JERUSALEM (AP) — After 800 years of silence, a pipe organ that researchers say is the oldest in the Christian world roared back to life on Tuesday, its ancient sound echoing through a monastery in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Composed of original pipes from the 11th century, the instrument emitted a full, hearty sound as musician David Catalunya played a liturgical chant called Benedicamus Domino Flos Filius. The swell of music inside Saint Saviour’s Monastery mingled with church bells tolling in the distance.
Before unveiling the instrument, Catalunya declared the event as a monumental development in the history of music. “This organ was buried with the hope that one day it would play again,” he remarked. “And the day has arrived, nearly eight centuries later.”
From now on, the organ will be housed at the Terra Sancta museum in Jerusalem’s Old City — just kilometers from the Bethlehem church where it originally thrived.
Researchers believe that the Crusaders brought the organ to Bethlehem during the 11th century. After a century of use, it was buried for protection against invading forces. Found in 1906 while workers built a new hospice, 222 bronze pipes were among the artifacts unearthed.
“It was extremely moving to hear how some of these pipes came to life again after about 700 years under the earth and 800 years of silence,” said Koos van de Linde, an organ expert who participated in the restoration. “The hope of the Crusaders who buried them — that the moment would come when they would sound again — was not in vain.”
Led by Catalunya, a team of researchers began creating a replica in 2019 but discovered that many original pipes were still functional. Organ builder Winold van der Putten combined these pipes with replicas, some of which were made using ancient methods informed by the original organs. The originals bear markings from the Ottoman craftsmen, showing how music was noted centuries ago.
Alvaro Torrente, director of the Instituto Complutense De Ciencias Musicales in Madrid, described the experience as akin to “finding a living dinosaur” that had come to life. Plans are underway to complete the organ's restoration and to create copies to be placed in churches worldwide, ensuring its sounds can once again be heard by many.
“This is an amazing set of information that allows us to reconstruct the manufacturing process so that we can build pipes exactly as they were made about a thousand years ago,” said Catalunya. The revival of this organ marks not just the return of its music, but a journey towards preserving and sharing our shared cultural heritage.
Composed of original pipes from the 11th century, the instrument emitted a full, hearty sound as musician David Catalunya played a liturgical chant called Benedicamus Domino Flos Filius. The swell of music inside Saint Saviour’s Monastery mingled with church bells tolling in the distance.
Before unveiling the instrument, Catalunya declared the event as a monumental development in the history of music. “This organ was buried with the hope that one day it would play again,” he remarked. “And the day has arrived, nearly eight centuries later.”
From now on, the organ will be housed at the Terra Sancta museum in Jerusalem’s Old City — just kilometers from the Bethlehem church where it originally thrived.
Researchers believe that the Crusaders brought the organ to Bethlehem during the 11th century. After a century of use, it was buried for protection against invading forces. Found in 1906 while workers built a new hospice, 222 bronze pipes were among the artifacts unearthed.
“It was extremely moving to hear how some of these pipes came to life again after about 700 years under the earth and 800 years of silence,” said Koos van de Linde, an organ expert who participated in the restoration. “The hope of the Crusaders who buried them — that the moment would come when they would sound again — was not in vain.”
Led by Catalunya, a team of researchers began creating a replica in 2019 but discovered that many original pipes were still functional. Organ builder Winold van der Putten combined these pipes with replicas, some of which were made using ancient methods informed by the original organs. The originals bear markings from the Ottoman craftsmen, showing how music was noted centuries ago.
Alvaro Torrente, director of the Instituto Complutense De Ciencias Musicales in Madrid, described the experience as akin to “finding a living dinosaur” that had come to life. Plans are underway to complete the organ's restoration and to create copies to be placed in churches worldwide, ensuring its sounds can once again be heard by many.
“This is an amazing set of information that allows us to reconstruct the manufacturing process so that we can build pipes exactly as they were made about a thousand years ago,” said Catalunya. The revival of this organ marks not just the return of its music, but a journey towards preserving and sharing our shared cultural heritage.
