At the end of 2020, my wife and I, Bram de Graaf, bought our first house. As a church organist and organ enthusiast, I average quite a few flying hours behind the organ. At my parents’ house I could always use an Eminent organ (my father was an organist and my younger brother also plays the organ). So the question automatically came up to us to purchase a new organ. I often listen to organ music via Youtube, I was impressed by the possibilities that modern Hauptwerk organs offer these days. After some research I ended up on the website of Orgelmakerij Noorlander.
A Noorlander organ excels in ease of play and very high quality, both in terms of furniture, software and electronics. On my first visit to Noorlander, I was also given a tour of the workshop. I was able to see with my own eyes how they produce each model according to the customer’s wishes in a traditional way. My wife and I wanted a house organ that would look reasonably sleek and modern, so that it would fit in nicely with the style and decor of our living room. We compared different models and colors in the showroom at Noorlander. The Avanti III was soon very popular and the choice was made.
I am very satisfied with the Avanti III, I feel like a kid in a candy store with this organ. In the past I often went to prepare church services in the church itself, but nowadays I often only practice behind my Noorlander organ because this gives a very realistic experience of church organs. The sound experience is great! I have surround speakers in the living room, so you really get the feeling as if you are in a church or cathedral yourself. That is very inspiring while playing. In addition, the keys are made of imitation ivory with a wooden core. That also gives the real church organ feeling.
I currently have 2 samplesets. That of the Dom Church in Utrecht and that of Noordbroek. Both fascinating organs. Which set I choose depends on which piece of music I want to study or perform. Noordbroek, for example, is more suitable for baroque or early music. Utrecht for a beautiful romantic Dutch chorale arrangement. Nowadays I am making a lot of recordings via my Noorlander organ. I enjoy that a lot. And the nice thing is that when I show it to family members or friends, they are surprised and surprised in a positive sense as soon as I tell them afterwards that it was not recorded in a church but just on my Noorlander organ.
The entire process of purchase, delivery and installation went according to plan and we experienced it as very pleasant. They are easy to reach by phone and email and are always ready for advice, and when I order a new sampleset, for example, they think along with me.
Noorlander has recently recorded and developed a number of cool samplesets (Dordrecht). I hope that in the future they will also have the opportunity to make a sampleset of the Vater/Muller organ in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam. It is a special place for my wife and me because I asked her to marry me there.