Friederichs (Friedrichs), Johann Caspar (1762-1825)

Abstract

German-Dutch organ builder. Friederichs was born in Wickrath, Lower Rhine, on 22 June 1762. He Came to the Netherlands as a furnituremaker and worked in HENDRIK HERMANUS HESS'S shop in Gouda, where he was married in 1783. After Hess's death in 1794, Friederichs took over some of the firm's maintenance contracts. A cabinet organ by Friederichs dated 1798 closely resembles Hess's work in this field. Between 1805 and 1825, Friederichs maintained the famous Christian MÜLLER organ at Haarlem, St. Bavo's. This led to commissions from other churches in that city. In 1806 Friederichs added a new Bovenwerk 10 the 1770 J. H. H. BÄTZ organ in the Doopgezinde Kerk (now Oostvorne, Dorpskerk). The new division was built in a swell box, according to Friederichs the first one ever produced in the Netherlands.