Let’s finish the construction of the St. Vitus Cathedral, the symbol of the Czech Republic.
Support the project of purchasing a new St. Vitus organ with a one-time donation. Just scan the QR code in your banking app on your phone. We would like to thank all donors.
Bank account number: 7191292/0800
Velvyslanec České republiky ve Španělsku, pan Libor Sečka, navštívil dílnu Organos německého stavitele varhan Gerharda Grenzinga ve městě El Papiol u Barcelony. Pan velvyslanec si prohlédl 17 metrů vysoký nástroj, který již je dokončen a připraven k přesunu do katedrály sv. Víta v Praze.
Také o letošních Vánocích bude možné obdarovat své milované píšťalou ze svatovítských varhan. Prostřednictvím adopce píšťal je možné přispět na jednu nebo více varhanních píšťal a podpořit tak dokončení dlouholetého projektu a velkých snah o symbolické zakončení stavby svatovítské katedrály.
Píšťalu svatovítských varhan můžete adoptovat pro sebe nebo jí obdarovat své blízké. Píšťaly k adopci jsou dostupné v cenových hladinách od 10.000 Kč do 30.000 Kč. Každý k adoptované píšťale obdrží dárkovou kazetu se symbolickou kovovou píšťalou a ručně nadepsaným certifikátem.
V úterý 21. listopadu proběhl IV. benefiční koncert na podporu dostavby svatovítských varhan v katedrále sv. Víta. Koncert, na kterém se představili umělci jako Jan Smigmator, Český národní symfonický orchestr, Kateřina Kněžíková nebo Adam Plachetka, a který živě přenášela Česká televize a Český rozhlas, sledovalo přes sto tisíc diváků a během hodinu a půl dlouhého přenosu se povedlo vybrat přes 1,2 milionu korun. Nové varhany se budou instalovat v západní kruchtě přibližně půl roku po dokončení nutných technických úprav prostoru, které již započaly.
V pražské katedrále svatých Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha se chystá poslední benefiční koncert pro nové varhany. Jak moc se tedy přiblížila chvíle, kdy se v národním svatostánku rozezní? O drobných přispěvatelích, radostech i úskalích kolem tohoto velkolepého projektu si popovídáme s vedoucím sekretariátu arcibiskupa a členem správní rady Nadačního fondu Svatovítské varhany, Vojtěchem Mátlem. Zve vás Hana Scharffová.
It would be difficult to find a structure in our country, which could be the equal of the cathedral of St. Vitus. It is a spiritual institution that shapes our relationship with the Creator. It is the first basilica in the country. Moreover, while it may be seen as a visual textbook of Christianity, at the same time it is at the crossroads of our history, where decisions were made about historical outcomes in our land. It is one of the greatest works of art in our country, which in a minute space, concentrates many artistic stages in many contexts. The cathedral is a visual witness to past events and helped to shape our own identity. It is also, however, a living organism, which evolved over half a millennium and even today is still not complete.
It is hard to imagine Prague today without the silhouette of the cathedral. And yet, this silhouette actually looked quite different until recent times. Half of the building (the nave) was missing and was not completed till 1929. The Metropolitan Church is such monumental work, that it will probably never be absolutely completed. Nevertheless, something very significant is missing to this day because, at the completion of construction, there were insufficient funds to install a new organ in the western choir loft of the cathedral. Several attempts have been made; all have been unsuccessful. Finally, today we have a new opportunity. It is up to us to in a time of peace and freedom to fulfill the legacy of our predecessors, in particular, that of the father of the nation, Charles IV and to ‘complete’ the cathedral.
The organ, because of its magnificence, is called the ‘king of instruments’. But is not the instrument of earthly kings for the organ speaks in the voice of God that sometimes gently whispers and infuses our soul with peaceful joy and at other times roars and thunders, sending shivers up our spine. The beauty of the organ lies in the fact that in spite of its monumentality it fulfills the word of Him who did not come to be served, but to serve. Anyone who listens to the music of the organ, is taught humility. It leads one to the art of listening and of harmonizing one’s relationship with his neighbor through singing and prayer. The organ leads us to a more genuine relationship not only with God, but also with our neighbor. For this reason, we want to work together to contribute to the glory of God, to the renown of St. Vitus Cathedral and to the further evolution of the famous musical traditions of our nation.
