Cornelius Herman "Cor" Edskes (7 August 1925 – 7 September 2015) was a Dutch organbuilder and organologist who was one of the most important authorities on the history of

organ building Organ building is the profession of designing, building, restoring and maintaining pipe organs. The organ builder usually receives a commission to design an organ with a particular disposition of stops, manuals, and actions, creates a d ...

in Northern Europe. He acted as the consultant for the restoration of many of Europe's most important historical organs, including those in the

Nieuwe Kerk (Amsterdam) The Nieuwe Kerk (, ''New Church'') is a 15th-century church in Amsterdam located on Dam Square, next to the Royal Palace. Formerly a Dutch Reformed Church parish, it now belongs to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. Current uses The Nieuwe ...

and

Roskilde Cathedral Roskilde Cathedral ( da, Roskilde Domkirke), in the city of Roskilde on the island of Zealand (Denmark), Zealand (''Sjælland'') in eastern Denmark, is a cathedral of the Lutheranism, Lutheran Church of Denmark. The cathedral is the most importan ...

(both working with the firm Marcussen & Son). Born in

Groningen Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...

, Edskes had a working relationship with the German organ builder

Jürgen Ahrend Jürgen Ahrend (born 28 April 1930) is a German organ builder famous for restoring instruments such as the Rysum organ and the Arp Schnitger organ in St. Jacobi, Hamburg (St James's Church) as well as building original instruments. He is intervi ...

that began in the 1950s, included the restoration of many organs in Germany and Holland, and culminated in the restoration of

Arp Schnitger Arp Schnitger (2 July 164828 July 1719 (buried)) was an influential Northern German organ builder. Considered the most paramount manufacturer of his time, Schnitger built or rebuilt over 150 organs. He was primarily active in Northern Europe, es ...

's largest surviving organ at

St. Jacobi, Hamburg St. James' Church (german: Hauptkirche St. Jacobi) is one of the five principal churches (''Hauptkirchen'') of Hamburg. In 1529, it became a Lutheran church. It is located directly in the city centre, has a 125 m tall tower and features a famous or ...

. Edskes was the major onscreen contributor to the documentary ''

Martinikerk Rondeau ''Martinikerk Rondeau'' is a 110-minute documentary film directed by Will Fraser and produced by Fugue State Films for Boeijenga Music Publications, about the historic organs of the Dutch province of Groningen. Centred on the organ of the Marti ...

'', in which he detailed the history of organs in and around Groningen. He died in Haren, aged 90.

References

External links

Interview
1925 births 2015 deaths 20th-century Dutch historians Organs (music) People from Groningen (city) {{netherlands-historian-stub