Albertus Antonius Hinsz Explained

Albertus Antonius Hinsz (also: Albert Anthoni Hinsch; born 1704 in Hamburg, died 17 March 1785 in Uithuizen, the Netherlands) was an organ builder in the Netherlands, who followed in the tradition of Arp Schnitger.

Life

Albertus Antonius Hinsz probably learned his trade with either or both of and Franz Caspar Schnitger. In 1728 he settled in Groningen where, on 28 December 1732, he married the widow of Franz Caspar Schnitger, taking over Schnitger's workshop. Hinsz built numerous organs in the North German tradition, across the provinces of Groningen and Friesland. Many of his organs survive to the current day. Tonally, Hinsz organs are noted for their "golden" tone, a result of his tierce-containing mixtures. Architecturally, the casework of his organs follows the pattern of Arp Schnitger. He was a life-long friend of, organist at the Martinikerk in Groningen, who also came from Hamburg. Hinsz died during the construction of the organ at Uithuizermeeden. He is buried in the Lutherse Kerk in Groningen, where he is commemorated with a memorial stone.

After his death, his stepson jr. together with Heinrich Hermann Freytag took over his workshop, which continued to build organs in Netherlands in the tradition of Arp Schnitger into the 19th century.

Organs on which Hinsz worked

The roman numerals indicate the number of manuals. An uppercase "P" indicates an independent pedal organ with its own sounding stops, while a lowercase "p" indicates a pull-down pedal linked to the keyboards, merely allowing the player to play manual keyboard notes with their feet. The Arabic numerals indicate the number of sounding registers (i.e. stop-knobs excluding accessories such as tremulants and couplers).

Year	Location	Church	class=unsortable	Image !	Manuals	Registers	class=unsortable	Comments
data-sort-value="1730"	1729–1730/1740	Groningen	Martinikerk		III/P	47
1731	Zandeweer	Hervormde Kerk		II/p	16	This was the first organ newly-built by Hinsz; its disposition was changed in the 19th and 20th centuries
data-sort-value="1734"	1733–1734	Leens	Petruskerk		II/P	27	A new-build, modified in the 19th and 20th centuries
data-sort-value="1736"	1735–1736	Loppersum	Hervormde Kerk		II/p	20	Hinsz added new pipework to the Hauptwerk (Great) division of an organ from 1562. In 1803, H.H. Freytag replaced the pipework of the
1738	Kampen	Broederkerk		III/P	32	A new-build using ranks derived from a previous organ; rebuilt in 1822 by A. van Gruisen (II/p), extended and modified later still
1738	Utrecht	Utrecht University		I/p		A new-build for the Lutheran church in Deventer, extended in 1963 to II/P/22
1739	Bronkhorst			I	7	A newly-built chamber organ for Utrecht(?). The disposition was changed in the 19th century. Has been moved between various locations
data-sort-value="1743"	1741–1743	Kampen	Bovenkerk		III/p	33	An enlargement of the existing organ of 1676, this is Hinsz's largest organ. It was extended in 1790 by H.H. Freytag and F.C. Schnitger to give it an independent pedal and Brustwerk (IV/P/46), and later modified still further. Today's disposition is IV/P/56. →
1744	Appingedam	Nicolaikerk		II/p	20	A new-build making use of ranks from the 16th century; well preserved
1751	Meeden	Benedictuskerk		I/p	8	A rebuild using a large part of the pipework of the previous organ by (1643)
data-sort-value="1752"	1752/1768	Noordbroek			II/P	24	An enlargement of the Arp Schnitger organ of 1696, with changes in disposition; rebuilt in 1809 by H.H. Freytag; disposition further altered in 1855 by →
1754	Kampen			II/P	20	A new-build using older pipework
data-sort-value="1758"	1756–1758	Peize	Hervormde Kerk		II/P	22	An enlargement of a previous organ by A. Verbeeck (1631) and Arp Schnitger (1696–1697) adding a Rückpositiv. The organ was located in the Peper-Gasthuiskerk in Groningen until 1862
1765	Tzum	Hervormde Kerk		II/p	20	Rebuild of an organ by Stevens
Literature Jan Jongepier (Ed.): Een konstkundig orgelmaker. Enkele bijdragen over het werk van de orgelmaker Albertus Anthoni Hinsz (1704–1785). Stichting Groningen Orgelland, Groningen 1994, . Willem Jan Dorgelo: Albertus Anthoni Hinsz. Orgelmaker 1704–1785. Lykele Jansma, Augustinusga 1985. De Groninger orgelmaker Albertus Anthoni Hinsz (1704–1785). Ommelander Museum, Leens 1981. External links Bolsward, Martinikerk (in Dutch) Bovenkerk, Kampen (in Dutch) Hervormde Kerk, Nordbroek The Hinsz organ at Appingedam is demonstrated by Sietze de Vries The Hinsz organ at Leens is explored by de Vries and Bálint Karosi References