KRUMPHOLTZ, Jean-Baptiste (1742-1790). Autograph manuscript document signed and three further manuscript documents relating to Krumpholtz's improvements to the harp as manufactured by the Parisian company of Naderman and his 'pianoforte contrbasse' or 'clavicorde à marteau' as manufactured by Erard, comprising: AUTOGRAPH DOCUMENT SIGNED, n.p., 17 9b.. 1787, apparently addressed to L'academie des Sciences, announcing that the details of his harp and piano are attached and that he and his wife will demonstrate the instruments 'a votre assemblée', black ink, 1 page, 8vo (224 x 182mm.); manuscript document describing 'la Harpe à Renforcement' in detail and referring to the fact that the 'clavicorde à marteau' 'ait executés par M.. Erard - facteur de fortepiano d'apres les ÿdées de M.. Krumpholtz', black ink, 1 page, 4to (357 x 402mm.); document signed, Paris, 14 9b.. 1787, introducing Krumpholtz 'et Madame son epouse qui a le premier talent en ce genre' [i.e. playing the harp], brown ink, 1 page, 4to (226 x 182mm.); and a further contemporary document unsigned stating that the best keyboard instruments are made in England by Germans or in Germany because of the excellence of the soundboards, 1 page, 8vo (153 x 168mm.).Krumpholtz, a friend of Haydn, and his wife, Anne-Marie (c.1755-c.1824), were the most distinguished and gifted harpists of the 18th and early 19th Centuries. Krumpholz himself is no less renowned for his work on improving the harp itself. This fascinating group of four documents refer principally to Krumpholtz's role in perfecting the harp. An instrument built to his specifications was produced by Naderman of Paris, probably in 1785, was mentioned in the 8 February 1786 issue of the Journal de Paris in 1785 and is now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The harp had twenty-four strings, eight of which were metal, and an eighth pedal that opened five shutters in the resonance box. Both the harp itself and the occassion when his wife played it before the French Academy are extensively referred to in these documents. In the same concert Krumpholz accompanied his wife on the 'clavicorde à marteau', made, as the inventor himself states, by Erard. Following the demonstration, the Academy wrote to Krumpholz in recognition of the virtues of his improved harp. (See The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, London, 1980, vol.10, p.284). After his death (he drowned himself in the Seine following his wife's elopement) other of Krumpholtz's improvements were incorporated into the Erard harp. (4)

KRUMPHOLTZ, Jean-Baptiste (1742-1790). Autograph manuscript document signed and three further manuscript documents relating to Krumpholtz's improvements to the harp as manufactured by the Parisian company of Naderman and his 'pianoforte contrbasse' or 'clavicorde à marteau' as manufactured by Erard, comprising: AUTOGRAPH DOCUMENT SIGNED, n.p., 17 9b.. 1787, apparently addressed to L'academie des Sciences, announcing that the details of his harp and piano are attached and that he and his wife will demonstrate the instruments 'a votre assemblée', black ink, 1 page, 8vo (224 x 182mm.); manuscript document describing 'la Harpe à Renforcement' in detail and referring to the fact that the 'clavicorde à marteau' 'ait executés par M.. Erard - facteur de fortepiano d'apres les ÿdées de M.. Krumpholtz', black ink, 1 page, 4to (357 x 402mm.); document signed, Paris, 14 9b.. 1787, introducing Krumpholtz 'et Madame son epouse qui a le premier talent en ce genre' [i.e. playing the harp], brown ink, 1 page, 4to (226 x 182mm.); and a further contemporary document unsigned stating that the best keyboard instruments are made in England by Germans or in Germany because of the excellence of the soundboards, 1 page, 8vo (153 x 168mm.). Krumpholtz, a friend of Haydn, and his wife, Anne-Marie (c.1755-c.1824), were the most distinguished and gifted harpists of the 18th and early 19th Centuries. Krumpholz himself is no less renowned for his work on improving the harp itself. This fascinating group of four documents refer principally to Krumpholtz's role in perfecting the harp. An instrument built to his specifications was produced by Naderman of Paris, probably in 1785, was mentioned in the 8 February 1786 issue of the Journal de Paris in 1785 and is now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The harp had twenty-four strings, eight of which were metal, and an eighth pedal that opened five shutters in the resonance box. Both the harp itself and the occassion when his wife played it before the French Academy are extensively referred to in these documents. In the same concert Krumpholz accompanied his wife on the 'clavicorde à marteau', made, as the inventor himself states, by Erard. Following the demonstration, the Academy wrote to Krumpholz in recognition of the virtues of his improved harp. (See The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, London, 1980, vol.10, p.284). After his death (he drowned himself in the Seine following his wife's elopement) other of Krumpholtz's improvements were incorporated into the Erard harp. (4)

Details

KRUMPHOLTZ, Jean-Baptiste (1742-1790). Autograph manuscript document signed and three further manuscript documents relating to Krumpholtz's improvements to the harp as manufactured by the Parisian company of Naderman and his 'pianoforte contrbasse' or 'clavicorde à marteau' as manufactured by Erard, comprising: AUTOGRAPH DOCUMENT SIGNED, n.p., 17 9^b^.^. 1787, apparently addressed to L'academie des Sciences, announcing that the details of his harp and piano are attached and that he and his wife will demonstrate the instruments 'a votre assemblée', black ink, 1 page, 8vo (224 x 182mm.); manuscript document describing 'la Harpe à Renforcement' in detail and referring to the fact that the 'clavicorde à marteau' 'ait executés par M^.. Erard - facteur de fortepiano d'apres les ÿdées de M^.. Krumpholtz', black ink, 1 page, 4to (357 x 402mm.); document signed, Paris, 14 9^b^.^. 1787, introducing Krumpholtz 'et Madame son epouse qui a le premier talent en ce genre' [i.e. playing the harp], brown ink, 1 page, 4to (226 x 182mm.); and a further contemporary document unsigned stating that the best keyboard instruments are made in England by Germans or in Germany because of the excellence of the soundboards, 1 page, 8vo (153 x 168mm.).

Krumpholtz, a friend of Haydn, and his wife, Anne-Marie (c.1755-c.1824), were the most distinguished and gifted harpists of the 18th and early 19th Centuries. Krumpholz himself is no less renowned for his work on improving the harp itself. This fascinating group of four documents refer principally to Krumpholtz's role in perfecting the harp. An instrument built to his specifications was produced by Naderman of Paris, probably in 1785, was mentioned in the 8 February 1786 issue of the Journal de Paris in 1785 and is now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The harp had twenty-four strings, eight of which were metal, and an eighth pedal that opened five shutters in the resonance box. Both the harp itself and the occassion when his wife played it before the French Academy are extensively referred to in these documents. In the same concert Krumpholz accompanied his wife on the 'clavicorde à marteau', made, as the inventor himself states, by Erard. Following the demonstration, the Academy wrote to Krumpholz in recognition of the virtues of his improved harp. (See The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, London, 1980, vol.10, p.284). After his death (he drowned himself in the Seine following his wife's elopement) other of Krumpholtz's improvements were incorporated into the Erard harp.
(4)

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