Intro by Reinhard Jaud, cathedral organist

Dear Hans Pirchner,

I was not yet 30 years old when we first met at the historic organ in the convent church of Wilten (Innsbruck) in 1977. You were tuning the organ for my recording. I couldn’t imagine at that time that we would meet so often on our path through life, and that this would result in a lifelong friendship.
In 1978 I was appointed organist of the cathedral of Innsbruck and consultant for church music of the diocese of Innsbruck. Soon after that some organ project had to be discussed. Egon Krauss, who had helped your father to switch to mechanic slider soundboard organs after the Second World War, was still alive then. The 24-year-old Anton Heiller was very fond of this idea.

Consequently the Reinisch-Pirchner Company was ordered to build the legendary B-organ in the music academy of Vienna (1957/58).
After your father’s death in 1972 you became head of the company. I could see how your company pointed the way toward the future of organ building with the new organ in the cathedral of Brixen (South Tyrol, Italy), which was built in 1980.
I am always admiring the flexibility and excellent craft skills of your employees, who found an outstanding workplace in the new workshop, which was completed in 1997.
As your three children also work in the company it is ensured that the tradition of 200 years of organ building in the Wipptal will continue.