Andreas Silbermann (16 May 1678 – 16 March 1734) was a German organ builder, who was involved in the construction of 35 organs, mostly inAlsace.[1] Andreas also established the Silbermann family tradition of organ building, training his brotherGottfried and his sonJohann Andreas in the profession.
Silbermann was born on 16 May 1678 inKleinbobritzsch, nearFrauenstein,Electorate of Saxony, the son of a joiner.[1] He himself trained as a joiner inFreiberg under George Lampertius, but soon afterwards learnt the art of organ building, moving toAlsace in 1699.[1] The exact timing and source of his training is unknown, with proposed names of his mentor includingFriederich Ring[2] andDaniel Übermann.[3] During his early work in Alsace, Silbermann carried out renovation work on the organ constructed byJohann-Jacob Baldner in the church of St Léger inBouxwiller.
After this, he moved to work withStrasbourg organ builderFriderich Ring, settling permanently in the city in 1701 and receiving citizenship on 15 March 1702.[1] By this time, Andreas had trained his brotherGottfried, and they built an organ together.[1] Between 1704 and 1706, Silbermann moved to Paris, where he worked withFrançois Thierry, having a particular concern to develop his understanding in the French style.[1] He then returned to Strasbourg, where he worked with his brother on a few more projects, namely theCollegium Wilhelmitanum (1706) and thechurch of St Nicolas (1707).[1]
In 1708, Andreas began working alone as his brother Gottfried had returned to Saxony. In the following years, Silbermann was involved in several major commissions, including constructing an organ atStrasbourg Cathedral (1714–1716), which was the largest organ he built during his career.[1]
In 1712, his sonJohann Andreas was born.[1] Trained under his father, Johann collaborated with Andreas during the final years of his life and continued the family business after his death.[1]
Silbermann died on 16 March 1734 inStrasbourg.[3]
Silbermann's organs were built mostly in a French style.[1]
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