Organs of Cologne Cathedral, Set of pipe organs in Cologne Cathedral, Germany

The organs of Cologne Cathedral form an ensemble of several large instruments, including the main organ in the nave from 1998 and another instrument in the transept from the 1950s. Each of these instruments has hundreds of pipes and different mechanical systems that together produce a wide range of sounds.

The cathedral's first large organ was built in 1573 by Nicolaas Niehoff and Arend Lampeler van Mill with 25 stops. Bomb hits in 1943 destroyed the old organ; the transept organ was built in 1948 by Klais as Opus 1000 for the cathedral's 700th anniversary, then enlarged in 1956. The nave organ followed in 1998, and a high-pressure work was added in 2006.

The organs accompany daily worship services and create a spiritual sound environment for visitors and community members during these celebrations. They are central to shaping the musical character of religious moments in this sacred place.

The best chance to hear the organs is during Tuesday evening concerts, where you can experience the full power of the instruments. Visitors can also hear the music during regular worship services, where it fills the large space.

The 1948 transept organ stands unusually low, on a concrete gallery in the eastern aisle of the north transept, because the nave was walled off until 1956. Its fourth manual keeps the old 1948 mixtures and a Quintade that was meant to be removed. In 2011 a clarinet with its own wind swell was added, voiced at 270 mm water gauge.