Merseburg (dpa/sa) - The cathedral city of Merseburg in the Saale district invites you to one of the biggest festivals in honor of the "Queen of Instruments". After the opening concert of the Merseburg Organ Days on Saturday in the cathedral, several concerts are on the program until September 18th.
According to the organizer, "A Psalm Symphony" with works by Heinrich Schütz and Johann Sebastian Bach will sound at the start. The Italian organist Davide Mariano plays the organ created by Friedrich Ladegast (1818-1905) with 5687 pipes, and the Rias Kammerchor Berlin also sings. The Merseburg Ladegast organ is said to be one of the largest romantic organs in Germany.
The Organ Days are organized by the Friends of Music and Monument Preservation in Churches in the Merseburg region under the leadership of cathedral organist Michael Beauty. The motto of the 52nd edition is "Heaven gave us music so that the soul might be beautiful" - a quote from the composer Robert Schumann (1810-1856). Parallel to the Merseburg Organ Days, artisans from Central Germany will be presenting themselves around the castle on the first weekend.
Organ music and organ building have been recognized by Unesco as intangible cultural heritage since 2017. In 2021, the state music councils voted the organ instrument of the year.
