Artus Gheerdinck (1564–1624) was a Dutch harpsichord builder.

Gheerdinck lived and worked in Amsterdam, where he was appointed carillonneur of the Oude Kerk (Old Church) in 1595.[1] This was the same time period that Sweelinck was organist there. Gheerdinck had a workshop in an attic space at the church, and tuned both the church’s organs.[2] There was also a Harmanus Gheerdinck living in Amsterdam in the mid-1600s, but his relation (if any) to Artus is unknown.[3] Harmanus was also a harpsichord builder.[3]

The Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, where Gheerdinck worked.

A single instrument by Artus Gheerdinck survives, a rectangular virginal. It has the range C/E – c´´´ (four octaves), and is currently housed in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, Germany (Inventory No. MINe 95).

O’Brien believes that a harpsichord attributed to Hans Ruckers may actually be by Artus Gheerdinck.[4] Though its present range is C—c´´´, its original range was C/E—c´´´.[5] It is currently in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum (Inventory No. MINe 84).

Discography

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  • Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Organ & Keyboard Music. Siegbert Rampe. MDG 341 1256-2. Dabringhaus und Grimm, 2004
  • Peter Philips: Complete Organ & Keyboard Works. Vol. 1. Siegbert Rampe. MDG 341 1257-2. Dabringhaus und Grimm, 2005

Notes

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  1. ^ Boalch, D. (1995). Makers of the Harpsichord and Clavichord 1440-1840 (Third ed.). Clarendon Press. p. 67.
  2. ^ Boalch (1995), p. 67
  3. ^ a b Boalch (1995), p. 68
  4. ^ O'Brien, G. (1990). Ruckers: A Harpsichord and Virginal Building Tradition. Cambridge University Press. p. 280.
  5. ^ O'Brien (1990), p. 280

References

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  • Boalch, D.: Makers of the Harpsichord and Clavichord 1440-1840. Third edition, ed. Charles Mould. Clarendon Press, 1995
  • O’Brien, G.: Ruckers: A Harpsichord and Virginal Building Tradition. Cambridge University Press, 1990
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