We build instruments that speak the language of our time. It is not our intention to duplicate any style, but to create a style with which it is possible to render the broadest possible range of organ literature.

Naturally, the knowledge of instruments from all periods is necessary. Our language of today has its roots. Only those who understand the roots can speak the language.

A new CD has just been released from the Rieger organ of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (USA), with the recording of a competition concert that already took place in 2018.

Aaron Tan already won first prize on this organ in 2018 in the “National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance” of the famous “Amercan Guild of Organists” (AGO NYACOP).

Rieger Orgelbau is also involved in the current exhibition at Kunsthaus Bregenz by Valie Export “Oh Lord, Don’t Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb on Me”, which runs from March 3 to April 10.

While organ pipes from the Linz pilgrimage church on the Pöstlingberg are in the exhibition hall as an installation, the pipes for the temporary art actions for children come from Rieger Orgelbau.

In view of the current debates about energy saving and reduced heating in public spaces, the question has arisen in some quarters, of what effects lowering the winter room temperatures can have on an organ.

Basically, it can be said that cold rooms are not harmful to pipe organs, but other parameters must be taken into account, such as humidity, speed of heating and cooling etc.

We have compiled a small fact sheet on this subject as a PDF.

Organs in unheated rooms

“Respect yourself, respect others and take responsibility for what you do.” In more recent times, it is precisely this attitude of appreciation for the instruments of previous generations that has led to the individual restoration projects that have always been undertaken at Rieger Orgelbau being grouped into a separate restoration division. The latter has now been consistently expanded into a significant Restoration Department.

Rieger understands restoration to be a highly flexible approach to working, tailored to the instrument in question, an approach which is oriented exclusively to the given historical specifications in its choice of materials and working methods.

What in particular are Rieger’s distinguishing features?
Several things. Firstly, Rieger can react more flexibly and directly within the company during restorations. Because Rieger has its own large pipe workshop, historically accurate pipe or stop reconstructions, additions, rebuilding work or repairs, for example, can not only be carried out directly in-house, but above all monitored step by step during the process. The result is that any corrections or optimisations to out-of-the-ordinary reconstructions can be made immediately.

Secondly, the knowledge gained from constructing the most diverse types of windchest for new organs, with which Rieger is constantly involved, also flows directly into the restoration and manufacture not only of the normal slider windchest, but also of such specific windchest systems as pouch chests, cone chests, membrane chests, etc. The symbiosis of the know-how learned in constructing new instruments and the transfer of skills to historical projects is a hallmark. Of course, this interaction also applies vice versa,

Due to the Electronic Development Department, which is also in-house, the rich experience gained from applying extensive electrical equipment in new organs can flow into rebuilding instruments, for example, and can be adapted immediately without having to call on subcontractors or suppliers.

Rieger organs are based on a centuries-old and mature knowledge of sound and technology. Numerous historically orientate instruments still leave the firm nowadays, as Rieger is at home in both historic and modern organ building and can boast numerous areas of expertise.

Whoever buys a modern Rieger organ knows that the complete electronic control system in the organ also comes from Rieger – not from a supplier or subcontractor. Since numerous musicians were not satisfied with the combination and control systems available on the market, Rieger opened its own electronics development department several years ago.

Rieger Electronic Assistant (REA) is currently one of the world’s most sophisticated memory and control systems for organ building. Since Rieger develops its own electronic products, there is no need to consult a supplier, e.g. for maintenance, as Rieger can offer distance maintenance – no matter in which part of the world the organ is located.

REA offers a high level of comfort for organists, going far beyond the usual standard (memory mode, title mode, concert mode) and supporting playing and artistic activity, even inspiring it with modern combination possibilities.

But of course only in combination with a Rieger organ.