This exquisite harpsichord was crafted in Anvers by Johannes Ruckers (the Younger) and dates from 1632. In its original state, it had a single 45-key manual, two registers, and two sets of strings. Today, it is part of the MahN collection. As well as giving the period instrument its own room, the Museum hosts regular live concerts that showcase its musical qualities.
In 1745 the Ruckers harpsichord underwent a grand ravalement, most likely in Paris. By the end of this extensive modernisation process, the instrument had acquired two 58-key manuals and three sets of strings. Both the base and the decorative depictions of Jean de La Fontaine's fables, which are painted on a goldleaf ground, also date from 1745. The paintings on the inside of the lid and part of the soundboard are original (1632). According to the previous owners, the instrument once belonged to Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, who gave it to Mademoiselle de Trémauville, one of her ladies-in-waiting and fiancée of Lieutenant Georges de Montmollin, who died in Paris on 10 August 1792 during the storming of the Tuileries.
In 1884, a Neuchâtel family donated the historical instrument to the Museum. Thanks to the generosity of the Neuchâtel Rotary Club, it was restored by the Paris-based Ateliers von Nagel in 1986. Since then, the Ruckers harpsichord is played during public concerts which the Museum organises on a regular basis. Some of these performances are also recorded on CD.
Marathon Scarlatti : les interprètes
Clavecin :
Adalgisa Badano, Franjo Bilic, Violaine Cochard, Eva Dolinsek, Dorota Cybulska-Amsler, Jean Luc Demand, Lionel Desmeules, Anne-Marie Dragosits, Krzysztof Garstka , Rossella Giannetti, Aya Hamada, Aapo Häkkinen, Alex von Heissen, Davor Krkljus, Carmen Leoni, Beatrice Martin, Jovanka Marville, Ene Nael, Daniela Numico, Giulia Nuti, Adrien Pièce, Alessandro Urbano, Catalina Vicens, Jean Rondeau, Andrés Gomez-Rueda, Patricia Robaina, Olga Schadrina-Lychak, Avinoam Shalev, Lilianna Stawarz, Elena Zhukova.
Autres instruments :
Maria Christina Cleary, Hanna Borka, Angelina Sanfourche : harpes historiques
Lorelei Coker : harpe moderne
Luigi Attademo : guitare
Julia Zimina : mandolines historiques
Entrée aux concerts:
Du 2 au 9 juin 2023, une entrée au Musée selon les tarifs usuels donne droit à un pass individuel qui permet d’accéder gratuitement aux concerts durant le Marathon (2.6 au 9.6) (pas de concert le lundi 5 juin, jour de fermeture du MahN).
Pour des raisons de sécurité, la salle du MahN dévolue à ce festival ne peut accueillir plus de 100 personnes. Il n’est pas possible de réserver et priorité sera donnée aux premiers arrivés.
L’organisation de l’événement repose entièrement sur l’enthousiasme de bénévoles. Les musiciens solistes provenant de toute l’Europe ont accepté de se produire gratuitement. Pour couvrir les frais liés à la logistique, les organisatrices, Dorota Cybulska-Amsler (Présidente de l’Association Autrement) et Mireille Badoud (Fondation du Sautereau) remercient les institutions suivantes pour leur soutien :
L'écho des pavanes. Émission de la RTS, diffusée le samedi 3 juin 2023
Jonathan Nubel, violon baroque
Philippe Despont, clavecin
Oeuvres de C.-Ph. -E. Bach, J. Haydn, W.-A. Mozart
Catherine Michel et Parvati Maeder, sopranos
Charlotte Schneider, flûte à bec et traverso
Hélène Conrad et Regula Schwab, violons baroques
Michèle Paillard, viole de gambe
Pierre-Laurent Haesler, clavecin
Oeuvres de D. Buxtehude, H. Schütz, H. Schein
The Department of Applied Arts produces up to two Ruckers harpsichord recordings every year. This period instrument is much admired by musicians from around the world due to its exceptional timbre and remarkable condition.
CD recordings of Ruckers harpsichord performances are on sale in the Museum shop.
Christophe ROUSSET, Bach Fantasy, Aparté, 2010
Francesco CORTI, Suites for Harpsichord by Louis Couperin, Genuin Musikproduktion Leipzig, 2007
Tomoko MATSUOKA, Domenico Scarlatti. 16 sonatas, Genuin Musikproduktion Leipzig, 2008
Helga VARADI, Bartok et Baroque, Claves Records, 2017