Dominik Duka OP, Cardinal Archbishop of Prague
The idea of the building of a new organ never disappeared completely: it repeatedly re-emerged, only to be postponed to more favourable times as a result of adverse society-wide events of the war years and also due to the post-war conditions.
A new instrument may be regarded as a testimony to the capabilities, experience and knowledge of the present generation as well as acting as a legacy to future generations.
The organ building company of Gerhard Grenzing is one of the most experienced companies in this field: it has successfully completed 220 restoration and building projects across continents.
To this day, we’ve successfully raised: 78,836,673 CZK
Thank you!
The St. Vitus Organ Fund was established in accordance with Act No. 227/1997 Sb. by its registration into the fund registry administered by the Municipal Court in Prague, file ref. N 1123, on 19 March 2014.
The registration number of the fund is 02794471.
The bank account of the fund is 2109930876/2700.
Registered office: Hradčanské náměstí 56/16, 119 02 Prague 1 – Hradčany
Purpose of the fund: acquisition of a new representative organ for the St. Vitus Cathedral
Contact:
František Falta
Coordinator of the Organ for the Cathedral project
e-mail: Frantisek.Falta@apha.cz
phone: +420 733 164 063
Members of the Managing Board:
Members of the Supervisory Board:
Media inquiries:
Šimon Slavík
Project press agent
e-mail: slavik@bohemianheritage.cz
telefon: +420 734 335 438
Contact for others parties involved in the Organ for the Cathedral project:
Vojtěch Mátl
Vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board
e-mail: vojtech.matl@apha.cz
telefon: +420 737 215 326
Jakub Skřejpek
Bohemian Heritage Fund
e-mail: skrejpek@bohemianheritage.cz
Although at first glance the assignment of constructing a new organ seems straight forward, the building of such a representative instrument is a challenging task for those involved, as it is to be the representative instrument in the most notable basilica in the Czech lands. At the same time, however, this task is an exciting challenge that arises once every 150 or 200 years. A new instrument may be regarded as a testimony to the capabilities, experience and knowledge of the present generation as well as acting as a legacy to future generations.
The exceptional and distinct impact of an organ on an individual, is given not only by its location in the space of the church but also by its effect on a person’s senses. We see the external shape and decoration of the organ case, we hear the sound of the organ pipes and we feel the interaction of the space of the basilica and the instrument. Supportive and balanced synergies of all the senses allow one to perceive the beauty of the sound of the organ and the music produced by it.
The artistic concept of the new cathedral instrument was born from considerations and discussions with both Czech and foreign experts over many aspects of the new instrument. The project was inspired by the tradition of the St. Vitus organ, but also by the living, continuously developing art of organ improvisation that was handed down to the current generation by great personalities of the Czech organ music of the 20th century. The new St. Vitus organ should be a source of inspiration not only for the development of this legacy but also should act as a stimulus for contemporary interpretations of music from the organ repertoire.
To achieve this concept, the most appropriate instrument was considered to be a symphonic instrument inspired by the French style. The new grand organ by its size will reflect the majestic space of the cathedral. Much more important than the total number of registers and number of pipes, however, is the importance of the integrity of the overall design, the artistic quality of the individual registers and the design of the organ case. Keeping the size of the basilica in mind, the organ will have at least three manuals, certainly more than sixty registers and more than five thousand pipes.
Parting from more common practice, the concept of the organ design has not been given strict parameters. This is so that in the creation of the organ as a unique work of art, the artistic inspiration and ideas of the organ builder – from whom are expected great originality in ideas, an inspiring sound and a unique design for an organ case - will not be constrained and limited.
The instrument will be installed under the rose window in the western choir loft, which from the time of its construction, has been empty. This appropriate location will allow the organ sound to fill the entire interior of the basilica. Moreover, the organ will be a welcome addition to the empty area above the main entrance to the cathedral.
It is hoped that the instrument will reflect the latest expertise and knowledge in the construction of large organs in a cathedral space. The current options, particularly in the areas of technology and electronics, provide previously unavailable solutions in the construction and management of the organ. Even more importantly, over and above these technological possibilities with which we hope to enhance the instrument, we would like to emphasize the importance of durability and reliability which we consider more important than the use of untested, ultra-modern technologies and findings.
