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for like-minded immigrants in Rome, but also as a German-speaking community with The most important decoration on Wörle’s memorial plaque is an organ façade. This has
networking possibilities and frequent contacts useful for daily activities. Wörle remained the same form that he used repeatedly for the positive organs that he built between 1756
in close contact with the Campo Santo brotherhood for the rest of his life. Soon after and 1769. Wörle probably identified himself and his work most of all with this type, and he
joining, he became a member of its “larger board of directors” and to the very end held wanted to be remembered in this way by future generations. The form of this organ case
various positions including, for two terms of office, the directorial posts of Camerlengo also matches that of the positive organ dating from 1744 in the Oratorio del Crocifisso
(chamberlain) and Guardiano (warden). Still today at Campo Santo one can see Wörle’s (Oratory of the Most Holy Crucifix) in Rome. This instrument is very characteristic for
gravestone, which he ordered in 1766, as well as the putto on the west wall of the cemetery, Johann Konrad Wörle. In many respects, it still exists substantially in its original state.
which he donated in 1765. Also in 1765, Wörle initiated and implemented a fundamental We have chosen it as the exemplary instrument for our audio documentation, which
redesign of the Campo Santo, together with a construction of the Stations of the Cross, in honours the artistic skill of this master from Vils (and naturally also from today’s Tyrol)
the form that still exists today. in a representative way with a path-breaking monument in sound. This is part of the
projected intention of the Institute for Tyrolean Music Research in Innsbruck to document
the written and sonorous sources for the music history of Tyrol – in the broadest sense –
The Latin text on his memorial plaque is 20 lines long and tells his life story; here also including the construction of music instruments.
Wörle admits explicitly – in a way that is both correct and that corresponds to his own
innermost feeling – that he belongs to the “Tyrolean nation” (“Ioannes Conradus Werle
Natione Tirolensis”). Although somewhat cliché-ridden, this attribute indicates a certain In 2014 Hildegard Herrmann-Schneider presented for the first time, in the German
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pride in his origins and at the same time suggests a hint of home sickness. In 18 -century language, a comprehensive biography of Wörle. This includes an overview of his works
linguistic usage, the concept of “Tyrolean nation” stood for the population of this region. based on primary sources in Italy and Tyrol, together with a work catalogue and over 80
It was used outside of the area when craftsmen, artists and scholars appeared before a illustrations (“‘Con mio onore e reputazione – un organo maestoso’: Johann Konrad Wörle
foreign public and indicated their patriotic allegiance. The town of Vils belonged to Austria aus Vils als Giovanni Corrado Verlè und Meister der Orgelbaukunst in Rom,” in: In der Welt
from 1671 to 1805, but not to Tyrol. It only became a part of Tyrol in 1816, although the town zuhause – in Vils daheim, ed. by Rupert Bader, Vils 2014, pp. 101–208; also as a separate
had been under the control of government officials from Innsbruck in the second half presentation on the internet: www.musikland-tirol.at). In 2012 Florian Bassani published
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of the 18 century and was integrated – but only in an administrative sense – into the “Beobachtungen zum sozio-kulturellen Umfeld eines alpenländischen Orgelbauers im
official province of Tyrol. Beginning in 1744, Wörle added the attribute “Germanus” to his Rom des 18. Jahrhunderts,” giving a detailed analysis of Wörle’s personality from the point
name when signing his instruments. Thus, in the context of presenting his masterpieces of view of his emigration (in: Römische historische Mitteilungen 54 (2012), pp. 247–377).
in a lasting way, he consciously identified his status as “German” or of one belonging to a Both publications provide extensive factual information and reflections on Wörle’s life
German-speaking nation. and work.
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