Jürgen Ahrend

Jürgen Ahrend (born 28 April 1930) is a German organ builder famous for restoring instruments such as the Rysum organ and the Arp Schnitger organ in St. Jacobi, Hamburg (St James's Church) as well as building original instruments. He is interviewed extensively in the film Martinikerk Rondeau, released in 2009.

Ahrend was born in Göttingen on 28 April 1930. From 1946 to 1948, he served an apprenticeship in the firm of Paul Ott. Afterwards, he worked for the firm as employee. In 1954, he formed a partnership with Gerhard Brunzema in Leer-Loga, Lower Saxony. They produced 54 new organs and made 19 restorations, until Brunzema left the firm in 1972. Since January 1972, the workshop has been operating under the name Jürgen Ahrend Orgelbau. Since 2005, his son Hendrik Ahrend has run the workshop.

Awards

 * 21 May 1986 Niedersachsenpreis for Culture
 * 19 April 2000 Honorary doctorate from the Monash University, Victoria, Australia
 * 5 May 2007 The Buxtehude Prize from the city of Lübeck.

Works (selection)

 * Roman number = number of manuals
 * Arabian number = number of stops
 * P = independent pedal
 * p = pull down pedal
 * R = restoration
 * Rc = reconstruction
 * NB = new built