Intensive training on acoustics of pipe organs for organ builders and organists

Abstract

A special course on acoustics is organized regularly in the Fraunhofer-Institute fr Bauphysik (IBP) for training pipe organ builders, official organ experts, and organists. The title of the 4-day intensive course is ‘‘Pipe Organ and Church Acoustics’’ and it is scheduled at the end of January every year, when most of the organ builders are less occupied than in other periods. The number of participants is limited to 20, but the course is repeated in February, if necessary. The working language of the course is German, but English and French are also possible. The curriculum of the course is based on the ongoing research on pipe organs in the IBP and it is divided to three parts: fundamentals of acoustics; recent results of research on organ and church acoustics; and laboratory demonstrations and practical applications. During the demonstrations there is a limited possibility to perform measurements suggested by the participants. The content of the lectures and demonstrations is upgraded every year with the newest results of the research. In this paper the experiences of the eight courses held up to now will be discussed. A short video clip showing some of the laboratory demonstrations will also be presented.