Pécs Organ Manufactory

Pécs Organ Manufactory Ltd., commonly abbreviated as POM, is a Hungarian pipe-organ builder based in Pécs. Founded in September 1992 by brothers Attila and Csaba Budavári, the company developed from a family interest in organbuilding associated with the historic Angster organ factory of Pécs. The founders trained in organbuilding and expanded their practical knowledge through study tours before establishing their own workshop. During its early years, the company concentrated mainly on cleaning, restoration, renovation, and technical renewal of existing instruments. One of its first commissions was the cleaning of the Roman Catholic church organ in Komló. It subsequently undertook the reconstruction of the ancient Aquincum water organ for Budapest's Fire Museum, a project that connected the young company with an unusual historical instrument rather than a conventional church organ. POM completed its first new pipe organ in 1995 for the chapel of the Franciscan Secondary School in Szentendre. Designed by Tamás Zászkaliczky, with the disposition prepared by Attila Budavári, the tracker-action instrument has 16 stops, 1,041 metal pipes, and 149 wooden pipes. Further commissions followed in Hungary and abroad, including new organs in Sittendorf, Austria, in 1997 and 1998. A major turning point came through cooperation with the German firm Mühleisen Orgelbau of Stuttgart on the monumental organ for Budapest's Palace of Arts. Inaugurated in May 2006, the instrument has 92 stops, five manuals, and 6,804 pipes, and is described in the reference material as the largest organ in Hungary. The project substantially increased POM's profile among concert institutions and organists. The company's later work combined new construction with restoration and adaptation. Projects included the reconstruction of the principal organ at Matthias Church in Buda Castle and the construction of a smaller companion organ in 2010, allowing the two instruments to be played together or separately. POM also built or contributed to instruments in Zamárdi, Rešica, Aveiro, Pécs-Kertváros, and the Mátraverebély-Szentkút National Shrine. Its work has included historical-style instruments, modern designs, mechanical tracker-action organs, expansions, and technically complex reconstructions. The manufactory's international activity has included Austria, Portugal, Slovakia, Poland, Serbia, and the wider historic Hungarian cultural region. In addition to bespoke instruments and restoration, POM operates a webshop launched in 2009 that sells organ parts and related components. The company is described by the reference material as Hungary's largest organ-building company and employs approximately 50 specialists covering the principal fields of organbuilding. Its positioning combines traditional craft production, historical knowledge, restoration expertise, and the ability to deliver new instruments for churches, schools, concert venues, and cultural institutions.

Pécs Organ Manufactory was established in Pécs in September 1992 by brothers Attila and Csaba Budavári. Their vocation drew on a family connection with the former Angster organbuilding tradition in the city: members of the family, including a great-grandfather, had worked at the Angster factory. Attila Budavári reportedly decided at the age of 12 that he would become an organbuilder. After professional studies and study tours, the brothers created their own company. The young manufactory initially focused on the practical preservation of existing instruments. Its early work included organ cleaning, restoration, and renewal, beginning with a project at the Roman Catholic Church in Komló. It also reconstructed the ancient Aquincum water organ for the Fire Museum in Budapest, an undertaking that demonstrated the workshop's ability to work on historically distinctive instruments. The first new organ made by the company was completed in 1995 for the chapel of the Franciscan Secondary School in Szentendre. The tracker-action instrument was designed by Tamás Zászkaliczky, while Attila Budavári prepared its disposition. It contains 16 stops, 1,041 metal pipes, and 149 wooden pipes. After this project, POM received additional commissions in Hungary and overseas. Its second and third new organs were built in Sittendorf, Austria, in 1997 and 1998. The company's most important early international collaboration was with Mühleisen Orgelbau of Stuttgart on the organ for Budapest's Palace of Arts. Completed and inaugurated in May 2006, the monumental instrument has five manuals, 92 stops, and 6,804 pipes. The project became a defining achievement for POM and helped establish it as a major Hungarian organbuilding workshop. POM subsequently pursued a broad range of projects. It reconstructed the grand organ of Matthias Church in Buda Castle and built a smaller nearby organ in 2010. The two instruments were designed so they could operate independently or be connected and played together. In 2010, the firm also completed the organ of Zamárdi Church in cooperation with Bertrand Cattiaux's French workshop. The instrument's French Baroque character was presented as distinctive within Hungary. The company continued with both new instruments and restoration. Its organ for the Roman Catholic Church in Rešica used a modern design and received the Hungarian Craft Award for Masterpiece in 2015. In 2013, POM built an organ for a church in Aveiro, Portugal, described in the reference material as the second-largest organ in Portugal. Other projects included a new instrument for the Protestant Church of Pécs-Kertváros, a project at the Mátraverebély-Szentkút National Shrine Franciscan church, and work on instruments in Slovakia and Poland. Alongside bespoke construction, POM sells organ parts through a webshop introduced in 2009. The company is described as employing approximately 50 specialists who cover the principal disciplines of organbuilding and as being Hungary's largest organbuilding company. Its work encompasses new pipe organs, historical and modern-style instruments, mechanical and tracker-action systems, restoration, reconstruction, expansion, adaptation, cleaning, renewal, and maintenance. Awards and professional recognitions received by the company or its co-founder include honors from the Pécs-Baranya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities, and civic and craft organizations.

