GUEST ARTIST Martin Ott, Master Organ Builder
Established in 1973, the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company builds pipe organs following the centuries-old tradition of European organ building using mechanical or tracker key action. Each organ is a unique work of art designed to be playing for generations. An Ott tracker organ is enjoyable to play because these instruments have light, responsive action and rich, transparent, sound.
Jeannine: How did you get started as an organ builder?Martin: I came from a very musical family. I have twenty-eight cousins and they all play instruments. Music was very important in my life. My father, uncle and cousin were all Master Organ Builders (Orgelbaumeister) in Göttingen, Germany and I always wanted to follow in their footsteps and become an organ builder myself.
I apprenticed with my uncle, Orgelbaumeister Paul Ott, and during my journeyman years also spent time at the Holtkamp Organ Company in Cleveland, Ohio. I completed formal study at the School for Music Instrument Building in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.J: How did you decide to set up your organ shop in St. Louis, Missouri?
M: I moved to the United States in 1973 to represent the instruments of Werner Bosch in St. Louis, Missouri. With the presence of Concordia Seminary and the Missouri Synod Conference in St. Louis, it was decided this was an excellent location for me as a tracker organ builder to begin my work.
By 1975, I established the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company. When I came to the US, mechanical action instruments were in high demand thanks to E. Power Biggs. Very quickly, I had many commissions for these organs, and by 1981 had enlarged our shop and expanded the staff.
J: Martin, you describe your work as personally rewarding, but a demanding and unique craft. You go further to list the areas of expertise required for a Master Organ Builder: music, visual design, mathematics, sciences, engineering, cabinetry, electricity and welding, all of which as used daily. Please tell me more…M: To acquire the skills you named, I had many different apprenticeships. And, like you as a performer, I must constantly work to hone those skills. I also try to keep learning and adding new skills. Applying all these skills makes organ building an exciting craft. It is my goal is to make my organs enjoyable for the organist to play, visually stunning, and with a tonal design that will enhance a clients' music traditions.
J: What is one thing you have done to interest the younger generation in the pipe organ?
M: I wish there were more "young Jeannines" in this world today. We need more young organists interested in the mechanical action organ and excited about tracker organs.
I was part of the St. Louis POE (Pipe Organ Encounter) when we had our Opus 104 in the shop. We had the entire group of 30 kids in the shop for five hours! The students heard an explanation of the workings of a pipe organ, visited the voicing room, and each young organist built a wooden pipe! My own son, Parker, was one of those young students and he is still excited about the pipe he built. It was wonderful to show these young people the marvel of a tracker organ and give them an actual pipe building experience. J: You have built 112 gorgeous organs for churches and schools around the country. What are some of your favorites?
M: In your part of the country (Oregon) the Mt. Angel Abbey organs, Opus 79 and 80 are lovely. Illinois State University at Dekalb, has one of my first large organs (Opus 18). Another beautiful organ located in a lovely room is my Opus 90 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. A visual favorite of mine is Opus 106 at St. Mark's Lutheran in Aurora, Illinois with its three curved towers and carvings of grape vine and branches. Of course, you can visit my website to see a complete list of all the organs.
J: What are your plans for the future?M: I want to return to the building of 18-24 stop pure mechanical action organs. Those are still most pleasing to me.
J: Thank you, Martin. It is a pleasure to share your story. To read more of Master Organ Builder Martin Ott's work please visithttp://www.martinottpipeorgan.com
Established in 1973, the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company builds pipe organs following the centuries-old tradition of European organ building using mechanical or tracker key action. Each organ is a unique work of art designed to be playing for generations. An Ott tracker organ is enjoyable to play because these instruments have light, responsive action and rich, transparent, sound.
Jeannine: How did you get started as an organ builder?Martin: I came from a very musical family. I have twenty-eight cousins and they all play instruments. Music was very important in my life. My father, uncle and cousin were all Master Organ Builders (Orgelbaumeister) in Göttingen, Germany and I always wanted to follow in their footsteps and become an organ builder myself.
I apprenticed with my uncle, Orgelbaumeister Paul Ott, and during my journeyman years also spent time at the Holtkamp Organ Company in Cleveland, Ohio. I completed formal study at the School for Music Instrument Building in Ludwigsburg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.J: How did you decide to set up your organ shop in St. Louis, Missouri?
M: I moved to the United States in 1973 to represent the instruments of Werner Bosch in St. Louis, Missouri. With the presence of Concordia Seminary and the Missouri Synod Conference in St. Louis, it was decided this was an excellent location for me as a tracker organ builder to begin my work.
By 1975, I established the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company. When I came to the US, mechanical action instruments were in high demand thanks to E. Power Biggs. Very quickly, I had many commissions for these organs, and by 1981 had enlarged our shop and expanded the staff.
J: Martin, you describe your work as personally rewarding, but a demanding and unique craft. You go further to list the areas of expertise required for a Master Organ Builder: music, visual design, mathematics, sciences, engineering, cabinetry, electricity and welding, all of which as used daily. Please tell me more…M: To acquire the skills you named, I had many different apprenticeships. And, like you as a performer, I must constantly work to hone those skills. I also try to keep learning and adding new skills. Applying all these skills makes organ building an exciting craft. It is my goal is to make my organs enjoyable for the organist to play, visually stunning, and with a tonal design that will enhance a clients' music traditions.
J: What is one thing you have done to interest the younger generation in the pipe organ?
M: I wish there were more "young Jeannines" in this world today. We need more young organists interested in the mechanical action organ and excited about tracker organs.
I was part of the St. Louis POE (Pipe Organ Encounter) when we had our Opus 104 in the shop. We had the entire group of 30 kids in the shop for five hours! The students heard an explanation of the workings of a pipe organ, visited the voicing room, and each young organist built a wooden pipe! My own son, Parker, was one of those young students and he is still excited about the pipe he built. It was wonderful to show these young people the marvel of a tracker organ and give them an actual pipe building experience. J: You have built 112 gorgeous organs for churches and schools around the country. What are some of your favorites?
M: In your part of the country (Oregon) the Mt. Angel Abbey organs, Opus 79 and 80 are lovely. Illinois State University at Dekalb, has one of my first large organs (Opus 18). Another beautiful organ located in a lovely room is my Opus 90 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. A visual favorite of mine is Opus 106 at St. Mark's Lutheran in Aurora, Illinois with its three curved towers and carvings of grape vine and branches. Of course, you can visit my website to see a complete list of all the organs.
J: What are your plans for the future?M: I want to return to the building of 18-24 stop pure mechanical action organs. Those are still most pleasing to me.
J: Thank you, Martin. It is a pleasure to share your story. To read more of Master Organ Builder Martin Ott's work please visithttp://www.martinottpipeorgan.com