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Darmstadt barrel organ orchestra plays benefit concert in the city church
On Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 6 p.m., the Darmstadt Barrel Organ Orchestra to an extraordinary concert in Darmstadt's City Church . Under the motto "Pearls of Classical Music – from 450 Barrel Organ Pipes," the ensemble will present works by twelve composers from the genres of symphony, opera, operetta, and musical theater – this time in the unmistakable sound of the barrel organ.
The benefit concert is being held to raise funds for the modernization of the large church organ. While it is often called the "queen of instruments," the small "barrel organ princesses" want to show that they, too, can impressively fill the church space. The program includes, among other pieces, soulful works by Bach and Vivaldi , rhythmic pieces by Grieg and Mozart , and Bach's famous Toccata in D minor . The grand finale is Smetana's "The Moldau," during which the barrel organs even imitate the sounds of rapids and thunder.
About the barrel organ orchestra
The Darmstadt Barrel Organ Orchestra was founded in 1998 by Sabine Thoma and Peter Suchantke . Inspired by the possibilities of playing together in multiple parts, they expanded the ensemble with additional instruments. In the barrel organ scene, a group is only considered an orchestra when at least three specially tuned instruments play multi-part arrangements. Christian Möller from Hannoversch Münden is responsible for the arrangements.
The orchestra plays on instruments with a range of up to four octaves and up to five registers – the true "experts" of the ensemble. Besides the founders, Anne Trapp and K.-H. (Kalle) Trapp part of the group. Currently, there are only five barrel organ ensembles worldwide that perform in this format.
Concert information
- Date: Sunday, September 21, 2025
- Time: 6:00 PM (Box office opens at 5:15 PM)
- Location: City Church Darmstadt
- Program: Works by Beethoven, Haydn, Pachelbel, Rossini, and others.
- Tickets: 15 euros plus advance booking fee
- Advance tickets: www.stadtkirche-darmstadt.de , Kirche & Co., Darmstadt-Shop in the Luisencenter and at the box office on the evening of the performance.
- (Darmstadt - red)
