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What is Organa historica Fennica?

The aim of the Organa historica Fennica association is to initiate restorations and reconstructions of historical organs from the 17th and 18th centuries and to increase interest in historical organs in Finland.

In Finland there are only nine more or less preserved organs from the 18th century, three of which are playable. They can be found in Alatornio, Nykarleby (in Finnish Uusikaarlepyy), Jeppo (Jepua), Munsala (restored in 1976), Övermark (Ylimarkku), Kristinestad (Kristiinankaupunki), Finström, Nagu (Nauvo, restored in 1976) and Ingå (Inkoo) Fagervik (playable, almost in original condition). The Jakobstad (Pietarsaari) Museum has parts of a facade and some pipes from a Telin 18th century organ. Organs with roots in the 17th century are even rarer. The Nagu positive from the 1660s is kept in the Finnish National Museum, and fragments from the 17th century also exist in the organs in Munsala and Jeppo.

The Ostrobothnia region is particularly well represented with preserved organs, and the town of Nykarleby has three organs from the 18th century, a truly priceless cultural treasure.

The organ in Munsala was originally built in 1696 by the Beijer brothers for Gamlakarleby (Kokkola) Church. It was badly damaged in 1714 during the war between Sweden and Russia and was later rebuilt by, among others, Erik German 1736–1738 and Petter Lybeck in 1877.

The organ in Nykarleby Church was built in 1768 by Anders Telin with 8 stops. Since 1909 it has stood completely intact in the north transept, but is presently unplayable. It is described in the book The Nordic-Baltic Organ Book (History and Culture, GOArt Publications no. 11 2003, Gothenburg Organ Art Centre).

The organ in Jeppo is older than the organ in Munsala and was originally built for Pedersöre Church. It was moved to Jeppo in 1888. This instrument is based on an older organ built by the Beijer brothers in 1685. According to a letter dated 17 October 1663, which is kept in the Swedish National Archives, there was an unplayable organ from the 16th century in Pedersöre Church. It might be possible that the Beijer brothers used remnants of this organ when they built a new organ in 1685. However, this Beijer organ was badly damaged in 1714. Organist Henric Kahelin, Gamlakarleby, was probably responsible for the restoration in 1774. When experts recently examined this instrument, they found 28 pipes whose high lead content suggests that the pipes may have come from the 16th century organ in Pedersöre. Thus, this organ in Jeppo may contain pipes from the 16th century, which is unique in Finland.

The organs in Nykarleby and Jeppo are now museum pieces, but for reasons of instrument history and national culture, they deserve to be restored to their former glory.

Organa historica Fennica has therefore decided to tackle the organ restoration projects in Nykarleby and Jeppo, where the best-preserved organs are located.