Harpsichords in China

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / PUBLIC DOMAIN

Matteo Ricci (1552–1610)

The harpsichord has a longer history in China than you might expect. Joyce Lindorff, based in Hong Kong for much of the 1990s but now at Temple University in Philadelphia, has been researching the introduction of Western music and instruments to China for some time. The first harpsichord was brought all the way from Europe as a gift by the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci (1552–1610). The Westerners even began making keyboard instruments locally. Later, another priestly musician Teodorico Pedrini (1671–1746) spent the last half of his life in China: Some of his compositions remain in the National Library of China. Sadly, there’s no indication how long the keyboard instruments they brought, built and used lasted: Without some knowledgeable attention, they probably had to be discarded soon after the Westerners departed and the instruments deteriorated to unusable.

Zhao Dongsheng harpsichord, Beijing 2010 57K jpeg

SHEN FANXUI

Shen Fanxui (seated) with Zhao Dongsheng at the double-manual harpsichord
he recently built at Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music

A recent (Chinese) internet posting erroneously suggested there were only a few harpsichords in the whole country today. Another extolled a bright blue double-manual harpsichord built at Beijing’s Central Conservatory by Chief Instrument Technician Zhao Dongsheng as the first harpsichord built in modern China. In fact, Canadian artisan Ted Turner spent several months in China in 1985 and built at least two harpsichords with the same Zhao Dongsheng and Huang Xiaomiao, Piano Technician at Xi’an Conservatory of Music. A report appeared at the time in the English-language China Daily.

Although this listing shows more than thirty early keyboard instruments spread around mainland China, it’s still a perennial problem for intending visitors to find suitable instruments for their performances or masterclasses. I’m often asked for advice by agents, soloists and touring period orchestras (Academy of Ancient Music, Les Arts Florissants, The English Concert, Freiburg Baroque, Tafelmusik…), not only about which instruments might be available for their events, but also—more importantly—their condition.

Regrettably, musicians are too often forced to use a digital keyboard. This of course is only a poor substitute for the wonderful instrument it is trying to emulate. There has been little cooperation between institutions in the same city, evidenced by the mildly exorbitant USD5000 fee quoted for a request to hire a harpsichord for concert at a competing institution. Some groups have been able to resort to the reassuring expense of flying a harpsichord of known quality and condition in, or travel with a competent tuner/technician.

Huang Xiaomiao & Carey Beebe, Xi’an 1994 10K jpeg

CAREY BEEBE 1994

With Mr Huang Xiaomiao,
Piano Technician at Xi’an Conservatory

Lacking a culture of regular maintenance, I’ve heard of at least one institutional harpsichord in China being unwittingly replaced with a lesser instrument rather than being simply but expertly serviced. It would seem that capital purchases are easier to fund in many parts of the world. Wouldn’t it be better to find the small but periodic amounts required to preserve the original investment and ensure that the instrument can still be used and enjoyed?

NEXT CHINA VISIT
	On demand

Joyce Lindorff was responsible for getting me excited about visiting China. I remember the page from Xi’an curling out of my desktop fax machine, “Our harpsichord requires extensive repairment, please bring building materials.”! Thus began my first trip in China in 1994. Since then, I’ve been able to see several of the instruments on the list below. Follow the links for some other interesting China stories like my visit to Beijing in 1996 with my fortepiano for Florilegium—the first time a fortepiano had been heard in the country—or the difficulties in unearthing a suitable harpsichord on a trip to Shanghai as part of the 2010 World Expo happenings.

I trust this page will at least give an indication of the growing early music interest in China. Please contact me to suggest any additions or corrections, or if you require any assistance to help make your China concert or tour a success. I’ve been recommending visiting musicians hire the 1982 Zuckermann Flemish Double which is kept by a musician in Beijing: This is the best choice as the instrument is basically working and can be moved around the country in its flightcase.

With the growth of interest in early music, there are more early keyboard instruments arriving in China than ever before. If you know of instruments not on the below list, please let us know so everyone can gauge the blossoming activity.

