Arti musices, Vol. 57 No. 1, 2026.
Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.21857/mnlqgcpzky
History of the Organs of Đakovo Cathedral and Contemporary Challenges in the Protection of Organ Heritage in the Republic of Croatia
Danijel Drilo
; Munich, Germany
*
Emin Armano
; Zagreb, Croatia
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Several big organs of heritage importance in Croatia have, in the past dozen years, been modified to the extent of losing their cultural-heritage properties. The replacement of pneumatic cone-valve chests with slider chests while keeping the pipes or moving the entire phonic material of chests several semitones upwards significantly changes the organ sound character. The change in sound and the loss of the original material components due to action modifications causes organs to lose their cultural-heritage properties. Such consequences result from a shortage of sufficiently educated organologists who would be able to safeguard the significant body of heritage organs in Croatia.
Typical examples include the organs in the Co-Cathedral of St Peter and Paul in Osijek where the chest type was changed (cone → slider), the Cathedral of St Peter in Đakovo where the pneumatic key action saw the addition of an electromagnetic one, and the Franciscan Monastery in Košljun (the island of Krk) where the chests were replaced (cone → slider, and action). In Slavonski Brod, modifications were initiated after the restoration in 2010. Restoration was completed in the parish churches in Marija Gorica and Sveta Nedelja. The Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia invests significant amounts of money in co-financing organ projects that sometimes have very questionable outcomes, which raises questions about the future of heritage organs in Croatia.
Keywords
Croatia; organ conservation; organ restoration; organ modification; technical and acoustical organ parameters; organologist education
Hrčak ID:
349925
URI
Publication date:
29.7.2026.
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