The Art of the Danish Harpsichord / Erik Kristiansen (2022) / Moritz Moshack (1770)

Erik Kristiansen introduces his new reconstruction (2022) of a double manual harpsichord, based on the only surviving Danish harpsichord built in Copenhagen in 1770 by Moritz Moshack. Short musical excerpts performed by Gilbert Martinez ENGLISH TRANSLATION of ERIK KRISTIANSEN'S INTRODUCTION: "Welcome to the Moshack harpsichord. This instrument is made after the Danish harpsichord maker Moritz Georg Moshack. He was born in Denmark in 1733 and died of aggressive fever in Copenhagen, 1772. We know him because he was one of the most active harpsichord makers in Denmark in the 18th century. He worked at the court and made instruments for the king, and also for the opera. At that time the new Italian operas became popular through the 1750s and 60s. The opera impresarios Sarti and Scalabrini had arrived in Copenhagen, and we know that Moshack provided and tuned both clavichords and harpsichords for them. We are lucky that there has survived a single harpsichord by Moshack, which also is the only surviving historic harpsichord made in Denmark. Today it is on display by Museum Lolland-Falster at Pederstrup on Lolland. This instrument which I have made is inspired by the original. The original from 1770 is a large single manual instrument. It was probably made for the opera in Copenhagen, but subsequently given to a school in Nykøbing F. We believe it so, because a similar instrument is recorded in the school’s inventory of 1809. Since then it has kept by the school until it moved to new buildings in the 1950s, where it was discovered among their theatre props. What was left has since been reconstructed into a playable harpsichord. What I have made is an extended version of the original. The original had only one manual with a five octave compass and two 8’ registers. This has two manuals and also a 4’ register and give the impression of a large Scandinavian concert harpsichord from the second half of the 18th. century. We have discovered that that the music of that period fits well with it. Inspiration comes from Moshack and also the other Scandinavian makers, such as Rosenau and Broman, who has left an instrument which is very close to this. The Swedish makers were inspired by the German makers Gräbner and Silbermann from Dresden., I think we have discovered that the sound quality gives new life to the composers of the late 18th. century, like J.A.P. Schulz and other Danish composers who have mostly been forgotten. Welcome to listen to the new Moshack.