Tobias Gottfried Heinrich Trost’s organ in the castle church of Altenburg forms – together with other remaining organs by Trost – the climax of baroque organ building in Thuringia. This organ represents a unique world of sound. The organ is thoroughly connected to Johann Sebastian Bach, who was rooted in this special tradition of building organs in Thuringia. This tradition of organ building in Thuringia is clearly different from the one in Northern Germany as from Gottfried Silbermann’s style of organ building. Bach’s ideal of Thuringian organ building is uniquely visible in Altenburg.

• 1735–1739: Trost, organ builder at the court of Altenburg, constructed the great organ
  at the castle church.
• 1737: Silbermann visits the building site and speaks in high terms of organ and organ builder.
• 1739: Johann Sebastian Bach visits the completed organ. His appreciation provides importance
  to the instrument until today.
• Late 19th century: Extensions and alterations depart the sound and technical construction
  from its original though about 70 % of its original parts remained.
• 1974–1976: Reconstruction initiated by Dr. Felix Friedrich (former organist at Trost organ) and implemented by organ building company Eule from Bautzen, Germany. It is since then that this cultural heritage of international charisma is available again in its original form.