Choir organ Grote Sint-Laurenskerk, Alkmaar/Netherlands
The Grote Sint-Laurenskerk has two world-famous organs: the Van Covelens organ (also called the Choir organ) and the Van Hagerbeer/Schnitger or Large organ.
The Choir Organ dates from 1511 and is placed against the north wall of the church. The last restoration of this oldest playable organ in the Netherlands was completed in the year 2000. In 1636, ideas arose for the construction of a large organ in the church. Various organ builders worked on it, but in 1645 Jacobus Caltus van Hagerbeer completed the Great Organ. Jacob van Campen designed the organ case and Caesar van Everdingen was commissioned in 1643 to paint the doors of the organ case with 'the triumph of the Coninck Saul'. This painting is one of his first major works. Above the organ, the painter Romeyn de Hooghe painted the baroque-style 'The Virtue, which crushes the Vice'. From 1723 to 1725, the Great Organ was restored and expanded by Frans Caspar Schnitger. Subsequently, various restorations have been made to this organ over time.
Image shot with a Ricoh GRIII
GRIII_R0000305 by
Luc de Schepper, on Flickr