Replicas of ancient organs from the Roman and Byzantine culture - a small summary of a large project
Author(s): Susanne Rühling
Year: 2013
Summary
In 2011 and 2012, organs from Antiquity and the Middle Ages were reconstructed as part of a project between the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum in Mainz and the company Alexander Schuke Potsdam-organ-builder GmbH. The replica of a "Byzantine double-organ" was built, following historical images and written sources, as well as using information obtained from archaeological finds. This musical instrument was already shown at the exhibition "The Golden Byzantium and the Orient" in 2012 at the castle Schallaburg. Furthermore, another replica of the famous "Organ of Aquincum" was built which involved an evaluation of different kinds of sources and a re-analysis of the images of the original fragments. Replicas from successive epochs provide a view into the development of musical and technical traditions. The organ as a very complex instrument incarnates the theoretical concept of ancient and early medieval music in theory and practice. Changes of structural elements of this type of musical instrument are representative for the change or the continuity of the contemporary theory and practice.
Cite this Record
Replicas of ancient organs from the Roman and Byzantine culture - a small summary of a large project. Susanne Rühling. Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa Bilanz 2013. 12: 217-222. 2013 ( tDAR id: 424916)
Keywords
General
Experimental Archaeology
•
living history
•
Tourism
Geographic Keywords
Germany
Temporal Keywords
Early Middle Ages
•
Roman Era
Spatial Coverage
min long: 5.865; min lat: 47.275 ; max long: 15.034; max lat: 55.057 ;
Individual & Institutional Roles
Contact(s): EXARC Experimental Archaeology Collection Manager
Record Identifiers
ExArc Id(s): 14039
Notes
Rights & Attribution: The information in this record was originally compiled by Dr. Roeland Paardekooper, EXARC Director.