Orgelmuseum Borgentreich

The Orgelmuseum Borgentreich stands in the small town of Borgentreich in eastern Westphalia. Housed in a classical building from 1850, the museum was founded in 1980 and was Germany’s first organ museum. It occupies the former town hall, which was saved from demolition by the museum’s creation. The idea came from the nearby Baroque organ in St Johannes Baptist church. Gottfried Haunhorst, the church’s cantor, ran the museum alone until 1993. Since then the city and the archbishop’s office in Paderborn have shared responsibility for its operation. The museum explains how organs are made and how they work. On 600 square metres it shows historical exhibits, loans and gifts from builders and parishes. Special working models demonstrate technical details of organ construction. After a major refurbishment in 2004 the displays were reorganised with help from the Westphalian museum office. The exhibition now follows a clear educational layout. Visitors learn about the craft of organ building across the centuries. The museum also highlights the role of organs in church music. Inside, the rooms contain examples of pipes, bellows and keyboards from different periods. One room recreates a small workshop where visitors can see how pipes are voiced. Another shows the inside of an organ case with coloured ranks of pipes. Outside, the town square offers views of the classical façade of the former town hall. A short walk leads to St Johannes Baptist church, where the Baroque organ still plays during services. The museum’s presence has given Borgentreich the title ‘Organ Town’.