BEIJING	Bizzi French Double harpsichord with tall Louis-XIII stand 2017 after Goermans/Taskin, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Marc Ducornet Franco-Flemish Double-manual harpsichord 2006, CHINA NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Marc Ducornet & Emmanuel Danset Ruckers/Hemsch French Double-manual harpsichord 2014, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Marc Ducornet & Emmanuel Danset Ruckers/Taskin French Double-manual harpsichord 2017, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Andrew Garlick French Double harpsichord 2014 after Goujon, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Goble Double-manual harpsichord, ANTIQUE PIANO EXHIBITION SALON Hubbard & Broekman German Double 2003 after Hass, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Frank Hubbard French Double (#189) 1977 after Hemsch, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Donald Katz Franco-Flemish Double 1973, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Jan Kalsbeek French Double 1988 after Blanchet, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Jan Kalsbeek German Double 2017 after Mietke, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Bruce Kennedy Italian harpsichord after Grimaldi, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Bruce Kennedy Mietke German Double-manual harpsichord 2022, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Joop Klinkhamer Franco-Flemish Double-manual harpsichord 1982, rebuilt by Willard Martin 1998, MUSICOLOGY DEPARTMENT, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Paul McNulty Walter & Sohn Fortepiano 2017, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Paul McNulty Walter & Sohn Fortepiano 2017, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Morley Small Clavichord, ANTIQUE PIANO EXHIBITION SALON Von Nagel Flemish Double harpsichord 2008 after Couchet, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Bach model harpsichord, CAPITAL NORMAL UNIVERSITY Neupert Couperin model Double-manual harpsichord c1950 (redecorated white, landscaped lid), MUSICOLOGY DEPARTMENT, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord 2012 (landscaped lid), MIDDLE SCHOOL affiliated with CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord, FORBIDDEN CITY CONCERT HALL Neupert Antunes model Single-manual harpsichord 2013, JIAN LI PERCUSSION Neupert Couperin model Double-manual harpsichord, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Nicola Paoli Italian harpsichord 1990 after Grimaldi, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP [whereabouts now uncertain] Onno Peper French Double harpsichord 2017 after Taskin, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Joris Potvlieghe Saxon model clavichord with pedalboard 1990, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Roberts & Brazier Neapolitan Harpsichord 2010, CHINA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Sassmann Single-manual harpsichord, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Sperrhake Model 161 Double-manual harpsichord, UNKNOWN OWNERSHIP Storrs Flemish Double harpsichord, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Unknown make of harpsichord {2] TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL Michael Walker Double-manual harpsichord after Dulcken, CHINA CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Michael Walker Fortepiano after Walter, CHINA CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Thomas & Barbara Wolf French Double harpsichord 1990, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Zhao Dongsheng & Ted Turner Double-manual harpsichord 1985, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Zhao Dongsheng copy of the above Double-manual harpsichord, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Zhao Dongsheng small Double-manual harpsichord 2010, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Zhao Dongsheng Spinet 2015, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Zhao Dongsheng Double-manual harpsichord 2018, CENTRAL CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Zuckermann Flemish Double Harpsichord III, built by Herbert Huestis, Vancouver 1982, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Wolfgang Zuckermann [?] Italian Harpsichord kit early 1970s (landscaped lid), ANTIQUE PIANO EXHIBITION SALON

CHENGDU	Wolf Fischer French Double harpsichord 1984, π CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Neupert Händel model Double-manual harpsichord 1962, π CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Michael Thomas Double-manual harpsichord, π CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Sperrhake Single-manual harpsichord, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP

GUANGZHOU	Nikolaus Damm German Double-manual harpsichord after JN Bach, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Atelier Marc Ducornet Blanchet Single-manual harpsichord 2014, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Atelier Marc Ducornet Blanchet Double-manual harpsichord 2022, MUFENG INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & CULTURAL MUSEUM John Feldberg Single-manual harpsichord, MUFENG INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & CULTURAL MUSEUM Paul McNulty Fortepiano 2022 after Walter 1792, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Neupert Bach model Double-manual harpsichord, MUFENG INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & CULTURAL MUSEUM Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord 1995, XINGHAI CONCERT HALL Neupert Rameau model Single-manual harpsichord 2016, GUANGZHOU SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Joris Potvleighe clavichord, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP D.E. Rouse Italian Virginal, MUFENG INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & CULTURAL MUSEUM Sabathil Double-manual harpsichord 1967, MUFENG INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & CULTURAL MUSEUM Zuckermann Slantside harpsichord 1960s, MUFENG INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & CULTURAL MUSEUM [Unknown maker] Spinet, revival style, MUFENG INTERNATIONAL MUSIC & CULTURAL MUSEUM

HANGZHOU	Robert Davies Single-manual harpsichord, HANGZHOU WOSEN PIANO SHOP Merzdorf Italian harpsichord after Pisaurensis, ZHEJIANG CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Fortepiano 2020 after 1795 Walter, ZHEJIANG CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord 2016, HANGZHOU GRAND THEATRE Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord 2020 (landscaped lid), ZHEJIANG CONSERVATORY of MUSIC

NANNING	Bizzi Continuo model harpsichord 2023, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP

NINGBO	de Blaise harpsichord, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Hubbard Flemish single kit harpsichord “ES 1983”, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP

