Organ Grossmünster

The first mention in text of an organ dates back to 1480. Before the Reformation, the organ was not played during church service, but only during vesper. Because during the Reformation, vespers were replaced by «prophezey» (bible study), the organ was no longer played after 1524 and was dismantled in 1527.

In 1876 – 349 years later – Nepomuk Kuhn built a new organ to be placed on the western gallery of Grossmünster. Ever since, the organ is played during church service and concerts. Todays Metzler organ (since 1960) is internationally renowned for its transparent timbre and audibly polyphone sound.

The organ is played in the beginning and end of church service and while the congregation sings. Every summer and autumn, Grossmünster invites acclaimed organists from all around the world for international concert cycles. The Grossmünster organ is also played by students of the Zurich Hochschule der Künste during their vocational training.