- The church in fact has tremendous acoustics. However, the sample set maker was very effective at producing a good balance between direct sound and reverberation. Of course also thanks to the neo-baroque character, the organ will sound clear and no notes are lost in the reverb. The stops 'mix' well, but some details are lost in the huge reverb.
- Augustine’s Virtual Organs offers some of their sample sets for free, though only Hauptwerk ODFs are provided. Jeux d’orgues 2: Stiehr-Mockers is a nice free sample set available for a Hauptwerk, GrandOrgue, and a vast array of other general purpose sampler software.
Same Organ Uploaded by: Bercaudia (04. Sample Set: Laurenskerk - Main Organ - 1973 Marcussen & Son: Software: Hauptwerk IV: Genre: Romantic.
A little list of the best free hauptwerk sample sets based on various features, characteristics and overall quality (IMO). These sets require no prior purchase of any kind and are entirely free. Click on the sample names to be taken to their web pages.
A free composite based on the Grand-orgue of the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur.
Pipeloops offers full demos of all of their organs with periodic muting, meaning you can test the entire organ before buying, an extremely generous act. They also provide completely free sets like the Fuhrer organ with a limited number of stops.
A useful on its own demo of the Cavaillé-Coll organ in St Omer Cathedral offers the whole positif division with a select number of stops from the Recit and Grand-Orgue. The demo may be also extended to create a pedal division and large number of stops, which will be available from Organa Reginae Caeli in the near future.
Augustine’s Great Romantic Composite uses the best of Sonus Paradisi’s Romantic organ demos to create a large composite, freely available
A large symphonic organ beautifully captured by Piotr Grabowski, it offers versatility in its stops and a nice reverb to compliment it, offering a useful alternative to the more expensive Symphonic sample sets.
A large demo from the already large Casavant organ at Bellevue from Sonus Paradisi. It features three manuals and pedal with the required number of stops for many organ pieces, and the sample is fairly dry, making it great for practicing the more difficult symphonic works, such as Dupré’s Fugue in F or G Minor.
Hauptwerk Sample Set - Marcussen Organization
A small but very good set for practicing (dry acoustics) and its extended version enhances its capabilities to practice more of the organ repertoire.
A beautifully sounding sample set the offers intimate stops for colorful playing and at the same time a powerful tutti that is quite bright, making it great for works of Bach and other Baroque masters, while also providing a nice but not too long of a reverb.
An exquisite sound is produced by this pipe organ, whether it comes from its ecstatic foundation stops, to the grand tutti, in an environment which allows for clear sounds and yet great acoustics. A donation would be sincerely appreciated on their part.
Hauptwerk Organs
Hauptwerk Sample Set - Marcussen Organic
Not only is this organ one of the most popular sample sets available (see contrebombarde statistics), it is also available in a demo that can be used by itself very usefully, and the extensions made by some (Al Morse) makes this instrument even more versatile and great knowing that it is free.
Although it has been extensively restored several times – the last major restoration was carried out in 1959-60 by the Danish firm Marcussen – the organ has retained its original concept with about 90% of the old pipework still intact. The Zaanse organ building company Flentrop, which currently maintains the organ, revoiced the organ several times in recent years, bringing the sound close to the original. This sound can be described as broad, distinguished, and exceptionally homogeneous, despite the numerous color shades. Famous stops are the Cornet, the stop that was placed to enhance the melody of the psalm, and the Vox humana, an imitation of the human voice, which we know Handel was very fond of. Of course, the superb acoustics of the church contributes to the beauty of the instrument’s sound. Some technical data: the organ has 5,058 pipes, 62 stops, 118 ranks, three manuals, and pedal. The case is painted in pine and mahogany. All pipes are made of metal (an alloy of lead and tin). Tacker and stop actions are mechanical (renewed in 1960). The tuning is equal, a concession to the current concert practice, in which not only baroque music but music from all periods is performed.
Hauptwerk Free Organs
The Müller organ is mainly played during summertime, at city concerts, and during church services on Sundays. Besides public concerts, it is possible to book private concerts on the Müller organ by one of the city organists, increasingly popular by companies and institutions.