SHANGHAI	Bizzi Spinet c2007, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Bizzi Studio model harpsichord 2011, SHANGHAI CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Bizzi Continuo model harpsichord 2012, SHANGHAI CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Bizzi French Double harpsichord 2011 after Goermans/Taskin, MIDDLE SCHOOL affiliated with SHANGHAI CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Bizzi “Couchet” model harpsichord 2013, MIDDLE SCHOOL affiliated with SHANGHAI CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Colin Booth Italian after Domenicus Pisaurensis PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Marc Fontaine Flemish Single harpsichord 2000 PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Andrew Garlick Ruckers Single harpsichord 2017, LIU JIAN ART SCHOOL Hubbard Flemish Single-manual harpsichord by Sato 1987, SHANGHAI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Kawai Spinet, SHANGHAI BAROQUE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Bruce Kennedy Mietke German Double harpsichord 2021, SHANGHAI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Klop Italian harpsichord 1995, SHANGHAI CAMERATA Neupert Bach model harpsichord 1961, SHANGHAI CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Bach model harpsichord, SHANGHAI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA / SHANGHAI SYMPHONY HALL Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord, SHANGHAI ORIENTAL ART CENTER Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord, SHANGHAI POLY GRAND THEATRE Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord, SHANGHAI CONCERT HALL Neupert Hemsch model Double-manual harpsichord 2012, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Roberts & Brazier Neapolitan Harpsichord, Los Angeles 2010, SHANGHAI CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Akira Sato Flemish Single harpsichord 2004, SHANGHAI BAROQUE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Zuckermann Slantside harpsichord, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Zuckermann Triple-fretted clavichord c1975, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Zuckermann Triple-fretted clavichord c1975, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP

SHENZHEN	Feldberg Double-manual harpsichord, SHENZHEN PIANO MUSEUM Morley Pentagonal Virginal 1960, SHENZHEN PIANO MUSEUM Morley Clavichord 1964, SHENZHEN PIANO MUSEUM Morley Clavichord 1966, SHENZHEN PIANO MUSEUM Morley Harpsichord, DA GUAN MUSIC Neupert Bach model harpsichord 2018, SHENZHEN CONCERT HALL Zhao Dongsheng French Double-manual harpsichord 2021, VANKE MEISHA ACADEMY

TAIYUAN	Neupert Antunes model Single-manual harpsichord 2014, JIAN LI PERCUSSION

TIANJIN	Morley Taskin model French Double Harpsichord 2008, TIANJIN GRAND THEATRE Neupert Bach model harpsichord,MIDDLE SCHOOL affiliated with TIANJIN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Hass model German Double Harpsichord, TIANJIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

WUHAN	Atelier Marc Ducornet 2017 Franco-flemish Double-manual harpsichord, WUHAN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Atelier Marc Ducornet 2013 Italian harpsichord after Grimaldi,WUHAN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Paul McNulty Walter Fortepiano, WUHAN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Paul McNulty Graf Fortepiano, WUHAN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Neupert Antunes model Single-manual harpsichord 2013, WUHAN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Van Emmerick 1987 Double-manual harpsichord after Dulcken, WUHAN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC

XI’AN	Bruce Kennedy Blanchet French Double harpsichord 2016, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Bruce Kennedy Mietke German Double harpsichord 2019, XI’AN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Bruce Kennedy Blanchet French Double harpsichord 2020, XI’AN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC Ted Turner & Huang Xiaomiao Double-manual harpsichord 1985, XI’AN CONSERVATORY of MUSIC

XIAMEN	Hugh Craig Double-manual harpsichord 1985, GULANGYU PIANO MUSEUM Gaveau Double-manual harpsichord 1923, PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Maendler-Schramm Double-manual harpsichord 1935, GULANGYU PIANO MUSEUM Wolfgang Zuckermann Spinet,Maxwell Cassidy, Melbourne 1969, GULANGYU PIANO MUSEUM

ZHENGZHOU	Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord, HENAN ART CENTER

ZHUHAI	Neupert Blanchet model Double-manual harpsichord, ZHUHAI HUAFA & CPAA GRAND THEATRE
	Data last updated 6 July 2024

WEIBO USER XGH1982		CAREY BEEBE
It took some time to identify this harpsichord by Akira Sato, recently used for a concert in Shanghai Concert Hall		Franco-Flemish Double, Marc Ducornet 2006 China National Symphony Orchestra

CAREY BEEBE		CAREY BEEBE
Bizzi French Double 2011 Middle School affiliated with Shanghai Conservatory		Neupert Blanchet model 1995 Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou

CAREY BEEBE

Neupert Bach model harpsichord as found at the Shanghai Conservatory

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