A new book about the famous Compenius Organ at the Frederiksborg Castle has recently been published. The book is bilingual—in English and Danish—and the book’s two main articles are written by curator Thomas Lyngby, outlining the organ’s history in Denmark, and organbuilder Mads Kjersgaard, who in detail describes his work and experience with the restoration of the Compenius organ.
The other articles include Dorothea Schröder’s description of the organ’s pre-Danish history, with an analysis of the organ’s decorative embellishment. Gerhard Aumüller writes about the Compenius organbuilder dynasty, and Svend Prip deals with the measurement and description of the organ, which were carried out in 1940. Christian Gorm Tortzen has written about the interesting find of medieval parchment, which Compenius had used as sealing material in the windchests, and Kai Ole Bøggild has written about Finn Viderø’s legendary recordings on the organ. Finally, the castle organist Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen has written about his own experiences as a musician with the instrument.
The book is accompanied by a DVD, in which Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen presents the Compenius Organ as a chamber music instrument with the Ensemble Authentia. The 213-page lavishly illustrated book is published by the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle, in collaboration with the Frederiksborg Castle Church and the Danish Organ Society. The book can be purchased at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg’s Museum Store or by contacting the museum: [email protected]. Price 249 DDK (€35 or US$45) plus shipping.
