German organ builder (1678?1734)
Andreas Silbermann
(16 May 1678 ? 16 March 1734) was a German organ builder, who was involved in the construction of 35 organs, mostly in
Alsace
.
[1]
Andreas also established the Silbermann family tradition of organ building, training his brother
Gottfried
and his son
Johann Andreas
in the profession.
Biography
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Silbermann was born on 16 May 1678 in
Kleinbobritzsch
, near
Frauenstein, Saxony
, the son of a joiner.
[1]
He himself trained as a joiner in
Freiberg
under George Lampertius, but soon afterwards learnt the art of organ building, moving to
Alsace
in 1699.
[1]
The exact timing and source of his training is unknown, with proposed names of his mentor including
Friederich Ring
[2]
and
Daniel Ubermann
.
[3]
During his early work in Alsace, Silbermann carried out renovation work on the organ constructed by
Johann-Jacob Baldner
in the church of St Leger in
Bouxwiller
.
After this, he moved to work with
Strasbourg
organ builder
Friderich Ring
, settling permanently in the city in 1701 and receiving citizenship on 15 March 1702.
[1]
By this time, Andreas had trained his brother
Gottfried
, and they built an organ together.
[1]
Between 1704 and 1706, Silbermann moved to Paris, where he worked with
Francois Thierry
, having a particular concern to develop his understanding in the French style.
[1]
He then returned to Strasbourg, where he worked with his brother on a few more projects, namely the
Collegium Wilhelmitanum
(1706) and the
church of St Nicolas
(1707).
[1]
In 1708, Andreas began working alone as his brother Gottfried had returned to Saxony. In the following years, Silbermann was involved in several major commissions, including constructing an organ at
Strasbourg Cathedral
(1714?1716), which was the largest organ he built during his career.
[1]
In 1712, his son
Johann Andreas
was born.
[1]
Trained under his father, Johann collaborated with Andreas during the final years of his life and continued the family business after his death.
[1]
Silbermann died on 16 March 1734 in
Strasbourg
.
[3]
Style
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Silbermann's organs were built mostly in a French style.
[1]
Organs built by Silbermann
[
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References
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