History of the organ
Music has been with us Premonstratensians since the very beginning of the monastery, it is a natural part of our life. The tradition of liturgical singing was gradually joined by the organ. Since at least the mid-17th century, the practice of having two organs in our basilica, a large one standing in the west choir loft and a choir organ in the chancel, is documented.
In the course of its history, the Strahov organ was rebuilt several times, with new registers added or modified and enlarged towards the end of the 18th century. The large organ gained fame in our area for a long time, especially thanks to the Premonstratensian Jan Lohelius Öhlschlägel. In addition to his musical and compositional activities, he was also a regensor of the Strahov choir and an enthusiastic organist. Not surprisingly, the Strahov organ was appreciated by many important musicians, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
A significant milestone in the history of the organ at Strahov is the year 1899. At that time, the Prague organ builder Heinrich Schiffner, who had already proved himself the previous year by rebuilding the choir instrument, also proposed the rebuilding of the mechanically worn large organ with its heavy keys and excessive sensitivity to changes in humidity.
The restored organ ranked among the most beautiful romantic organs in Bohemia in terms of sound and technically it surpassed the Czech competition of the time. After the Second World War, due to unfavourable political and social conditions and insufficient maintenance of the instrument, the organ was degraded, and insensitive reconstruction in the 1980s brought both instruments to their presently unsatisfactory condition.
The Premonstratensians have always cared about music. This is evidenced by our extensive music archive of over six thousand items. Among the members of the Order we find outstanding composers, organists, music theorists and scholars. It is our wish to support the music in the Basilica with an adequate musical instrument and to restore dignity to the famous Strahov organ. We want to let the skilled organists, artists and craftsmen of our time write another important chapter in the history of the organ of Strahov Monastery and thus endow the next generation.
