The musician and his organ

"I really liked the sound of the organ from the very beginning," says musician Carl Rütti, referring to the instrument in the parish church of Oberägeri. He noted this as early as its inauguration in 1977. He was then a music student living in Unterägeri, but wasn’t employed there as organist – that followed soon after, and he has stayed there ever since. His 40^th anniversary as the organist will now be celebrated on the 1^st of March (see note below).

"It has a very soft sound", is how the talented musician describes the church organ. This is rather unusual, because it is a fully mechanical Mathis organ. “These used to be difficult to play. The organ in Oberägeri is one of the first ones to be fitted with a swell-box, the so-called “shutters”. “These shutters can be closed, making the sound lighter, and can thereby be played very well along with other musicians or with a choir. Carl Rütti has been doing this in Oberägeri for 40 years. ""It is not a matter of course that you stay in one place for so long," he admits.

He was enthusiastic about the church instrument from early on. As an altar boy in the parish of St. Michael, I was fascinated by the organ.” He attended the high school in Engelberg, and was assigned to the choir because of his good singing voice. "I was only allowed to play the organ after my voice had broken," he recalls. He was then promoted, however, and was soon allowed to take on important liturgical tasks as an organist. He studied piano and organ at the Zurich Conservatory and completed additional studies in England, where he was impressed by the choirs. "They sang very clearly, even in ten-voice pieces." Carl Rütti developed a preference for polyphonic music and began to compose himself. "At first it was more of a hobby," he says. Today, Rütti is a composer with an international reputation. Many recordings have been made in the Peter and Paul Church in Oberägeri due to the good acoustics there. For example, with the Peter and Paul Choir.

The choir is one of the reasons why Rütti has remained loyal to Oberägeri. By working with the church choir, he also learned to compose for amateur singers. “It was a trial and error: what sounds nice, what can you trust the singers to do?” he adds. One of the most important compositions is the "Peter and Paul Mass", which Carl Rütti wrote in 1992 on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Oberägeri Church. It will be performed again next Sunday.

Carl Rütti at the organ of the parish church in Oberägeri.

Cooperation with the choir has always been good. "In some cases. the same singers are still there as 40 years ago," says Rütti. And working with the parish has been pleasant. The 71-year-old has seen various pastors, community leaders and sacristans in his time. But it has been the churchgoers themselves that have really motivated him. "The audience is interested in the music." The visitors remain seated during the closing organ piece, for example, - and this also happens in Alosen and Morgarten.

When the organist of the Oberägerer Weiler retired, Rütti started playing in both churches, sharing the workload with a second organist. He has worked together with Hanspeter Isler for many years, and not only found him to be a good colleague but also a friend. "Hanspeter Isler also led the church choir, we worked hand in hand." Following his retirement, Rütti has been working with Katja Huber. "We take turns. Ideally, one organist will always take over all services over a weekend.” There are also funerals and performances with the Peter and Paul Choir. The organist admits that he doesn't have to rehearse much for these. “I have a large repertoire. That was always important to me.” The committed professional will, however, be rehearsing for his appearance at his own anniversary celebration. "Then it should sound really good."

The retired musician is not yet thinking of quitting. "I’ll remain loyal to the organ in Oberägeri." And he still wants to fulfil requests for composition. The Ruh music publishing company in Zurich has also taken over all of Rütti's works. Searching and organising is a lot of work, says Rütti. "Retirement is not yet in sight." And that’s a good thing, not only for the Mathis organ in the Oberägeri parish church.

Note:
The festive service for the 40th anniversary of Carl Rütti will take place on Sunday, March 1st, at 10 a.m. in the parish church of Oberägeri. The Peter and Paul Choir will sing the "Peter and Paul Mass".