Back to the search result

De Organographia

De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag

Wolfenbüttel (Germany) — 1619 and 1620

Includes the oldest known depiction of a pluriarc: the definitive source for researching and reconstructing Renaissance and Baroque instruments, featuring 44 full-page copperplate illustrations

  1. Michael Praetorius (c. 1571/72 – 1621) was a German composer, organist, court music director, and music theorist

  2. In De Organographia, he classifies and describes various instruments of his time with a particular focus on the organ

  3. The accompanying picture section, the Theatrum Instrumentorum, comprises the oldest known depiction of the African string instrument Pluriarc

De Organographia

De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
Facsimile Copy Available!
Regular price (like new) 1,290  €
Special Offer until 11/30/2026 (like new) 499  €
Inquire current price here or ask a different question
Wish List
Stock List
Share
  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
De Organographia

With his Syntagma Musicum, German composer, organist, court music director, and music theorist Michael Praetorius (ca. 1571/72–1621) created one of the most important works on music theory and performance practice of the early modern period. The series consists of three volumes, the second of which is particularly fascinating. In De Organographia, Praetorius classifies and describes various instruments of his time. He pays particular attention to the organ, which he describes as the “instrument of instruments” and which he also played himself. He devotes two of the four chapters to the instrument and its history. A year after the publication of the treatise, Praetorius had the famous Theatrum Instrumentorum printed as a supplement and fifth chapter or picture section. It comprises 44 copperplate plates showing the instruments described by Praetorius, including the oldest known depiction of a pluriarc. Together, De Organographia and the Theatrum Instrumentorum are now one of the most important sources on Renaissance and Baroque instruments and are of crucial relevance for their reconstruction.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
De Organographia. Zweiter Teil des Syntagma musicum. Wolfenbüttel 1619.
Michael Praetorius: Syntagma musicum II. De Organographia.
De Organographia - Instrumentenkunde
Theatrum Instrumentorum
Origin
Germany
Date
1619 and 1620
Genre
Music
Illustrations
44 full-page illustrations, numerous decorated initials and vignettes
Content
Volume 2 of the Syntagma musicum by Michael Praetorius
Artist / School
Available facsimile editions:
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
#1 De Organographia. Zweiter Teil des Syntagma musicum. Wolfenbüttel 1619.
Bärenreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 1929
Detail Picture

De Organographia

Ancient Instruments

In his work, Praetorius also describes and illustrates historical and mythological instruments that were known in his time. Depicted here are three simple instruments whose descendants are still known and played today. The bulbous object on the left is an “utriculus,” an ancient Roman bagpipe. The “crotalum” depicted in the center is also referred to by Praetorius as a triangle, but it is more accurately a set of ancient cymbals that produce sound when struck with the accompanying beater. The two conical flutes next to them together form an “aulos,” an ancient instrument consisting of two unconnected flutes that were played simultaneously. Both flutes were held in a V-shape, as the copperplate engraving suggests.

De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
Single Page

De Organographia

Positive Organ and Regal

The massive organs with dozens, sometimes even thousands, of pipes found in churches and synagogues are arguably among the most impressive musical instruments of all. Less well-known, but no less interesting, are their smaller counterparts. This page presents two of them: a positive organ and, below it, a so-called regal.

Both instruments require two people to be played. A calcant operates the large bellows to generate the so-called wind, which ultimately produces the desired sound as it blows through the pipes. At the same time, the organist plays the keyboard to direct the airflow into the correct pipes. Each pipe produces a different note. Both instruments shown here are portable small organs and, accordingly, were not permanently installed.

De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
Facsimile Editions

#1 De Organographia. Zweiter Teil des Syntagma musicum. Wolfenbüttel 1619.

Bärenreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 1929
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag
De Organographia – Bärenreiter-Verlag Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Publisher: Bärenreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 1929
Commentary: 1 volume by Wilibald Gurlitt
Language: German
Complete color reproduction of the original “De Organographia” at its original size. The facsimile aims to reproduce the original’s appearance, feel and physical characteristics as faithfully as possible. The pages are trimmed to the original format. The binding may differ from the original’s present-day binding. The facsimile edition also includes the Theatrum Instrumentorum from 1620 as an appendix.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Regular price (like new) 1,290  €
Special Offer until 11/30/2026 (like new) 499  €
Inquire current price here or ask a different question
You might also be interested in:
Messiah HWV 56 by George Frideric Handel – Bärenreiter-Verlag – R.M.20.f.2 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Messiah HWV 56 by George Frideric Handel
London (England) – 1741–1742

The captivating original score with variations and alternative versions: Handel's most famous work and one of the most popular pieces of Western choral music, first performed in Dublin on April 13, 1742

Experience More
Aria "Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn" BWV 1127 – Bärenreiter-Verlag – Huld B 24 – Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek (Weimar, Germany)
Aria "Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn' ihn" BWV 1127
Weimar (Germany) – 1713

A sensational find in the holdings of the Herzogin Anna Amalia Library: the original manuscript of a composition by Johann Sebastian Bach unknown until 2005 and his sole contribution to the genre of strophic aria

Experience More
St Matthew Passion BWV 244 by Johann Sebastian Bach – Bärenreiter-Verlag – Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (Berlin, Germany)
St Matthew Passion BWV 244 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Germany – ca. 1736 (fair copy)

Destined for posterity and rediscovered in the 19th century: an original score, meticulously written and decorated with colored ink, penned by Johann Sebastian Bach himself

Experience More
Mass B minor BWV 232 by Johann Sebastian Bach – Bärenreiter-Verlag – Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (Berlin, Germany)
Mass B minor BWV 232 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Germany – 1733 and 1748–1750

Written shortly before his death and only premiered over 100 years after its completion: Johann Sebastian Bach's famous Mass in B Minor with fascinating insights into the creation of the work

Experience More
Harmonia Organica - Ochsenhausen Organ Book – Carus Verlag – Misc. Ms. 150 – Irving S. Gilmore Music Library (New Haven, USA)
Harmonia Organica - Ochsenhausen Organ Book
Monastery of Ochsenhausen (Germany) – 1735

A declaration of love to an organ: Upper Swabian Baroque music especially compiled for the organ of Ochsenhausen Abbey built by Joseph Gabler as one of the most important sources for the performance of historical pieces of music

Experience More
Tablature for Liute – Sumptibus Pragopress – MS XXIII F 174 – National Library of the Czech Republic (Prague, Czech Republic)
Tablature for Liute
Czech Republic – 1608–1613

From a celebrity of late Renaissance lute music: Italian influences in a fascinating compilation of tablatures for various dances, created by the Bohemian lutenist Nicolaus Schmall of Lebendorf

Experience More
Filter selection
Style
Genre
Origin
Language
Publisher
Show all available expressions

Visit us!

WHERE? In our store in Regensburg's Old Town.

We have been running a specialist store for facsimiles for nearly 15 years in Regensburg's Old Town, just opposite the "Schottenportal" of the Romanesque Scots Monastery of St. Jacob at Jakobstraße 6.