raise money for the large instrument at St. Marien Rostock, which I will be responsible for from July 1st. It was a nice time in Neuenfelde. Greetings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 I suspect that the money will not be a problem for the Schnitger restoration. I know that the restoration of the old organ at Alkmaar (not the West End F C Schnitger instrument), received some very big donations from wealthy individuals; one of whom was an American connected with the Sony Corporation. I think the fame of the Nuenfelde instrument is such, that it will be financially supported at least as well, and should generate a lot of interest. Unfortunately, we are unable to make pilgrimages to the birth-place of John Nares, (the English-baroque organist and composer) for one very simple reason. He was born in the village of Heathrow, which is now situated beneath runway 3 of Heathrow Airport. So the current score = Organists 1 v. Airports 1 What a mine of useless information I can be!!!! MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Members of the discussion board may like to check out the following web-site, which gives details of the Schnitger organ, the church and organ of St Marien, Rostock, and not least, Herr Kropf himself. http://www.edition-kbk.de/schnitger/stockw.../life/life.html I, for one, would be very interested to know more about the orgel at Rostock, which looks rather splendid. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kropf Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share Posted May 10, 2007 Members of the discussion board may like to check out the following web-site, which gives details of the Schnitger organ, the church and organ of St Marien, Rostock, and not least, Herr Kropf himself. http://www.edition-kbk.de/schnitger/stockw.../life/life.html I, for one, would be very interested to know more about the orgel at Rostock, which looks rather splendid. MM That's my personal HP, for Neuenfelde you'd better use www.schnitgerorgel.de Regarding Rostock, I just want to say, that this forum will heartily be invited to take part in the discussion which this instrument really needs. Don't want to tell too much right now, but I think it's going to be a thrilling challenge. More about it in summer, when I'm really on duty there...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Sayer Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Regarding Rostock, I just want to say, that this forum will heartily be invited to take part in the discussion which this instrument really needs. Don't want to tell too much right now, but I think it's going to be a thrilling challenge. More about it in summer, when I'm really on duty there...! I was able to hear and play the Marienkirche organ on a visit to Rostock shortly after re-unification in the early 1990s. The original 32ft case of 1769 by Paul Schmidt filling the entire western arch and incorporating the ducal throne is quite stunning. A far-reaching rebuild of the instrument was undertaken in 1938 with Prof Fritz Heitmann of Berlin Cathedral as consultant. The organ is of similar date, size and significance to the 'Coronation Organ' in Westminster Abbey. The tonal ideals of Sauer and Arthur Harrison make for fascinating comparison. The question of 'Wohin' (Where next?) for the Rostock organ is indeed eagerly awaited. JS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now