"Double-manual harpsichord"

Double-manual harpsichord | Jean Goermans / Pascal Taskin | 1764 / 1783-4

Audio Clips

Pascal Taskin, harpsichord maker to Louis XVI, made substantial changes to this 18th-century instrument to both improve the harpsichord and make it appear a hundred years older. Taskin redecorated the case, changed the interior mechanisms, added knee levers and darkened the soundboard beneath the strings. His masterstroke was to transform the maker’s initials from IG to IC, representing Ioannes Couchet, a member of the world famous Ruckers family.This harpsichord was long believed to be by Ioannes Couchet, primarily because of its ‘IC’ rose. This was discovered to be a forgery when the instrument was loaned to the Collection by Mrs Gilbert Russell, although the attribution to Goermans was not made until later when a study of the decorative style was made by Sheridan Germann. Taskin’s rebuilding of the instrument included the addition of knee levers to assist registration whilst playing, and a peau de buffle or set of jacks with soft leather plectra available on the lower manual and making a softer piano-like tone. Bought from Mrs Gilbert Russell in 1974 with assistance from the Friends of St Cecilia’s Hall.

Harpsichord

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Double-manual harpsichord

Accession Number

4329

Collection

Raymond Russell Collection; MIMEd; Object Lessons

Date Information

Date Made

1764 / 1783-4

Gallery Information

No information recorded.

Maker Information

Maker Name

Jean Goermans / Pascal Taskin

Maker Biography

Jean Goermans was a harpsichord maker born near Brandenburg in 1703. It is not known when he moved to Paris but he is known to have become a Master harpsichord maker by 1730. There are several harpsichords which survive from his workshop. His son also became a successful harpsichord builder in Paris.

Made In

City

Paris

Country

France

Description

Technical Description

Technical description: Double-manual French harpsichord. Compass 61 notes, F₁ - F₆ [FF - f''']. 3 sets of strings 2 × 8-ft, 1 × 4-ft. Gauge numbers stamped into the wrestplank, they appear to date from Taskin's rebuilding. Shove coupler. Peau de buffle to lower manual 8-ft, buff batten to upper manual 8-ft, knee levers/genouilléres one of which moves all the jacks away from the strings to create a sostenuto effect. String lengths (plucking points): F₆ 142 (80), C₆ 184 (87), F₅ 271 (98), C₅ 366 (105), F₄ 550 (113), C₄ 713 (124), F₃ 993 (138), C₃ 1207 (148), F₂ 1532 (162), C₂ 1727 (174), F₁ 1835 (193). Signature/Marks: Inscribed on the name batten "FAIT PAR PASCAL TASKIN A PARIS 1783". "Refait par Pascal Taskin a Paris 1784" stamped with metal die stamps on the wrestplank. Rose bears the initials "IC" which led to the instrument being attributed to Couchet for many years. Inscribed on the soundboard "1764". Decoration: The outside of the case is in black lacquer with gold-band panelling and chinoiserie. The interior is vermilion lacquer with gold bands and chinoiserie decoration. The framed stand has seven cabriole legs. The soundboard and wrestplank are decorated with painted sprays of flowers. Technical drawing available from The Friends of St Cecilia's Hall. Please see http://www.stceciliasfriends.org.uk/

Provenance

Bought by Raymond Russell from Mrs George Crawley in 1959; owned by Arnold Dolmetsch in 1903.; Bought by the University of Edinburgh from Mrs Gilbert Russell in 1974 with assistance from the Friends of St Cecilia's Hall, and the National Fund for Acquisitions.

Classification