• 2017

  Buda Castle organ completed

  [1]Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org

  POM completed a Baroque-style organ for the Lutheran Church of Buda Castle.

• 2015

  Rešica organ recognized

  [1]Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org

  The Rešica organ received the Hungarian Craft Award for Masterpiece.

• 2013

  Aveiro organ completed

  [1]Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org

  POM built a major organ for a church in Aveiro, Portugal.

• 2010

  Matthias Church companion organ completed

  [1]Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org

  A smaller organ was built near the main Matthias Church organ, with linked or independent operation.

• 2009

  Webshop launched

  [1]Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org

  POM began selling organ parts through an online shop.

• 2006

  Palace of Arts organ inaugurated

  [1]Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org

  POM and Mühleisen Orgelbau completed the monumental Budapest concert-hall organ.

• 1995

  First new organ completed

  [1]Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org

  The company completed its first new organ for the Franciscan Secondary School chapel in Szentendre.

• 1992

  Company founded in Pécs

  [1]Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org

  Attila and Csaba Budavári founded Pécs Organ Manufactory after organbuilding studies and study tours.

A specialist Hungarian organbuilder combining traditional craftsmanship, custom pipe-organ construction, historical restoration, international collaboration, and component sales.

• New organ construction · 1995

  Custom pipe organs

  POM designs and builds bespoke pipe organs for churches, chapels, schools, concert venues, and cultural institutions. Its commissions include tracker-action, Baroque-style, modern-design, and other custom instruments, with specifications adapted to the building, liturgy, repertoire, and acoustic environment.

• Restoration services · 1992

  Organ restoration and reconstruction

  The workshop restores, cleans, renews, reconstructs, expands, and adapts existing organs. Its work includes historically significant church instruments and complex projects such as the grand organ of Matthias Church and the Aquincum water organ reconstruction.

• Components · 2009

  Organ parts and components

  Through its webshop, introduced in 2009, POM sells organ parts and related components. The reference material describes the shop as carrying hundreds of items for organbuilding, repair, and maintenance.

• 2010

  Linked-organ project at Matthias ChurchProduct launch

  Background

  Following work on the church's grand organ, POM undertook a further project near the main instrument.

  Action taken

  The company built a smaller organ that could be played separately or connected with the grand organ.

  Aftermath

  The project added flexibility for performance and worship at the church.

  Source

• 2006

  Joint construction of the Palace of Arts organProduct launch

  Background

  POM received an opportunity to work with Mühleisen Orgelbau on a monumental organ for Budapest's Palace of Arts.

  Action taken

  The companies built a five-manual instrument with 92 stops and 6,804 pipes, inaugurated in May 2006.

  Aftermath

  The project became a major breakthrough for POM and raised its profile among Hungarian and international organists.

  Source

1. 1Pécs Organ Manufactoryen.wikipedia.org