Pascal Taskin
Pascal Joseph Taskin I ( * 1723 in Theux, Belgium, † February 9, 1793 in Versailles) was a French harpsichord maker Walloon origin.
Life
Born 1723 in Theux in the Bishopric of Liege, Taskin went early to Paris with François- Étienne Blanchet II into teaching. After the death of Blanchet, he married his widow and took over the business. The term " Postman de Clavessins du Roi ", which already François Blanchet wore the Elder and Younger, then went over to him. In 1770 he signed his instruments: " Pascal Taskin, Postman & Clavessins de Garde des Instruments de Musique du Roi, Eleve & Successeur de M. Blanchet, Demeure même Maison, rue de la Verrerie, vis -à-vis la petite porte de S. Merry, A Paris 1770. " In 1772 it was the position as Hofinstrumentenbauer in the castle and the chapel of Versailles of Louis XV. and later Louis XVI. offered. He succeeded in the work by his nephew Pascal Joseph II to have run in order not to remain his workshop in Paris too long away have. From 1781 to 1790 he managed the royal instrument fundus. Taskin harpsichord led to his last and most extraordinary climax. It stands as instrument maker at the threshold of the fortepiano and constructed, all following the new tastes, and fortepiano. At his death his workshop built around the same number Fortepiani as harpsichords.
Taskin was supported in his workshop of three of his nephews, Pascal Joseph Taskin II (* 1750, † 1829), Henri -Joseph Taskin ( 1779-1832 ) and Lambert Taskin ( dates unknown ). In addition, he took care of his three-year stepson and was thus a continuous tradition to Nicolas Blanchet, founder of this successful workshop, look back.
Taskin realized - like its predecessor the Blanchet family - the outstanding quality of the instruments of the Ruckers family of Antwerp, which it did not prevent this serious rebuild and - in some cases using only their soundboard - to adapt the musical and aesthetic tastes of his time. Most here also the tonal range of the original Ruckers harpsichords was extended ( petit and grand ravalement ). He manages the connection of silvery lively and at the same time fundamental, cantabile, far wearing sound, unsurpassed in its balance. So he enjoys within the history of harpsichord building a singular reputation.
The resulting in the second half of the 18th century sentimental style of music and the request to the dynamics of the instrument led to different instrument technical developments. Taskin developed among others the peau de buffle register, in which the strings are plucked with soft buffalo leather. This creates the illusion of a sensitive touch response on the harpsichord, and ask yourself - especially in connection with the use of the loud train - sonic moments captivating intimacy a. Toggle ( Genouillères ) allow the execution of a registry change without the player 's hands from the Manual must next. These changes to the instrument, which were also performed in various versions in England, were adapted to the changing demands of the contemporary taste. They presented no further development of the instrument, but the attempt a perfect instrument to another development, namely that of the pianoforte, adapt, which was doomed to failure.
Only nine instruments of Taskin have survived to the present day. You are, among others, the Hamburg Museum of Art and Industry, ( collection Beurmann ); Russell Collection, Edinburgh and Musee de la Musique, Paris.
The harpsichord Taskin now serve as a template for many historical replicas.