- Henri Hemsch
Henri Hemsch, original name Johann Heinrich Hemsch (variants Jean-Henri Hemsch, Johannes Heinrich Hembsch) (
21 February 1700 - September 1769), was a Frenchharpsichord maker who was originally fromGermany .He was born in
Castenholtz , nearCologne , and moved toFrance in 1728 where he served a six-year apprenticeship in the shop ofAntoine Vater (fl. Paris, 1715–1759), another German "émigré". Following this, he set up independently with his younger brother Guillaume (Wilhelm) (b.5 December 1709 ; fl.1748–1774). He served as "juré" of the instrument makers' guild in 1746. He is considered one of the most important Parisian makers of his time. He was succeeded in his craft by hisnephew Jean-Henri Moers (b.Castenholtz, August 1734; fl.1754–1793).Five of his double manual harpsichords survive today. The earliest, in the
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston , is dated 1736. His instruments are similar to those of Vater and French in style, with two manuals, three-register disposition with shove coupler and a compass ofFF–e (rising to f in a 1761 instrument at the Musée de la Musique, Paris). His remaining instruments are similar in number and quality to those of theBlanchet /Taskin family.Notes and references
*John Koster: 'Hemsch, Henri [Jean-Henri; Johannes Heinrich Hembsch] ', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed
2007-05-18 ), http://www.grovemusic.com/Persondata
NAME=Hemsch, Henri
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Hemsch, Johann Heinrich;Hemsch, Jean-Henri;Hembsch, Johannes Heinrich
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Harpsichord maker
DATE OF BIRTH=21 February 1700
PLACE OF BIRTH=Cologne ,Germany
DATE OF DEATH=September 1769
PLACE OF DEATH=Paris ,France
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