State of the Arts in Bach's time
24.09.2025,
The precious instrument was built in 1754 and is one of only five surviving examples that can still be seen and heard twice a year in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum.
Jean Henri Hemsch was born Johann Heinrich in the Eifel region in 1700. His extraordinary harpsichord is dated 1754, four years after the death of Johann Sebastian Bach. The Parisian instrument epitomises the state of the art of the time. The metropolis, which set the tone in all cultural matters in the 18th century, also attracted the best international instrument makers. Antoine Vater (1689–1759) from Hanover also settled there. With him Hemsch was apprenticed in 1728.
Only five instruments from Hemsch's highly respected workshop are still playable today, and the example in the Bavarian National Museum combines the highest degree of original substance with the best tonal qualities: a clear, rich and at the same time mellow and harmonious sound that is considered typically French, but was equally appreciated in Germany. The precious harpsichord is on permanent display and is played as part of intimate concerts in the musical instrument collection – however, in order to fulfil the conservational responsibility, only twice a year as part of the Sunday matinees at 11 a.m. and thus also at the Bachfest Munich in a concert on November 27th.
