In 2007, Cor Ardesch was appointed as the city organist by the city of Dordrecht. Born in 1959, Ardesch was appointed church organist of the Grote Kerk in 1998. He studied organ with Piet Kee at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. He also studied improvisation with Bert Matter at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.
At the time of his appointment as a permanent organist, he only had the Kam organ at his disposal. At that time, the organ was in a poor state of repair. Necessary restorations followed.
Ardesch was involved as an advisor in the realization of the Bach organ in the Grote Kerk. When this organ was put into use in 2007, the municipality of Dordrecht appointed Ardesch as city organist. This was the first time this title was granted by the municipality of Dordrecht.
As artistic advisor, he is involved in the International Organ Academy Dordrecht. Cor Ardesch also teaches organ, improvisation and playing a church organ.
Bach integral
In 2016, Ardesch completed a special project. He recorded all the organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, played on one organ, the Bach organ of the Grote Kerk. The Bach integral appeared on a series of 18 CDs.
Music recorded by Cor Ardesch
Ardesch has published several CDs in addition to the Bach integral. On the SoundCloud channel of the Friends you can hear a number of tracks.
In this video you will hear a part of Handel’s Water Music, played by Ardesch during the Dutch royal family’s visit to the Grote Kerk on King’s Day 2015. The images shown are from the Gemeentelijke Prentverzameling Dordrecht.
More information about Cor Ardesch can be found on his website. It is also possible to order his CDs on his website.
A number of CDs can also be downloaded from iTunes.