This organ is finished and currently fully playable.

Case

In 1841 Cavaillé-Coll constructed an 'orgue de salon' for Pauline Viardot (1821-1910). This instrument had 2 manuals and pedal with in total 14 speaking stops. Currently this organ is in altered form found in the église Notre-Dame de Melun.

The beautiful organcase was the inspiration for the design which also holds 2 manuals and pedal. The 10 manual stops are made in the traditional way with pipes. Due to the space restictions the two pedal stops are provided with free reeds as used in harmoniums.

Stoplist

The chosen stoplist provides all basic sounds of the French romantic school as developed by Cavaillé-Coll. The stops are scaled to ensure maximum blend and a moderate total volume which is so important in smaller rooms. Beside the traditional four fonds, colourful stops like Nasard, Voix Céleste and Basson-Hautbois found a place in the stoplist. The plenum is crowned by a Doublette. Due to the resticted dimensions of the organcase (hxwxd: 256x218x127cm, incl. manuals) is was not possible to provide each fond completely with its own pipes, a solution was found by combining them in the bottom octave.

Built in 1896 by Bishop & Son (organbuilder in London and Ipwich) for the St. James Chapel in Brightlingsea (a fishing village in the Essex region northeast of London).

In 1977, the Oude Kerk of Zoetermeer decided to purchase a choir organ. At a private dealer in Friesland, the Bishop organ was offered for sale, but without organ case. The sound of the pipes, the wind chest, mechanics and air supply were of good quality. Volunteers from the congregation built a new organ case with use of the existing façade. The construction of the stop action was changed and a new console layout made.
The bellows, wind chest, rollerboard, etc. were kept in its original state. The lead wind ways to the façade pipes are still original as it the façade toe board. The organ was equipped with a new fan. In 1978 the organ was inaugurated.

In 2007, the choir organ was purchased by Van den Heuvel Orgelbouw who the organ gave a major overhaul: windchest, stop action, key action, wind supply and pipe work. In 2014 the organ recieved a new organ case of oak.

Bishop belonged to the well-known English companies and their organs are known for their solid con-struction and warm, round and noble organ sound which is so typical of the English organ culture. The instrument therefore is well suited to accompany singing, but also invites you to improvise!

The organ is playable in our workshop.

Download the brochure

Dimensions:
Height: 388 cm
Width: 245 cm
Depth: 102 cm (excl. console, tuning space behind the organ and organ fan)
Depth incl. console and tuning space: 237 cm

For more information and/or a visit you can contact us:
Jan L. VAN DEN HEUVEL ORGELBOUW BV
t.a.v. Jan & Peter van den Heuvel
Amstelwijckweg 44
NL-3316 BB Dordrecht
telefoon: +31 (0)78 61 79 540
fax: +31 (0)78 61 81 228
e-mail:

The restauration of the Christian Reformed Church of Dordrecht has taken a total of 15 years. The intensive project is completed with the installation of a new 24 stop organ.

The inauguration is on Saturday, December 15th 2012. During this event a book "Huis in de branding" will be presented about the history of the church building and congregation. The first copy will be presented to Mayor A.A.M. Brok.

From the musik school of Hallein the contract was given to J.L. van den Heuvel Orgelbouw to build a two manual organ. Next to teaching and practise instrument it must act as solo and be able to accompaniment  soloists.

Three stops of the Récit were reserved. In june 2009 these stops were commissioned and were installed before the organ was shipped. The organ was inaugurated on november 13, 2009.

"The DR-Van den Heuvel organ is very definitely one of the best concert organs in the world. the majestic and colourful symphonic characteristics of this solo instrument can be an ideal, not only in dialogue and competition with the orchestra, but also in supporting it. I am sure this royal instrument will inspire organists, conductors and composers to give pleasure to many"
Dr Naji Hakim

"We still love the organ and I am hoping that 2013 will mean more action on this marvelous instrument"
Niels Erik Lund (Facility & Operation Manager DR-BYEN, Chairman of the organ committee).