Jürgen Ahrend

German organ builder Jürgen Ahrend was born on 28 April 1930 in Göttingen, where he learnt his trade by serving as an apprentice in Paul Ott's organ building firm, later working there as an employee.

With fellow employee Gerhard Brunzema, he travelled to study organ building in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark, and then in 1954 they formed an organ-building partnership in Leer-Loga in Lower Saxony. Brunzema left the firm in 1972 to work in Canada, and the workshop then operated as Jürgen Ahrend Orgelbau.

Working internationally, and using various historic building techniques, Jürgen Ahrend devoted approximately half his time to restoration, and half to building new organs, becoming very well known for his work.

Since 2005 his son Hendrik Ahrend has run the workshop.

Jürgen Ahrend died on 1 August 2024, aged ninety-four.

 

A selection of articles about Jürgen Ahrend

Classical music news - August 2024 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

CD Spotlight. Exceptional Assurance - J S Bach organ sonatas, heard by Howard Smith. '... an immensely satisfying conclusion.'