The Organ Historical Society Library and Archives has acquired the organbuilding documents of Gerhard Brunzema (1927–92), which Brunzema’s family has donated. The documents include pipe scales and mixture compositions of historic organs in Brunzema’s native East Friesland, Germany; pipe scales and other data from Ahrend & Brunzema, Casavant Frères, and Brunzema Organs; and drawings of organ cases, organ actions, and organ layouts.
Brunzema began his organbuilding career in 1954. He and Jürgen Ahrend formed a successful partnership in Leer, Germany, only fifteen miles from his birthplace. In 1972, he joined Casavant Frères as tonal director. Under his leadership, Casavant’s mechanical-action department grew and became financially successful. During his short tenure at Casavant, the company built over 300 organs bearing his imprint, 107 of which were trackers. In 1980, the Brunzema family moved to Fergus, Ontario, where Brunzema Organs, Inc. was established. Forty-one organs were built under the Brunzema name in Fergus.
Once organized and put into the library’s online catalogue, the papers will be available for study. For information: www.organsociety.org.
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