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If there is one musical instrument by which the Netherlands is known and recognised worldwide, it is the mechanical pipe organ. The Netherlands has had a rich tradition of organ building spanning for 400 years. Even today organ builders are following these century-old ground rules and drawing on a proud cultural and historical heritage. Steendam Organ Builders builds and restores pipe organs in accordance with these principles of craftsmanship, supplemented by a healthy dose of common sense and an efficient, modern workshop. Over the years, Steendam organs have acquired an excellent reputation. Their characteristic round, rich, deep tone is appreciated worldwide. The wide range of stops, the gentle attack and attention to ease of playing all contribute to this reputation. However, one of the most important aspects of a Steendam organ is its excellent price-quality ratio. As a result of efficient workshop construction methods and a sound logistic approach, it takes Steendam two to six weeks to assemble an organ in a church, thus keeping the costs of travel and accommodation to a minimum. A Steendam organ must continue to produce an excellent sound and remain in superb condition for generation after generation. For this reason, in principle Steendam Organ Builders makes all the parts itself. It goes without saying that only quality materials are good enough. The starting point is a very careful selection of high quality oak and pine.. The wood is rotary cut and seasoned on our own premises. The various ranks of pipes are manufactured in our pipe workshop. Our cabinet makers ensure that the organ case is traditional, richly decorated with carving or executed in a modern style with contemporary features, in total harmony with the architecture of the church or other building. With regard to intonation, Steendam occupies a distinctive position. Thanks to its profound knowledge of historic organs and their timbre, Steendam is able to give its organs either a romantic or a baroque colour, focussing on the client’s wishes or taste. When restoring historic organs, Steendam is able to restore their timbre to the original quality. Steendam supplies top-quality products for which it has no hesitation in giving a ten-year guarantee. An extended guarantee is also available on request. A sophisticated approach means that Steendam can offer an extremely attractive tuning and maintenance contract. Contracts of this kind are also available for existing organs, enabling church councils to be
sure that the instrument in their building is maintained in superb condition at a low fixed cost. AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION WILL OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS Please feel free to ask for references. The addresses and telephone numbers of the above clients are available on request. If you like to know more about Steendam organs or about the services provided by Steendam, please contact us to arrange an informal meeting. If desired, we will be happy to visit you in person to explain all the aspects of our work.
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