Munich (Germany),
Convent Church St. Anna im Lehel

The history of organs in St. Anna begins already as the War of Austrian Succession was drawing to a close. The First World War foiled attempts to build a needed new organ that was ultimately built during the Nazi regime. But as the Nazi reign of terror fell this instrument was destroyed by bombs. After the war came the time of the temporary church with a temporary organ. In 1968 the era of the so called “creative destruction” (the Frankfurt School) followed, in fact a cultural revolution. But in opposition to this prevailing destructive trend it is to the credit of the Franciscan, P. Dominik Lutz, OFM, that the almost completely destroyed St. Anna church was rebuilt in its original state. Maybe it was due to these times that the organ built in 1968 was neither mechanically nor artistically destined to endure. It had to be replaced. Nonetheless this organ still serves a parish whose church was damaged by war hostilities in Croatia. It was renovated and accompanies today services in St. Lukas Church in Otok near Sinj.

The new Mathis organ has finally achieved the full restoration of the St. Anna church. Space, form and sound have been restored to their original harmonious accord.

P. Claus Scheifele OFM

Disposition
Mathis 1999, II-P/23