Ján Princzkel

Organs

Reformed Church of Bia

One of the oldest buildings in Biatorbágy, built in 1710. According to the Rieger opus list, its organ is a one-manual Rieger of 1912, opus 1811. I have not recorded it yet.

This text was generated by AI from curated notes and may contain errors. Corrections welcome

The church on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

The church

  • One of the oldest buildings in Biatorbágy, built in 1710, at Nagy utca 37.
  • In 1811 a fire swept the area and burned down the parsonage next to the church.
  • Around 1870 the church was rebuilt and enlarged; the present Romantic facade probably dates from this work.
  • In 1880 the congregation reports repairs, the installation of an organ and the arrival of bells.
  • The tornado of 1924 passed through Bia and damaged the tower.
  • The church was last renovated in 2003 and is under local heritage protection.
  • The organ stands on a gallery in the rear (north-east) part of the church.

The organ

Builder
Rieger
Opus
1811
Built
1912
Keyboards
1 manual, with pedal
Stops
11, 2 of them borrowed
Action
Pneumatic
Source
Solymosi's Rieger opus list
Recording
Not recorded yet

According to Ferenc Solymosi's Rieger opus list, Rieger built the organ in 1912 as opus 1811. The console has 11 stops, but the organ has only nine complete ranks of pipes, so two stops borrow their pipes from other ranks. The key and stop action are pneumatic, and the chests are cone chests. The organ also has a pedal. I have not checked these details on site yet.

The heritage register mentions an organ being installed in 1880, so the 1912 Rieger was probably not the church's first organ. Solymosi's list records no parts taken over from the earlier organ.

Still to find out

  • The compass of the manual and the pedal.
  • The stoplist, and which two stops borrow their pipes from other ranks.
  • On my next visit I want to photograph the case, the console, every stop label and the builder's plate.

Sources