Hellmuth Wolff (organ builder)
Encyclopedia
Hellmuth Wolff is a Canadian
organ builder
and the founder of the firm Wolff & Associés. Under his guidance the firm set new standards in Canada for historical organ building.
, Switzerland
, Wolff apprenticed to Metzler & Söhne
in nearby Dietikon. He then worked for Rieger Orgelbau
of Schwarzach, Vorarlberg,
and Charles Fisk
of Gloucester, Massachusetts, before emigrating to Canada in 1963 to be a designer in the new mechanical action department of Casavant Frères
of St-Hyacinthe, Quebec.
He worked briefly with Karl Wilhelm before establishing his own firm in 1968 in Laval, Quebec
.
By 1997, he had built 40 organs, ranging in size from of 1 stop to 50 stops. Wolff's largest organ to date is of 61 stops, 85 ranks, which was installed in Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, British Columbia in 2005.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
organ builder
Organ builder
-Australia:* William Anderson * Australian Pipe Organs Pty Ltd* Robert Cecil Clifton * William Davidson* J.E. Dodd & Sons Gunstar Organ Works* Fincham & Hobday* Geo. Fincham & Son* Alfred Fuller * Peter D.G. Jewkes Pty Ltd...
and the founder of the firm Wolff & Associés. Under his guidance the firm set new standards in Canada for historical organ building.
Life
Born in ZurichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Wolff apprenticed to Metzler & Söhne
Metzler Orgelbau
Metzler Orgelbau is a firm of organ builders based in Dietikon, near Zurich, Switzerland. It is one of the most important makers of the European classical organ revival and has built many important and respected instruments throughout Europe...
in nearby Dietikon. He then worked for Rieger Orgelbau
Rieger Orgelbau
Rieger Orgelbau is an Austrian firm of organ builders, known generally as Rieger. The firm was founded by Franz Rieger. From 1873 it was known as Rieger & Söhne, and from 1879 as Gebrüder Rieger, after his sons took over. At the end of World War II, the firm was nationalised by the Czech government...
of Schwarzach, Vorarlberg,
and Charles Fisk
Charles Fisk
Charles Fisk was an American judge who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of North Dakota from 1907 to 1916. He died in Minot, North Dakota in 1932 at age 70.-External links:*...
of Gloucester, Massachusetts, before emigrating to Canada in 1963 to be a designer in the new mechanical action department of Casavant Frères
Casavant Frères
Casavant Frères is a prominent Canadian company in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which has been building fine pipe organs since 1879. As of 2008, they have produced over 3800 organs.- Company history :...
of St-Hyacinthe, Quebec.
He worked briefly with Karl Wilhelm before establishing his own firm in 1968 in Laval, Quebec
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
.
By 1997, he had built 40 organs, ranging in size from of 1 stop to 50 stops. Wolff's largest organ to date is of 61 stops, 85 ranks, which was installed in Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, British Columbia in 2005.