Orgel van de Sint-Bavokerk te Haarlem 1763

This print, made by Jan Caspar Philips, depicts the organ of the Sint-Bavokerk in Haarlem. The organ stands as a powerful symbol, its pipes reaching towards the heavens, embodying the intersection of the earthly and the divine. Consider the enduring motif of the pipe organ across cultures. In ancient Greece, the hydraulis, a water-powered organ, was celebrated for its ability to evoke profound emotional responses, believed to stir the very soul. This association with emotional transport transcends time. Even today, the pipe organ continues to evoke a sense of awe and spiritual elevation. Its sound is a link to ancestral experiences of religious ecstasy, subconsciously embedded within our collective memory. Notice how the organ mirrors the architecture of the church, its ornate façade echoing the Gothic arches and spires. This reflects a striving for transcendence, an architectural and musical reaching towards the divine.