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Presentation of the “Praetorius Bock” on October 19 – a special sound experience for the community
The Christ Church congregation in Darmstadt invites you to the festive unveiling of its new bagpipe on Sunday, October 19th . This extraordinary instrument, a "Praetorius Bock" , was acquired with the support of the Hans Erich and Marie Elfriede Dotter Foundation and will enrich the congregation's musical repertoire with a captivating sound.
Crafted from high-quality serviceberry wood and fitted with water buffalo horns as natural sound amplifiers, the new bagpipe combines meticulous craftsmanship with exceptional acoustics. Visitors can examine the instrument up close after the service and learn more about how it is played.
Unique combination: organ and bagpipes
The combination of organ and bagpipes is rare and sonically appealing. The congregation had its first encounter with this type of instrument during a musical service in 2024 – at that time with a so-called "Hümmelchen," a smaller bagpipe. The positive experience prompted the purchase of a full-fledged instrument, which will be used in the future for musical services, concerts, and special occasions.
“Both instruments produce sounds in a similar way – through airflow and vibration,” explains the church’s cantor and organist. “This creates an extraordinary harmony that has rarely been heard in church music before.”
Sound diversity and new musical possibilities
With the new bagpipes, Christ Church expands its repertoire to include new forms of expression. In addition to traditional melodies, chorales and variations can now be presented in a fresh light. The interplay with the organ opens up unfamiliar soundscapes – spanning the Middle Ages, Baroque, and modern eras.
The community is delighted to immerse itself in this new world of sound .
(Eberstadt - Red/PM)
