Let’s finish the construction of the St. Vitus Cathedral, the symbol of the Czech Republic.

The New Organ Play video Adopt a pipe QR Payment

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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

News / Records from the Chronicle

12/01/2024

Žáci ZŠ Marjánka adoptovali píšťalu

Žáci Základní školy Marjánka v Praze dokázali během adventního jarmarku v prosinci 2023 vybrat částku 13 167 Kč, kterou věnovali na adopci píšťaly svatovítských varhan. Z dalších projektů, na které žáci přispěli, získaly svatovítské varhany nejvyšší podíl. Do benefiční akce se zapojili žáci od nejnižších až po nejvyšší ročníky a na adventním jarmarku nabízeli ručně vyráběné výrobky a cukroví. Jsme vděční žákům ZŠ Marjánka za štědrý dar, kterého si velmi vážíme. Symbolické předání šeku se uskutečnilo v arcibiskupském paláci, kde arcibiskup pražský Mons. Jan Graubner převzal z rukou žáků darovací šek.

09/01/2024

Dar na píšťalu od studentu gymnázia Leonardo V. Academy

Gymnázium Leonardo V. Academy se připojilo k charitativnímu programu na podporu dokončení varhan v katedrále Sv. Víta. Rozhodli jsme se adoptovat varhanní píšťalu, čímž s radostí neseme svůj díl odpovědnosti a stáváme se součástí této nádherné historie a kulturního dědictví. V rámci charitativního projektu na naší škole jsme dokázali vybrat částku 21 000 Kč.

Tato jedinečná iniciativa pro nás není pouze příležitostí zapojit naše žáky do obnovy svatovítské katedrály, ale také příležitostí vytvořit trvalý odkaz pro naši školu. Přidáním našeho jména ke spolufinancování těchto varhan přispíváme k bohatství hudební tradice v naší metropoli.

Text: Gymnázium Leonardo V. Academy

22/12/2023

Vánoční video a poděkování za dar

Společnost Senator Meetings & Incentives s.r.o. darovala na velkou píšťalu svatovítských varhan dar 300.000 Kč. Tohoto daru si velmi vážíme a děkujeme za něj. Při této příležitosti se rozhodla pro své partnery vytvořit vánoční přání v podobě krátkého videa. Odkaz na video přikládáme.

Odkaz na video: https://www.senatormi.eu/pf-2024/

22/12/2023

Vánoční přání

Vážení mecenáši a přátelé Nadačního fondu pro svatovítské varhany, v tomto svátečním období bychom chtěli vyjádřit naše srdečné poděkování za Vaši podporu a štědrost. Přejeme Vám požehnané a radostné Vánoční svátky.

The New Instrument

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

An Organ for the Cathedral

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.

The New Instrument

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 builder of the new organ

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.

Let’s finish the work of our ancestors. Let’s finish the building of the St. Vitus Cathedral, the symbol of the Czech Republic. The cathedral is missing a dignified voice. Support the building of its organ.
The St. Vitus Organ

Sponsorship / Support

90%

To this day, we’ve successfully raised: 78,836,673 CZK

Thank you!

The Old Organ

The Current Organ
HISTORY OF PIPE ORGANS IN THE CATHEDRAL
WHAT IS THE PIPE ORGAN

The Fund

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:

ICLic. Mgr. Ondřej Pavek
Chairman of the Managing Board of the St. Vitus Organ Fund
e-mail: pavek@svatovitskevarhany.com
phone: + 420 603 235 606

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:

ICLic. Mgr. Ondřej Pávek
Prof. JUDr. Jan Kříž
JUDr. Pavel Müller
Ing. Robert Kolář
Mgr. Vojtěch Mátl

 

Members of the Supervisory Board:

ThLic. Ing. Zdenek Wasserbauer Th.D.
Ing. MgA. Pavel Farský
Mgr. Jakub Skřejpek
Drahoslav Chudoba
Ing. Arch. Marek Štěpán

Contacts

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

The New Instrument

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.